Exploring one of life's most valuable gifts
February will mark five years since the first Language of Friendship blog post, when Sara and I decided to write about friendship and its impact on our lives. With this anniversary approaching, I find myself reflecting on how valuable and diverse my friendships are. We make our first friends early in life, before we can... Continue Reading →
The middle of January, one of our darkest months, seems like a fitting time for a national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He shined a bright spotlight on the systemic racial injustice and inequality suffered by Black Americans, leading to major societal changes including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting... Continue Reading →
January is a tough month in most of the U.S. Not only is it cold and dark when I start and end my commute each day, but the return to work or school after a holiday break is just hard. Over the years, I’ve relied on a few coping techniques, such as working out more... Continue Reading →
Welcome to 2026! We hope you enjoyed a festive holiday season with friends and family. Now that the new year is here, I've been looking at the calendar to see what opportunities this year has in store for making memories together with people you care about. I've found plenty of events to add to my... 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 →
Saying goodbye to a beloved friend can be every bit as heartbreaking as a romantic breakup. When the bonds of friendship have a firm grip on you, facing a goodbye can be a painful reminder of how much your friends mean to you. My exchange student Lea returned home to Sweden a few weeks ago.... Continue Reading →
Earlier this summer, my son John graduated from high school. Since then, his calendar has been filled with graduation parties, a summer basketball league, and just hanging out with friends. In late August, John will start college at Syracuse University in upstate New York. While I'm excited for him, I will really miss him. Fortunately,... Continue Reading →
Greetings from East Tennessee! I’m here with my husband relaxing, taking in the views and vistas of the Great Smokey Mountains. I hadn’t been here since I was a kid, but the mountains are every bit as spectacular as I remember. As you know from her post last week, Julia enjoyed her annual visit to... Continue Reading →
As the 4th of July approaches, it's a great reminder to make the most of longer summer days with family and friends. Growing up my summertime highlight was my family's annual trip to Cape Cod. I loved visiting so much, I decided to work there summers during college, and as an adult resumed visiting the... Continue Reading →
Language of Friendship 