Once upon a time, there was a seed and because it was only a seed, nobody cared to notice it. Thus, gripped by a sense of inferiority, the seed gave no importance to his existence. Then one day, a wind picked him up – randomly or otherwise he didn’t know – and threw him mercilessly […]

I’m sorry. I hope that over time, you will find peace. Whether we know each other or not, we’re all in this together. Melanie Hack Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend Read an excerpt now TV Shows and Clips about the Death of Cindy James

Sometimes, when I start to cry hard, I like to sit in my dad’s closet, or go into his office. I like to be somewhere that reminds me of him because it makes me feel he is closer. Death seems so far away, an unimaginable distance. When I was in his office last, I found […]

When I walked out the door every morning to leave for school, I always assumed that when I came back everything would be the same as when I woke up that morning. Now I know, regrettably, that life doesn’t work that way. Everything might be indescribably perfect one day, then the next, everything else could […]

My Father [Richard Carlson] was the most amazing man in my life. No one will ever take his place as long as I am on this Earth. I’m crying right now, but in a happy way because I know my daddy is with me. And I know so many people loved him so dearly and […]

Fill Your life With Love (excerpt from column published Dec. 18/2006) “The shortest distance between two points is an intention and this is certainly the case when it comes to becoming more loving to oneself and to others. We must first have the desire and then the intention and commitment to be a source of […]

The key is to be abundant and happy with yourself…then from that space you can reach out and help others. Melanie Hack Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend Read an excerpt now TV Shows and Clips about the Death of Cindy James

What would you do? You make the choice. Don’t look for a punch line…there isn’t one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice? At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten […]

Imagine driving along the road, mistakenly thinking you can drive through the water that is running across it, and having your car suddenly swept off the road by floodwaters and into a creek 200 yards away. You hope someone notices what happened but you’re afraid it isn’t until you fail to show up at work […]

Appreciation is a context of mind (an attitude) that colors your experience of life. For five minutes at the beginning of your day, and five minutes toward the end, sit quietly in a quiet place. With eyes closed, call to mind the people who have given you intangible (immaterial) gifts. (If this seems difficult, think […]