Tag: culture

What’s trending in our culture regarding relationships? Unfortunately, we see from time to time a negative, declining trend in responsible and honorable behavior. Dishonorable behaviors are a problem, especially where there is power or money at stake. So, having a dishonorable and dishonest foundation in a relationship is a recipe for disaster, especially when challenging times come. If you’re as concerned about it as I am, what can we do?

Self-Evaluate

In preparing to write my new book, "Engage with Honor: Building a Culture of Courageous Accountability," I read several excellent books on the subject of accountability.

You're the type of couple who finds cruise ships, theme parks and tour groups lack the vibrant culture you seek when traveling. You want to spend your precious vacation time away from the office in a place that is enriching, captivating and rewarding to your souls. Why sit in a beach chair when you can get out there and really experience life, stress-free, in a location where real people are actually living and working to make their community a draw to the rest of the world? Here are some great places to experience a more culturally enriching vacation:

I am going to confess that I am an adoring fan of A Star is Born. I watched the movie from a theater in Germany, after high encouragement from my date. It was the first movie I had seen in a year. And from the onset, I was hooked.

The success of the film A Star is Born suggests that our culture is ready to focus on how we measure success. It implicitly inspires us to raise standards of connectivity, and re-consider how we touch, communicate, give, receive and prioritize our relationships. Is there energy between us or are we just next to one another? Our culture, communities and homes are asking us to take the time to build vibrant and satisfying and compelling love lives. A Star Is Born phenomena speaks to this trend.

Loss hurts.

Both my grandfathers died before I could get to know them. Sexual abuse stole large chunks of my early childhood. One of my best friends died of a sudden illness when I was 12. My parents divorced. My mom disappeared into mental illness. My dad’s sudden, unexpected death when I was 15 shattered my world.

The hits came quickly and stuck deep. I was clueless about how to deal with it all. As a teen, I wondered if I was going to be able to weather future storms. I braced myself for the next loss. I lived in quiet fear, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

To produce truly great wine you need to appreciate the soil from which the grapes grow. You must also respect the culture of region and embrace the heritage that has enabled the fruit to ripen. These five wineries have done just that and are worth your time.

Benziger Family Winery

For more than 30 years Benziger Family Winery has farmed its 85-acre ranch on Sonoma Mountain. Only 35 of these acres are planted with vines. The rest of the estate is used for biodiversity to create a polyculture. Besides insectaries, gardens, sheep and cattle pastures, and more than 800 olive trees, there are two wetland areas used for water purification.

With his belief that the Napa Valley could be the center of a gracious lifestyle embracing wine, food, and art, in 1966 Robert Mondavi built the valley’s first major winery since Prohibition. Since then, Robert Mondavi Winery has been the quintessential destination for visitors to the Napa Valley, who are drawn by the winery’s history, the legacy of fine winemaking, the stunning mission inspired architecture by Cliff May, and the robust menus of tours, tastings, and elevated wine programs.

For many married couples with young teens, or for couples that have younger children who get free-reign of the remote control or have a television in their room, keeping tabs on what type of TV they’re watching can go right out the window when it comes to monitoring them on a daily basis. For instance, the highly publicized and risqué television show, Skins, debuted on Viacom’s MTV with a viewership of 3.3 million viewers and was its highest rated show in the 12-34 year-old demographic. Viacom, by the way, is the same company that brings you Dora the Explorer on Nickelodeon. You and your spouse don’t have to look too far to see the concerns with the show Skins—just watch the trailer if you haven’t already seen the show or read about it in the news.