Thanks to Mary Cim, our brilliantly creative Art Director at Advanced Brain Technologies, The Brain Understanding Itself has received a facelift. Please comment and let me know what you think!

For those of you who are as fortunate as I to be an American citizen I wish you each a Happy Independence Day. Interestingly since I live in Utah and July 4th falls on a Sunday this year, we are celebrating tomorrow, July 3rd. I have never been able to quite get my hands around this idea, but in this great state of Utah this is how it is done.

Regardless of the day of celebration, July 4th Weekend is always a special time for me and one in which I feel immense gratitude to our founding fathers for their foresight and wisdom, to our military personnel for their commitment and bravery, and my family, friends, and fellow citizens as we unite and celebrate what it means to be Proud Americans!

Enjoy your parades, picnics, and fireworks and God Bless America!

A couple weeks ago I trekked to Wisdom House Retreat Center in Litchfield, CT to join in a weekend symposium for the newly formed Sound and Music Alliance (SAMA).  This was  a weekend like no other as I spent it with 100 of the most influential forces engaged in the intentional use of sound and music. SAMA is a technically a non-profit membership organization, but I feel it is best described as a community in the most real sense. People who care about a common cause, and are willing to invest themselves into the betterment of the community as a whole before their own self interests.

I had the opportunity to reunite with old friends, current colleagues, leaders who I have always wanted to meet, and bright young stars who will help us propel the awareness of the transformative power of music and sound for coming generations. Physicians, pediatric therapists, music therapists, listening therapists, psychotherapists, musicians, product developers, and a host of other specialists shared their vision, ideas, and creative wisdom to envision the future of this diverse field. What is the vision? From my seat in this very wide circle of influence it is clear… the unequivocal acceptance and understanding that the right sound and music can profoundly change your life.  That incorporating  sound health practices into your daily diet can help you to achieve wellness, happiness, and a longer, more fulfilled life.

There is much more to say, but for now I will share I am truly inspired by that weekend, and as I write listening to a Haydn String Quartet performed by the Arcangelos Chamber Ensemble and recorded by my dear departed friend and  former Music Director for Advanced Brain Technologies Richard Lawrence that I compel you to take note of the sound in your life and see its potential to change it for the better.

Please visit SAMA online and consider supporting the work of this fine organization by becoming a member.

I just returned home after a week long trip to Israel where we are opening a branch of our company. With the conflict in Gaza I went with some apprehension which was entirely lifted when I arrived in Tel Aviv and met my generous friends Ofer and Sigal Cohen.

While exposed to wonderful people and places there is a moment I experienced which will stay with me forever. 

Here is the story. I was in Jerusalem walking with Ofer from the Mt. Of Olives up a long stone path behind the Western Wall on the way back to the Old City. Ahead was an Arabic man with a white donkey. As he came down and we walked up we were greeted with an extended hand. Ofer offered him money to take his photo and instead this sage told us “He does not want money, he just wants peace”. What wisdom this man shared who has spent the last 50 years with his geriatric donkey walking around Jerusalem selling Kerosene. This man with kind eyes and warm heart who had nothing according to my western sensibility had everything he needed.

What a lesson…In a land of conflict, peace is the greatest asset.