Articles
Browse every published article connected to Marlene Buffa, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
Articles
Browse every published article connected to Marlene Buffa, or search within this exact expert archive.
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. --William Arthur Ward Each year, millions of children return to school to complete another year of education in their young lives. Some anxiously await the first day of school ...
We've all heard the tell-tale idiom, “If it ain't broke, don't fix it.” This wise insight instructs us to stop imposing revisions on that which already functions sufficiently – no enhancements necessary. Like a woman whose natural beauty shines forth, altering the symmetry of ...
I had discovered, early in my researches, that their doctrine was no mere chemical fantasy, but a philosophy they applied to the world, to the elements, and to man himself. W.B. Yeats, Rosa Alchemicann Alchemy is the art of manipulating life, and consciousness in matter, to help it ...
Stuck in traffic with vehicles in the lanes on both sides of me moving slowly but consistently, I read a sign on the back of the truck ahead of me. "Inside height 110" from nose to rear" Sometimes, on morning drives to work, I find a lane and stay put. Almost driving on auto-pilot this ...
Freedom: In humans, the power or capacity to choose among alte atives or to act in certain situations independently of natural, social, or divine restraints. Brittanica Online In America, we equate the celebration of freedom with July, the month of the signing of the Declaration of Independence from King George. After the Civil War, all Americans born on our soil experienced freedom as their birthright. Our founding fathers no longer wanted us to experience freedom FROM something, rather the freedom TO choose one’s own way.
Recorded history focuses on government and spans time by ticking the meter of war. From as early as the Bronze Age, one of the first recorded conflicts arose in Greece, popularly known as the Trojan War. As we study world history, we notice that most wars arose from either greed or ...
Often in the everyday stream of things, we enjoy comfortable assumptions which allow us to float on the river of life. Sometimes facing reefs of regret or butting against the banks of negativity, we nonetheless continue on our voyage. We see that we cannot travel backwards upstream since that ...
Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. Viktor Frankl – Man’s Search for Meaning As our nation moves into its 233rd year of independence from Great Britain, we ...
Never officially canonized as a saint, Nicholas of Myra (a Greek speaking province of Rome in what is now Turkey), gained affection by secretly giving gifts to the townspeople. In the 3rd century, his moniker, Nicholas the Wonderworker, reflected his many good deeds and contributions to his ...
Ever notice when you're on vacation, time really flies by? It seems like you can't jam enough of your favorite activities into one day, then the next day begins! Often we hear co-workers, upon return from a week away, say, "I need a vacation to recover from my vacation!" Usually, time away from ...
My niece Taylor, when asked how she enjoyed first day of school, responded with a sigh, "I went to school, I learned everything and I came home." The innocent child, unaware of her wisdom, went about her playful activities after a hard day at kindergarten. Unbeknownst to her, her declaration ...
Born and raised in Michigan, I knew the move to Phoenix would bring profound changes to my life. Accustomed to a lifetime in a state with beautiful lakes and lush landscape, I learned to live with the native insects and wondered about the types of critter-life I’d find in the desert southwest.
The month of May joyfully reminds us of the rebirth of nature. In acknowledgment, we celebrate Mother’s Day – honoring our birth mothers, and ultimately our spiritual mothers. Symbolizing the greater gifts of the earth as Mother to all living things, we dedicate one day to recognizing our origins by honoring she who gave us life, and the earth which sustains our life.
When asked if she would continue to perform even after retirement, Beverly Sills was reported to have responded, “No. I’ve done that already.”
A steam engine is a device that converts the potential energy that exists as pressure in steam, and converts that to mechanical force. About.com While watching the scrolling banner at the bottom of a major network newscast, I saw an intriguing misspelling. The brief synopsis discussed hurt ...
“Here is my secret. It is very simple. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.” Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Le Petit Prince Rich with sensory perception, our human experience allows us to take in and assimilate the world around us. Unlike ...
