Exploring one of life's most valuable gifts
Labor Day symbolizes the end of summer, yet it also marks the beginning of a season that's always felt more grounding to me. It’s the back-to-school season that in the past often meant the start of a new apartment lease in my adopted hometown of Chicago, and, more than once, a transition to a new... Continue Reading →
Julia's post last week about navigating transitions got me thinking about how we are on the threshold of fall. Before summer ends, I decided to take a look back on the season to make sure I've squeezed in everything I'd hoped to do before the days start getting shorter and darker again. Summer's lease hath... Continue Reading →
The movie The Drama received a ton of attention earlier this year when it was first released, but I finally saw it recently after it appeared on home streaming services. I was riveted by the conflict that formed the basis for the plot, which revolves around a young couple's romance, engagement and pending wedding. Without... Continue Reading →
Lung cancer is a group of diseases that can affect anyone with a set of lungs. Although people who smoke cigarettes are at high risk of developing lung cancer, smoking is not the only risk factor. In honor of World Lung Cancer Day this week, I'd like to share a few facts that I learned... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago, we brought home Frankie, one of my friend Tracy’s beloved cats. Tracy loved her two cats Frankie and Henry, and her husband Doug, more of a dog guy, knew that loving Tracy meant opening his home and heart to her cats as well. During Tracy’s final weeks, the normalcy and... Continue Reading →
When my neighbor recently asked me where I get my dog groomed, I hesitated to answer. I wanted to help out her and her dog, of course, as well as the groomer who might appreciate additional business. But, I have been bitten (so to speak) a few times in the past by sharing with friends... Continue Reading →
A growing number of experts are emphasizing the importance of mattering, the sense that we are valued and that we add value to others’ lives. Jennifer Breheny Wallace writes in her book, Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, that, “Mattering is what psychologists call a “meta-need” or “umbrella term” because... Continue Reading →
Independence Day celebrations are always fun, but this year the festivities continue throughout the month of July in observance of America's 250th birthday. On July 8, many cities and towns are sponsoring a simultaneous public reading of the Declaration of Independence to commemorate the document's first reading in Philadelphia's Independence Square in 1776. Here in... Continue Reading →
I was first introduced to Ed Sheeran’s music more than a decade ago and immediately became a fan. The lyrics for many of his songs tell stories; some sad, others uplifting. Supermarket Flowers, written about his late grandmother’s illness and passing, was released a year after my dad died in 2016 and I appreciated how... Continue Reading →
Every time I log into my Netflix account, a bunch of recommendations pop up for shows and movies that the company's algorithm tells me I would like. I usually don't pay much attention, because I am almost always already equipped with a running list of recommendations from my friends and family. Call me old school,... Continue Reading →
Language of Friendship 