Making My Gratitudes Real

(This Resilient Wednesday is a condensed version of an op-ed I wrote, and which was published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette a few years ago) Thanksgiving is the most psychologically powerful holiday we celebrate as a nation as we recognize and express gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Since the first Thanksgiving, this time represents a way for us to express our appreciation for the many good things in our lives. Sometimes, I’ve noticed, however, that my expressed gratitude can...

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Do It With Joy

In a powerful scene from the movie Gandhi, portrayed by Ben Kingsley, he asks his wife Kasturba, played by Rohin Hattanghadhi, to clean the ashram’s latrine upon the arrival of guests. When she hesitates, citing the task beneath her, Gandhi urges her to approach it joyfully, emphasizing the essence of equality in his mission. I’ve been thinking about this approach to my work and play. I always have better times when I jump in and fully appreciate the opportunity to...

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Resilience in Remembrance

Last week, marked the 5th anniversary of the tragic Tree of Life shooting, a day that is remembered forever in the hearts of Pittsburghers. Eleven lives were lost, representing the most significant antisemitic attack in American history. In commemoration, the community held a memorial service in Schenley Park. The atmosphere was tender and connected to a profound sense of support and togetherness. Children from diverse schools welcomed us with their heartfelt artwork created in their classrooms. Friends recognized us, and...

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Go With Your Strengths

I’ve been conducting several Strength Workshops recently. It seems to have many leaders and organizations are coming to see the value of focusing on their team member’s gifts. My journey into the world of strengths began with a fortuitous encounter at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While pursuing my doctorate, I crossed paths with Don Clifton, a professor in the Psychology Department. Don posed a simple but profound question: What if we shifted our focus from looking at what is wrong...

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The Resilience of Sports

As a graduate student at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, I was the evaluator for a federal grant, working with educators implementing the newly passed Title IX legislation. We met for two summers over two weeks. When we began our sessions, the administrators sat in the front, the counselors sat in the middle, and the coaches sat in the back. The coaches spent much of those first few days reading their newspapers. One of my evaluation approaches was to...

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The Family Business

We found it hidden in my mother’s closet when we cleaned her apartment after she died. The summary of legal findings from the State of New York Supreme Court determining the resolution of my grandmother’s estate. The document was filled with the painful memories my parents harbored as they watched their family business and relations dissolve.  The family business, Charles Citrin and Sons, which had supported five different families, blew up over the inability of the next generation to find...

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