Exploring one of life's most valuable gifts
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 →
Anytime is a great season to read poetry, but summer's slower pace seems to lend itself well to the more mindful contemplation of poetic works. Many of the great poets have found inspiration in friendship. We have collected a few of our favorite friendship-related poems to inspire your musings as you enjoy the season. What... Continue Reading →
Last summer we wrote about a return to post-Covid travel and how pent-up demand led to new highs in travel bookings around the globe. It also led to spikes in travel costs, a big reason why my family decided to trade in our annual week on Cape Cod for a long weekend near the Blue... Continue Reading →
June has always been a month of celebrations in my family. My dad and two older sisters were born in June, my parents were married in June, and of course, there’s Father’s Day. Mixed in with an already busy month, my dad generally preferred if no fuss was made over him. In his mind, he... Continue Reading →
It's that time of year in New England when the daylight lasts until almost bedtime, and my local friends begin disappearing for weeks at a time to the beach. Although summer schedules mean we may not see each other in person as often as usual, one way we stay connected is through our reading. Someone... Continue Reading →
Language of Friendship 