Returning
I am not lookingto be certain. I have seenhow quickly certaintycan become a wall. And how easilywe forget one another,each of us alonein what we think we know. NowI find myself drawntoward something quieter. Not a conclusion. Not a victory. Not even an answer. Only a remembering. As if beneaththe noise and division, beneath fearand […]
Conversation, Part 2: The Cancer in the System
On organizations, fear, leadership, and the loss of human presence Part 2 of my conversation with Vern Ho on Life, Leadership, and the Courage to Be Human As our conversation continued, Vern began speaking less about his illness directly and more about the deeper patterns he believed were affecting organizations, communities, and society itself. Again […]
Conversations, Part One: The Gift of a Shortened Future
Conversations with Vern Ho on Life, Leadership, and the Courage to Be Human On illness, family, congruence, and learning to live before it is too late In October of 1995, I sat down with my friend and mentor, Vern Ho, for a long conversation about life, leadership, illness, and the state of our society. Three […]
What Helps Us Return
On Presence, Dehumanization, and Remaining Human in Polarized Times by Chuck Craytor What happens when fear, rage, humiliation, loneliness, and the longing to belong go unattended? Last fall, a client shared a reflection with me following an act of political violence that had deeply disturbed him. For reasons of confidentiality, I cannot share his words […]
Departure
I first wrote Departure nearly 30 years ago and have recently returned to refine it. I’m sharing it again here as the opening piece of a new series, The Work of Being Human. For me, it remains a living reflection on what it means to keep crossing into life. Departure A five-year-old boy, suitcase in […]
The Bullets: A Reflection on Courage, Commitment, and Dignity
At nineteen years old, I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, serving in the U.S. Army (1975-1977). I didn’t know it then, but a decision to encourage a friend to coach a youth basketball team would grow into one of the most meaningful leadership experiences of my life. What began as an innocent suggestion evolved into […]
How Do We Create Courage in the Face of Distressing Circumstances?
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” — Viktor Frankl How can you cultivate and maintain courage in the face of overwhelming circumstances? This is not just a theoretical question for me; it’s something I’ve experienced firsthand. In January 2013, after completing graduate school, I found […]
Adversity
Adversity—if you know how to approach it—is a powerful means to awaken and grow. “Bad” karma is an opportunity.
I’m Alive!
I’m alive! How amazing, I’m alive! Recently I was reading conspiracy theories to learn what some of them are. After a couple of days of reading conspiracy theories, I noticed increasing sensations of fear and doom! Fortunately, I shifted my reading and thoughts to lessons and words of courage, compassion, wisdom, discernment, and love. The […]
How Do You Create and Sustain Hope in the Face of Adversity?
How do you create and sustain hope in the face of distressing circumstances? The world is woven of interconnected threads–we are each linked together. These links are not limited to the human world; they extend to the natural world and all existence. You exist in relationship. In the most challenging times, you have an opportunity […]