Bonjour (encore) from Paris!  Thanks to my wonderful sojourn here in 2025, I couldn’t resist the temptation to return in 2026. This year I’m building on my “Paris pivot” and going deeper. It’s a retreat, once again, where I’m regrouping, reenergizing, and this time… writing. More on that in the future! For now, I’m delighted … Continue reading Bonjour (Encore!) from Paris: My 2026 Summer Reading List

Sometimes you need a dose of inspiration. I was moved when I saw that Bruce Springsteen had written a song to honor the lives of Michelle Good and Alex Pretti and to commemorate all the Minnesotans who stood up to ICE last winter. When I saw that he was launching a tour to amplify a … Continue reading Don’t Give Up: Springsteen’s “Land of Hopes & Dreams” Tour Message

Godparent: “In both religious and civil views, a godparent tends to be an individual chosen by the parents to take an interest in the child’s upbringing and personal developments, and to offer mentorship.”  - Wikipedia When my husband and I were in our late twenties, our closest friends from graduate school asked us to become … Continue reading In Praise of Godmothers

“While there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” - Eugene Debs, American Labor Leader Last Sunday I attended a vigil outside of an ICE detention center in San Diego, just steps away from the border with Tijuana. It was eerie. We saw no one, other than the “Core Civic” private security guard … Continue reading It’s a Moral Moment. We Must Act.

Happy New Year! I have a tradition of doing a personal retreat for several days in January, where I reflect on the past year’s learnings and celebrate any successes. I then turn toward the new year and consider my overall priorities (personal and professional), and I wrap up by setting some goals. This process is … Continue reading Winter’s Best Reads 2026

I love the holiday season, and I love wishing people peace and joy. But I won’t sugarcoat it. Finding joy can feel especially hard right now, when the current administration is openly fueling division, hatred, and fear. Try as I might to shut it out, I can’t fully disengage. Nor do I want to.  There is … Continue reading Finding Meaningful Joy This Holiday Season

“Joie de vivre” – the very phrase brings a big smile to my face!  And where better to rediscover it than Paris?  The city has a kind of magic, and I love that I captured so many people’s imaginations when I shared my “month in Paris” news earlier this summer.  I thought about sharing more … Continue reading Rediscovering My “Joie de Vivre” (Joy of Life)!

Bonjour from Paris! I’m here on a month-long retreat—toute seule (by myself)—to rest and reflect while immersed in beautiful spaces. Here, I can be alone without being lonely. It’s a retreat in every sense – a chance to regroup and reconnect with my inner creativity. I have long dreamed of spending a month in a … Continue reading Bonjour from Paris! My 2025 Summer Reading List (Inspired by Women’s Journeys)

Mother’s Day carries a special poignancy for me now. It’s been three years since my mother and mother-in-law passed away. Through that time, I’ve journeyed through grief, and I’ve made progress on healing. I still miss them both terribly, but the loss is much less painful. Part of the healing process has been giving myself … Continue reading On Healing and Finding Balance: Honoring My Mothers, Finding Grace & Space

Fifteen years ago this month, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law – a historic milestone for our country. Thanks to the ACA, over 45 million people gained health insurance coverage, and millions more gained peace of mind, knowing they couldn’t be denied care for a pre-existing health condition. This month is also personal for … Continue reading Time to Act: Protecting Healthcare Coverage, and Fighting for More