Exploring one of life's most valuable gifts
Fall is often considered a season for new beginnings. For those celebrating Rosh Hashanah this weekend, marking the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, it’s an opportunity for reflection and renewal. Most people would probably benefit from stepping back from the daily routines in their lives for a period of reflection. Even those who... Continue Reading →
If you've ever seen the opening sequence of the movie Zero Dark Thirty, then you've heard my college friend Melissa Doi's beautiful voice. I still haven't seen the movie, but I remember well the first time I heard the recording used in that movie of Melissa's actual 9-1-1 call to emergency services from the 83rd... Continue Reading →
Years ago, I quit my job in New York City and was in the process of moving out of my apartment for a new adventure in Boston when I decided to drop everything and fly out to Los Angeles for my dear friend Steph's wedding. I had no budget for this, so fortunately I found... Continue Reading →
Can you consider a person you’ve never met to be a friend? I love to read memoirs, and I’ve encountered authors over the years who write in a way that makes me feel like I know them. At times, their words and experiences have resonated with me so deeply that I almost feel they could... Continue Reading →
My favorite two board games when I was a kid were Battleship and Clue. I’d play either one with anyone who was willing to join me. Both games encouraged not only logical reasoning skills, but they also involved imagination and conversation among players. As a parent, I taught my kids to play Battleship and Clue.... Continue Reading →
I love music. All kinds of music. To the point that I am sometimes teased for how inconsistent my musical tastes are. I’m happy to listen to many genres, as they are meaningful in different ways. I’ll listen to the Oppenheimer soundtrack in the car with my older son, then arrive home to hear my... Continue Reading →
The idea of a movie about Barbie sounded totally ridiculous to me when I first heard about it. I couldn’t believe such a star-studded cast and talented director Greta Gerwig had been talked into participating in a Mattel-driven project about a doll that seemed so utterly out of touch with modern life and girlhood. Once... Continue Reading →
Growing up, I was an ardent baseball fan. My mom’s family were diehard Red Sox fans and my dad followed the Chicago Cubs. So, when it was time to trade in my Cubs bleacher seats for folding chairs at Little League games, I was ready. My younger son Will discovered a passion for playing baseball... Continue Reading →
Now that we're well into July, the heat is on and summer activities have kicked into high gear. At Language of Friendship, we've done our best to make the most of the warmer weather and get outdoors. Julia and I always look forward to this time of year and plan ahead for it. Because we... Continue Reading →
What does a research study that began 85 years ago tell us about living a ‘good life?’ Apparently, quite a lot. The Harvard Study of Adult Development (HSAD or the Study), a longitudinal research study that began in 1938 and tracked more than 700 individuals for over eight decades, was structured with singular goal in... Continue Reading →
Language of Friendship 