David Morgen

Paul Payne

UUs from the fellowship also worked hard with other community groups to encourage the Greenville county council to rescind the resolution against homosexuality. Although they were not successful, their efforts and the efforts of those UUs at the Atlanta Prides taught me the importance of our second principle, which calls for justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. Their example challenges me to do the same.

This is why I was so happy to volunteer at the Unitarian Universalist booth yesterday and why I will proudly march with UUs from Northwest and the greater Atlanta area this afternoon at the Pride parade in Atlanta. As I do, I’ll also be cognizant that those simple acts might bring a message of inclusion to someone who needed it as much as I did almost two decades ago.

Tony Barbagallo

Years ago I created a rhetorical device to help confront difficult circumstances. When I am in a situation threatening to make me really unhappy I go through a checklist. Is this thing going to kill me? Is it going to kill someone near and dear to me? Is it going to seriously injure me or impair my long term health; or that of someone near and dear to me? Is it going to put my family and me into the street, with nowhere to turn? Once I get past the first few questions answering no, the problem starts to get into perspective. Things aren’t so dire.

Lynne Dale

All these studies together show that money, fame and sex eventually bring us addiction, isolation and unhappiness. Yet scientists say it is in our DNA to want these things because we are supposed to procreate and populate the earth, and we need money, power and fame to do it. But here’s the thing: Mother Nature doesn’t really care if we are happy or not. So our humanity drives us to these things that make us miserable. And if you want to steer clear of it all, it seems like it’s a constant battle.

What does free us from all this? I was talking recently with the mother of my son Jordan’s new college roommate. My new best friend. We were discussing how we were going to deal with our empty nests – with both our boys going off to college. She said that we had to find our “flow activities.” Say what? She told me a flow activity is one that inspires and challenges you, but does not cause you stress. A flow activity is one in which you are so engaged that you lose track of time. It has to be an activity you think of as voluntary, enjoyable, but with clear goals to success. Could be taking up an instrument you always wanted to play. Painting. Taking care of dogs at a shelter. For my new friend, it was gardening.