Emilie Richards

“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people…

“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love. And then we return home.” -Australian Aboriginal Proverb What have you observed this summer that helped you to grow? As we leave Chautauqua Institution after nine weeks of lectures…

“Sometimes we forget how magical it is just to wake up in the morning. Take a breath. Wriggle your toes, and open your droopy eyes. Take a moment. Be present. Give gratitude first.” ~Unknown Thank you to the Charter of Compassion Facebook Page for this thought. My research didn’t turn up an author, but it…

A very busy week and we forgot to post. But it’s still Sunday, and Dr. Seuss had something to say about being late. Do you ever feel like he (and we) did today? It’s nice to know we’re not alone. How did it get to be late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon December…

“One thing I am convinced more and more is true and that is this: the only way to be truly happy is to make others happy.” ​ – William Carlos Williams Who have we made happy today? How about yesterday? (Easier, since you had the whole day to try.) I like the idea of making…

“Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the…

This moving song was performed during last week’s UU worship service here at Chautauqua Institution, and I wanted to share it with you. The YouTube video is the singer-songwriter herself singing it at the Philly Folk Festival. You “may” have a short commercial before you get to the song. Skip it as soon as you…

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; Ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, And see that they get justice.” -Proverbs 31, 8-9 Now more than ever. 

“A person of good intelligence and sensitivity cannot exist in this society very long without having some anger about the inequality – and it’s not just a bleeding-heart, knee-jerk, liberal kind of a thing – it is just a normal human reaction to a nonsensical set of values where we have cinnamon flavored dental floss…

“The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy, we can all sense a mysterious connection to each other.” ​ – Meryl Streep Have you ever felt deeply connected to someone you’ve just met? Or how about a person very different from you? That instant moment of “I know him…