Exploring one of life's most valuable gifts
Sometimes a meaningful gift—one that is sincere, beautiful, and personal—can be a powerful reminder of a connection. Staying connected with friends in adulthood can be challenging, when work and family responsibilities seem to dominate our time. If we’ve moved across the country as adults, friendships can span states and time zones, making it even more... 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 →
If you've ever wondered why female friendships can sometimes feel so messy and complicated when compared to male relationships, you may be interested in reading friendship coach Danielle Bayard Jackson's new book on the subject entitled Fighting for Our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women's Relationships. I became curious about... Continue Reading →
On this Father’s Day, we pause to honor the steadfast presence that so many fathers, and father figures, bring to our lives. They’re the early morning alarm clocks, the after-hours homework helpers, and in the case of my dad, the person who always made sure my car was full of gas. Dads teach us resilience... Continue Reading →
Podcasting seems to have taken over from talk radio as the primary outlet for listening to long-form entertainment and news. Many popular personalities--including Oprah Winfrey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus--have migrated to the medium to interview guests, tell stories and explore topics ranging from unsolved mysteries to menopause. Early on, even Julia and I tried to integrate... Continue Reading →
Spending time in nature can be refreshing, and research shows it's essential to our well-being. Beyond emotional relief, nature plays a powerful role in stress reduction and often improves overall mood. When life feels overwhelming, retreating to an outdoor space can provide refuge and a sense of connection. The Mayo Clinic Press reported last spring... Continue Reading →
Our first post about friendship-themed poems continues to be one of our most popular to date, so we're adding a few more to our list. We hope you enjoy them - and please add poems you like in the comments so we can build on this list of favorites! On Friendship by Kahlil Gibran--A meditation... Continue Reading →
Language of Friendship 