Exploring one of life's most valuable gifts
With so much commercialization around the holidays, it can be hard to remember what makes this time of year truly meaningful – savoring connections and feelings of gratitude for the special people in our lives. At Language of Friendship, we’ve found that gift giving can be both enjoyable and memorable, especially with personal touch. Sara... Continue Reading →
When Julia and I visited Milwaukee a few weeks ago for our weekend away together, the final stop on our itinerary before we went our separate ways to travel home was The Milwaukee Art Museum. Julia had been there before, but I had only heard about it from friends and my husband, who swore it... Continue Reading →
Despite the 900+ miles that separate us, Sara and I usually try to connect at least once a week. Sometimes talking, more often texting, we find ways to stay closely connected. But nothing replaces the quality time enjoyed with a friend in person. We both realized we were long overdue for a few days of... Continue Reading →
When I was a kid, I lived for gymnastics. While other neighborhood kids were running around swinging bats and throwing balls, I was climbing door jams and forward-rolling my way across the living room until my mom enrolled me in classes. I loved learning how to front- and back-handspring down an expanse of open floormat... Continue Reading →
A former schoolmate of mine this week sent a few of us who grew up together a relic from our past. He had unearthed an intact copy of our junior high newspaper in his dad's basement. After scanning the black-and-white, primitive-looking pages, he contacted us through a Facebook group message with the PDF attached. He... Continue Reading →
Today is the day of the year designated for celebrating moms and mother figures. I've written before about how the day can elicit the range of emotions, and Julia and I both have recognized the value our own cherished moms have brought into our lives. My mother is a walking miracle. --Leonardo DiCaprio However you... Continue Reading →
Women's sports are having a moment. Along with over 14 million people, I witnessed Iowa’s victory over UConn in the recent Women's NCAA Final Four tournament. It was the most-watched women’s basketball game of all time and the largest audience ever for an ESPN basketball broadcast. As the daughter of a proud Iowa alum, it... Continue Reading →
In honor of this final day of Women’s History Month in 2024, I would like to share more of our friendship history; a history of two women that spans more than four decades and relocations to new states and a different country. People are sometimes surprised that the friendship between me and Sara has not... Continue Reading →
This month marks three years since Julia and I started this blog to explore topics related to friendship. So far, we've produced about 160 posts, a few of which have been republished by other outlets and one of which went viral. We have made a few podcast episodes and conducted one original survey. Our viewers... Continue Reading →
this month I wanted to honor the work of my friend Kristi Williams in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kristi is the founder of an organization called Black History Saturdays, which aims to supplement the education of black children in her community. Black history is American history; they're completely intertwined. Morgan Freeman I met Kristi last month when... Continue Reading →
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