Compromise
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” — Socrates {3 minutes to read} This is actually a quote from a character named Socrates in Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that Changes Lives, by Dan Millman. As I read this…
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“You can’t always get what you want; You can’t always get what you want; But, if you try sometimes, You just might find, You get what you need.” Mick Jagger and Keith Richards I occasionally find myself humming this tune. In doing so, I remember the lyrics and then realize that Mick Jagger and Keith…
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{3:30 minutes to read} For several years now, I have been a member of the board of directors of a cooperative building, aka “co-op,” in New York. Our role is to protect the assets of the shareholders. In doing so, we make decisions regarding the financials and the maintenance of the building, approving new buyers,…
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{3:42 minutes to read} Working in mediation with couples going through divorce, I am at times concerned about some of the demands they have as they separate their lives and their assets. Rather than working out an agreement that is equitable and fair, some people are driven by revenge, anger, and a need to punish…
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{3:00 minutes to read} People usually relate a story or an incident from their own perspective, and sometimes that same story can sound quite different depending on who the storyteller is. Here is a little anecdote that might amuse you: I was standing on a crowded bus one day. A woman was sitting in front…
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{3:54 minutes to read} Some people anticipating a separation or divorce think or may have heard through the grapevine, about necessary prerequisites to starting divorce mediation. You know how the grapevine is. You can’t rely on everything they say being correct. So I thought it would be helpful to clarify 5 of the most frequently…
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{3:30 minutes to read} My father’s hobby was art collecting. Much of his leisure time was spent studying, reading art books and going to museums. When he found a work of art that he loved, he HAD to have it NOW. Most of the time, he bought from galleries, from other collectors and occasionally at…
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{3:18 minutes to read} Separating couples each have a personal story and their own reasons for seeking a divorce. Even when the narrative of the breakup is similar, there are still many differences, if only because of the personalities involved. But there is one line that I hear quite frequently: Just because he/she wants a…
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In divorce, we are familiar with parenting plans which outline, often in great detail, how separating parents will each spend time with their children. Though not as common, we are also familiar with “pet parenting plans” which describe how separating couples will take turns caring for their pet. In addition to children and pets, there…
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{2:50 minutes to read} I have realized as I have grown older, more experienced, and hopefully a little wiser that, when appropriate, sharing some things about ourselves can let others know that we are human. We certainly understand and respect what they may be going through, and we can empathize with their feelings, because often…
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