As the mid-term elections approach, my feelings keep fluctuating between hope and fear. I see many glimmers of hope, and yet, I must manage the fears that are stoked by the news headlines and the endless stream of social media.What’s helping me now is returning to the perspective I gained in one of the best books … Continue reading Taking the Long View: “The Beginning Comes After the End”
I was lucky enough to meet Gloria Steinem twice. One of my most treasured possessions is a photo taken of my mom and me with her 20 years ago, when she spoke at Harvard’s Kennedy School. My other encounter was at a book signing, where she penned an inscription for my mom: “Don’t give up! … Continue reading Gloria Steinem Inspired Me – Some Reflections
As I shared in my recent summer reading list, I -- very happily -- returned to Paris in June. I was able to be there for 5 weeks this time, and it was glorious! It was every bit as good as last year, and in some ways even better. I built on last year’s “Paris … Continue reading Paris, Part Deux
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)!