Exploring one of life's most valuable gifts
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 →
Longer days in May are a welcome reminder that summer is almost here. For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived for my family’s annual summer trip to the beaches of Cape Cod. And in June I’m headed back to the Cape for the first time since 2022 with my now larger, blended family.... Continue Reading →
One of the most important relationships in all of our lives is with our mothers. These relationships can certainly be complicated, but there's no question that they are powerful and impactful. Julia and I have written before about our moms and also about being moms. Since today is the day for celebrating moms, we would... Continue Reading →
Since Sara and I live an airplane ride apart, the times we meet up in Boston, Kentucky, Chicago or any other destination we’ve chosen to visit, are truly special. In late April, we were able to spend an evening together in Chicago with our families and Sara’s exchange student, Lea, at one of my favorite... Continue Reading →
Our family has been hosting an 18-year-old Swedish exchange student named Lea since she arrived back in August to begin experiencing life in the United States. She fits right in with our family and has been enjoying her year, which has been flying by. Lea quickly made close friends at the local high school in... Continue Reading →
April 23 is World Book Day, an opportunity to reflect on the transformative power of stories. We’ve shared book recommendations in past blog posts, and in honor of World Book Day, we’d like to share a few good reads about friendships that transcend geography, generations, and even species. We invite you to join us this... Continue Reading →
Earlier this week, I was talking with a friend who has been actively involved for years with the Washington DC-based music non-profit Sitar Arts Center, which provides otherwise unavailable access to quality music education and fosters community. My friend was simply gushing about how enriching the experience of working with this organization has been for... Continue Reading →
Since last spring I’ve been helping my 18-year-old son navigate the college admissions journey. In many ways, I’m better equipped than most parents since I’ve worked for and with universities, so I know a lot about the vagaries of the admissions process. However, those same qualifications created a bit of hubris in the approach I... Continue Reading →
Language of Friendship 