Omni-Partiality and Power Imbalances in Mediation
{2:30 minutes to read} For over a decade I’ve had a practice that focuses exclusively on divorce and family mediation. Much of the training when I first started my practice emphasized the importance of the mediator being neutral and impartial.
Life Lessons from a Knee Operation – Part 2
{4 minutes to read}
…Knee bone connected to the thigh bone
Thigh bone connected to the hip bone
Hip bone connected to the back bone
Back bone connected to the shoulder bone
Shoulder bone connected to the neck bone
Neck bone connected to the head bone
Now hear the word of the Lord…
Life Lessons from a Knee Operation – Part 1
{5 minutes to read}
My body has been teaching me a very powerful lesson that I am still in the process of deciphering. Although my thoughts are still percolating, I’d like to share my initial challenges and insights with you, my readers.
This part of my journey started about 4 months ago when I had an operation to have total knee replacement on both of my knees.
Empathy or Sympathy: What’s the Difference?
{2:54 minutes to read} With all the conflict and negativity in the world right now, I feel like a refresher blog on the subject of empathy is in order. I came upon this short video, The Power of Empathy, four years ago. It continues to be as delightful and fresh as when it first appeared. And, it accomplishes its task in only 3 short minutes of viewing time! So I invite you to click on the image below, enjoy the video, and then continue with the rest of my article.
It’s That Time of Year for Getting Engaged or Getting Divorced
{3:06 minutes to read} There are two trends that occur at the end of each year, and into the beginning months of the following year. One has to do with the demise of a marriage, and the other with the commitment to marry. While these are clearly opposite aspects of “coupled” life, they share a common factor that influences the outcome of each.
Chinese Insights on the Art of Listening
{3:24 minutes to read} During the holidays especially, we all seem to be doing more while at the same time finding less time and patience to accomplish what needs to be done. Our interactions and conversations with family, friends and others can end up being strained and less productive than usual. So I thought this was a good opportunity to re-introduce some concepts I’ve written about before on the subject of Active Listening.
Further Thoughts on Mediation and the Japanese Art of Kintsugi
{2:00 minutes to read} Recently, I published an article entitled Mediation and the Japanese Art of Kintsugi. In my article I shared a wonderful metaphor of beauty and strength, demonstrated by the “golden” repairs the old Japanese masters made to their bowls and other pottery when these pieces were damaged.
In a comment on my blog, a colleague asked if I was familiar with the song “Japanese Bowl,” written by Peter Mayer.
6 Basic Tips for Handling Conflict
{3:06 minutes to read} While conflict in our lives is inevitable, how we handle it is ultimately our choice. That’s true whether we’re dealing with conflict in our private lives (with our partner, children, other family members, friends) or in our work lives (with our colleagues or other professionals).
Mediation and the Japanese Art of Kintsugi
{2:30 minutes to read} Kintsugi is a centuries-old Japanese master craft for repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with powdered gold. If you’ve ever been to a museum exhibit of old Japanese ceramics, you may have noticed the patterns of gold veins that run through some of the pieces. These pieces had been broken at some point, and the gold clearly shows where the repairs had been made as the master craftsman put the piece back together again.
How Do I Tell My Spouse I Want a Divorce?
{4:24 minutes to read} Not infrequently, when someone first calls me to discuss the possibility of divorce mediation, they will mention that they have not yet brought up the subject with their spouse. The caller (the initiating spouse) typically describes a marriage that has not been good for some time; the marriage no longer works for him or her and it needs to come to an end.
