I can’t believe it! The long, warm days of summer are coming to an end. And what a summer! Aside from some days of smoky haze, we had great weather. The long dry spell made up for the long wet winter. But I will still savor the sunny days of September.

For kids and parents, the days before the start of the school year are busy. Families fill the malls with back to school shoppers— buying new clothes, new shoes, and replacements for worn out backpacks. I always loved getting school supplies—new notebooks, pencils, and crayons. Read more about Dr. Paul's Tips: Back to School

The recent events in Charlottesville were troubling and frightening. The images of adults carrying Nazi and KKK symbols, with weapons, openly in our country, brought back many terrifying memories to those of us that grew up in the fifties and sixties. Segregation in the south was a reality during those years.  Civil rights activists were beaten, arrested, and killed. To take a stand against segregation and for equal rights took enormous courage. A friend of my family was one of the civil rights activists who was killed during that era. Read more about Is this who we are?

Last week, my daughter arrived in Seattle with her husband and her 6-month-old daughter in tow! She is spending two weeks with us, camped out in our bedroom with a “pack and play” crib. Of course, the easiest and most enjoyable part of her visit is holding our granddaughter and watching her put all manner of things in her mouth. Needless to say, she has completely charmed us. We are putty in her hands. Read more about The Modern Art of Grandparenting

This spring I sat at a coffee shop in Lisbon enjoying a sunny morning in Portugal, towards the end of a lovely trip with my wife. It was a beautiful, warm day. I felt content and peaceful. As I watched the world go by, I was struck by an interesting thought that touched down in my mind, like a plane coming in for a landing—How could I be a better person? I decided to investigate this thought a little more—after all, I had nothing I had to do at that moment. Read more about Can good become better?

Not long ago, a colleague, Bill, shared with me his sense of loneliness in his marriage. He and his wife, Sarah, have been married for many years, raised a family, and enjoy spending time with their two grandchildren. Bill worked long hours on his career. It was important for him to provide for his family and save money for his kid’s college education. Through hard work, he accomplished those goals.  Now, on the doorstep of retirement and looking ahead, he’s worried about the state of his union. Read more about Is your marriage on empty?