You've probably heard the expression "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Well, Dr. Peebles has sure taught a lot of people how to make lemonade over the years. He never sees our lives and experiences as "wrong" or "bad." Instead he says, "There are no mistakes, only growth."

Living in this often very opinionated and judgmental world can be so difficult. People lambast one another for political, religious and sexual preferences. Even food preferences, or whether you choose paper or plastic at the grocery store, or bring your own bags, becomes an issue with some people. We're too fat or too thin, too tall or too short. I even had a man standing behind me in the bank comment on the fact that he felt my hair was too blond! Unfortunately, as the world judges us, we often become our worst judge, comparing ourselves with with unattainable body images, feeling ashamed because we prefer a good juicy burger over a quinoa salad, feeling ashamed about our job or financial status, and hiding our mystical beliefs from our Christian families, friends and co-workers. There are endless ways in which we can choose to feel badly about ourselves.

What's In a Name?
By Summer Bacon

When I was 16 years old I met a 24 year old, wonderful man, who I will call "J" in order to protect his identity. He was a drummer in a rock band in Los Angeles. He was very short, very funny, and very wise. His eyes twinkled, and his stylish mullet emphasized his strong features. To compensate for being short, he wore boots with six inch heels, which fortunately were in vogue due to David Bowie's popularity, and a rock band called the New York Dolls.