Secular Of or belonging to the present or visible world as distinguished from the ete al or spiritual world. Not dedicated to religious uses. ---Oxford English Dictionary Proper names in the past 50 years or more, morphed into our speech patterns as common, immediately identifiable nouns ...
Puzzles exercise our mind. We all know that keeping our minds stimulated increases our knowledge of the world we live in and contributes to our sense of well-being and fun. An active, healthy mind, hungry to learn more and explore new ideas enhances not only ourselves, but those around us. ...
Every morning, I take a walk for a half hour. I usually follow the same route through my neighborhood and greet the same neighbors and dogs on their daily ritual, as well. I use my walk as a time of reflection and preparation for my day. I honor myself with time for prayer and gratitude so ...
More and more my gardening skills lack enthusiasm. The other day, with grass freshly long from a deep periodic irrigation, I decided to mow the back yard. A few weeks ago, I brought the mower in to the repair shop for regular maintenance and the last time I used it, it started up fine. This time, I primed the carburetor and pulled the cord – again and again. After 43 times (yes, I counted!) I gave up. That’s when the universe decided to demonstrate a practical, yet very enlightening allegory. Priming the pumpr
One time or another, we’ve all collected things. From the raised trunk elephant, to flying pigs, to railroad memorabilia, there’s a little bit of a collector in all of us. We surround ourselves with material goods fashioned into representations of things that make us happy on some level. ...
Last week while raking up the winter leaves in my yard, I thought of how confidently we go through life assured that the dirt beneath our feet provides us with a steady foundation. We can scrape away the surface, clean up debris, yet Mother Earth remains solid – something we depend on. Then, I thought of that carnival ride, which when spun around creates centrifugal force, and then the floor drops out beneath the riders. As children we boarded the ride knowing the bottom falls out, but not sure of when.
Tonight, my friend Ann and I went to a local salad bar for dinner. I said, “My salad tastes so good. I’m really enjoying it.” I quickly added, as though astonished, “Of course it’s good – I choose it myself!” Just then, I realized that every aspect of ...
Hypothesized as referring to God creating the universe, Abracadabra roughly means "I create as I speak." Possible linguistic sources such as Aramaic or Hebrew also indicate similar definitions ranging from "it will be according to what is spoken" and "I shall bless, I shall speak." From Fairy ...
A Boulangerie is a bakery which sells breads and rolls. A pâtisserie is a French bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets. My friend Ann and I walk two miles to the nearby gourmet grocery store. Contained within the store, resides a most decadent Boulangerie. The bakery also sells ...
Halloween brings to light our memories and our apprehensions and enlivens our imagination. Each year we honestly portray ourselves as something other than who we are, and venture out into the night fearlessly asking for what we want from strangers and friends. The chant, “Trick or Treat!” resounds on neighborhood streets, with a telltale confidence that our abundant rewards, sweet and freely given, fill the largest container we dare to hold. Life, too, offers us the opportunity to boldly request our desires from others as well as the Universe.
From stuffed turkeys to full tummies, we celebrate Thanksgiving by immersing ourselves in the moment. We enjoy ourselves by coming together and sharing our food and memories. We reflect on our country, our faith and our family. The day-long – and sometimes week-long – preparation ...
While visiting my dear Aunt Frances in Hospice, I asked her, "What's the secret to a successful marriage?" "How should I know?" she replied, "I've only been married once." "Exactly," I smiled, remembering her speak fondly of her 51 years with my uncle. You can't help who you fall in love ...
Living Backwards or in Reverse? T.H. White in his series, Once and Future King, told the tale of the legendary King Arthur. Here, White presented Merlyn, a friend and wizard to the King, who lived backwards in time. Merlyn relied on his memory of the future to guide and mentor Arthur, all the ...
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. n~William Arthur Ward Each year, millions of children return to school to complete another year of education in their young lives. Some anxiously await the first day of ...
