Something that’s fascinating about memory is noticing what sticks in our minds creating a powerful imprint – even though years or decades have passed. One of these small yet magical memories that have staying power actually arose as a solution to a dilemma I faced as a young mother. Specifically, I was invited to speak … Read more
Life is about showing up. I just enjoyed a 48-hour visit to Toronto to celebrate a family wedding—my husband and I joined my niece and nephew as they celebrated their oldest daughter’s marriage. As the couple stood under their wedding canopy, waves of nostalgia cascaded through my mind as I remembered dozens of meaningful celebrations. … Read more
There’s something about a wide-open road that conjures up possibility and adventure. The lure of travel. The hero’s journey, or just a bad-ass road trip. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 is a classic rhythm-and-blues standard that the Nat “King” Cole Trio made famous in 1946. The song perfectly encapsulated post-World War II optimism as … Read more
Florists, Chocolatiers, and restaurants gear up for the twenty–four–hour love-fest known as Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, young children are busy creating cherished heirlooms such as necklaces constructed out of painted dried pasta; photos with hand-decorated cardboard picture frames festooned with lots of sparkles and glitter, and, my personal favorite, gushy “Happy Mother’s Day” cards that get taped to … Read more
High Quality Connections (HQCs) serve as an anchor, making our lives more meaningful in a tumultuous world. These connections create upward spirals of positivity, where people communicate and receive mutual recognition, respect, and trust. When we prioritize relationships with family, friends, and ourselves—and nurture these connections—we actually rewire our brains for greater positivity. This Valentine’s … Read more
Chocolate-covered strawberries somehow tasted sweeter sharing them with my mother in the coziness of her apartment just days after she was released from the hospital. Watching my four-and-three-quarters granddaughter intently focused on making special Valentine’s cards for her mommy and daddy and of course beloved “GG” (aka great-grandmother) reminded me of the start of … Read more
This morning, I am sitting in the hospital waiting room while my mother undergoes spinal surgery in a pristine, state-of-the-art operating room two floors away. In the weeks and months leading up to this moment, both of us have experienced all of our emotions, although not necessarily the same ones at the same time. Working … Read more
Art has a powerful way of permeating our consciousness and impacting our worldview. I’ll always cherish the memory of the first time I stood in front of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. This monumental, granite sculpture of the Civil Rights Movement leader is located in West Potomac Park next to the National Mall … Read more
“Gmmmahhh!” To the untrained ear it probably sounded like an indistinguishable babble. However, when my son, Jonathan, playfully prompted my adorable baby granddaughter Natalie to say the word “Grandma” over and over again, she responded in kind by saying, “Gmmmahhh!” Watching the interaction on Facetime made my heart flutter. I’ve been a big fan of … Read more
It’s a typical 21st century occurrence when a large group of people spontaneously converge with cellphones held aloft to capture something for posterity, or at least for a new Instagram post. Such was the case when I looked up from my latest book to discover fifty people walking along the beach, all pointing their cellphones … Read more