About Me

OKAY, I'll give this a try. These are the things I am passionate about -- peace and social justice and that right be done -- children having a chance to unfold to the fullness of their promise -- people waking up and showing up to their obligations to take care of one another -- having my spirits elevated and sympathies enlarged by the beauty of music, art, nature, and friendship. I've been told that I have a certain energy and animation -- always wanting to engage others in conversation about subjects of some importance, say...the meaning of life. But then, when things get perhaps a bit too serious and inflated, I'll say something funny, which cracks people up. I suppose I'm pretty intense, but that's tempered by irony and a good deal of humor and, when I can muster it, humility. I listen deeply, but I also know I talk way too much -- and yearn to be able to speak the truth with greater clarity -- and fewer words. Speaking of talking, I've been told -- and this is a bit embarrassing (as is most flattery) -- that I have a nice voice -- "like Ronald Colman" (but, without the British accent) -- high praise, indeed. Professionally, I am a psychologist (well, there's a show-stopper) and these days occasionally teach and write -- but most of my time, I work with nonprofits in the areas of children's well-being, social justice, and human rights. Oh, one more thing -- years ago, while studying and working in New York City, my analyst said to me one day, "Oh, Dean, you can hold many more grains of sand in open hands than in clenched fists." That seemed pretty important. And, as the years have gone by, the truth of her statement has become abundantly clear.