There's nothing quite like getting a big spoon, and dipping into the creamy surface of a newly opened jar of peanut butter! Similarly, life opens us up to smooth-surfaced possibilities with delicious experiences contained inside. Often, our fear holds us back from lavishing in all the good ...
… for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3:19 As we move from old thinking of limitation, lack and unworthiness, we find our outer world reflects our new inner mindset. Tired, self-deprecating slogans and even doctrine, saw our ancestors struggle with their own ...
In America, we look at the month of July as the celebratory beginning of our nation’s independence from King George of Great Britain. As children of the world’s then-superpower, we revolted against the constraints of the remote royal family and declared our path, thus forging a life based on freedom of the individual and of each state. When we step back and look at our spiritual choices, we see that our beliefs, long held and practiced, provide a sense of comfort, yet also keep us close in a circle and cycle of ritual and acquiescence.
I recently visited a meeting on a topic of interest primarily to men. Out of 30 attendees, only 4 women attended. When a female acquaintance joined me at my table, she noted the few women at the meeting and said she thought the odds were good she’d find a man to connect with since the subject matter was of mutual interest. After a few minutes of scanning the room, she sighed and said that although the room was filled with men, she found none of them suited her.
When asked his favorite instrument, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart responded, “the human voice.” Perhaps Mozart considered the voice as God’s authentic expression, while manmade instruments, although artfully played, provided simply a conduit through which true music traveled. When we think about the complexity of singing – either on the level of a Mozart opera or in the shower – we notice the elements involved.
A new calendar year urges us to set new intentions for the coming twelve months. Often playful, sometimes serious, these resolutions allow us to focus on what we hope to accomplish and also allow us an opportunity to ponder the possibilities we map out for ourselves. Faced with a pencil and blank sheet of paper, we look up towards the ceiling as we strive to articulate our dreams, aspirations adventures for the coming year. One popular goal, appearing for many of us year to year, is to lose weight.
In the romanticism of this nation’s early years, the one-room schoolhouse represents ingenuity at its finest. Depicted in the movies as the epicenter of the small, rural communities, this learning environment united the spirits of cooperation, patience, initiative and flexibility.
Our friends provide us with the most amazing reflections of ourselves through their patient understanding and perspective. Often when things seem difficult in our lives, we pout, whine, get angry and ultimately wonder how life will ever be the same again. One quiet, sensible friend, will ...
My father enjoyed laughing at himself. He also imparted his truisms in humorous ways, sometimes repeatedly, hoping we understood his underlying meaning. One of his silly antics included the bathroom mirror. He’d walk into the bathroom and let out a yell. “Ack!” he paused, “Phew, it’s only ...
When the clock strikes midnight at the end of December 31st, we realize that even though we may not want to move forward into the New Year, we ran out of the old year. The end of the road. It’s done, it’s over, it’s gone. When we put the new calendar on the wall, we begin with January and realize that we have 365 days to again create the life we choose to live. Instead of mindlessly crossing off each day as though it were something to endure, this year look at the coming months as part of a grand adventure.
Years ago, the television show Saturday Night Live, included a skit where Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest played blue collar workers discussing their masochistic habits. Describing painful physical events, absurdly orchestrated, the opposing character grimaced and replied, “Ooh, I hate when that happens.” The audience laughed not only because of Crystal’s comedic timing or splendidly delivered line, rather they recognized the irony of self-destructive behavior.
My favorite holiday of the year – Halloween – a time when people honestly pretend to be something other than who they are! By donning our masks and putting on makeup and costumes, we cloak ourselves in a persona vastly different from how we present ourselves every day. The new façade creates an illusion of a new identity as we stay in character. We celebrate the goblins and ghosts which lurk around us this harvest and introspectively examine the spirits within us which haunt us as we roam the earth. Own worst enemyr
Each morning I blow out the candle I lit the night before. A large glass globe sits inside of a metal stand and the candle, either a short or tall pillar, rests inside the base of the globe. 4:30 a.m. The dogs woke me up.r