Wherever we go, we create community. Within our work settings and the places we live, they become the family we no longer live near, bringing us closer together. A year and a half ago, my son moved to a marginalized neighborhood to complete his schooling. The oasis of his newly flipped house with shiny appliances […]
In My Grandmother’s Kitchen
A familiar place. It looked the same, yet I experienced it in a different light. The cabinets were warm and inviting. From the kitchen window, I could see cows grazing, and the 100-year-old sink is now a chic “farm sink” seen in magazines of designer kitchens. Funny how some things never go out of style. […]
Auld Lang Syne
Scottish poet Robert Burns, reminded us that as we bid farewell to the year past, we ring in newness and hopefulness for what’s to come. It matters that we both reconnect to our past and move forward with our future. New Year’s Day is particularly sacred to me as this is the day my son […]
It’s the Little Things
I read a poem years ago entitled “It’s the Little Things That Count.” Sometimes I think that in my search for big things, I disregard the little things that define my daily life. Recently I was looking for a big thing and met dead ends. I wanted to do more with my career, to face […]
C.H.A.R.L.E.S.
There’s grace and beauty in being with someone on their first day and their last. Few times in life allow us that moment. Being present for a birth is full of hope and joy and awe. Death has entirely different emotions. Dad died a few weeks ago at ninety-three, leaving an incredible legacy in living […]
He Has a Mother Too
The large full sound of the piano keys drew me in. Warm, resonating, beautiful. His music filled this once sanctuary, turned place of rest and meditation, and sometimes place of worship, long after the notes were silent. “Have you seen him before?” I asked. He had been there a couple of times, but this was […]
Bending the Arc
The documentary Bending the Arc addresses our global health care system which is often guided by underlying political choices of morality v injustice. The story follows a handful of US educated persons who founded Partners in Health (PIH) in Cange, Haiti in response to the tuberculosis virus that was ravaging the country. From there, PIH […]
Say Yes!
Say yes as much as possible. Kids want parents to say yes to everything. They ask “Why?” and reversely, may be thinking “Why Not?” Kids do not see the hazards and pitfalls that can follow decisions. They see a world before them and wonder why others are not doing what they are doing. They see […]
A Seat at the Table
Many, ranging from gangsters to politicians, have been credited with the quote, “You’re either at the table, or on the menu.” Make sure you are at the table. If not, you will likely end up on the menu. Do you ever feel as if you are being served up as chopped liver when those around […]
Triumph of Achievement
No doubt, the New Year is a reflective time – a time to take stock in our values, time, energies, successes, and failures. The latter is hard to admit but essential. With reflection, we circle back to those mantras that guide our opinions, serve as checks and balances in our decision-making, and help us move […]