First they came
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— …
Read More
It’s time to redefine “better”
If you’re like most people, you want your kids to have a better life than you. This dream for “better” is intertwined with our belief in human progress. Better is the reward for your personal sacrifices and hard work. In the past, better meant more money. Money is the way …
Read More
Lessons from a stand-in weatherman
You are a sports reporter for a local TV station. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and you love what you do. Then, the unexpected happens. You’re asked to cover for the morning weatherman. You have to show up at 3 am and stand in a blizzard, freezing …
Read More
Life’s tango. Want to dance?
I love to rewatch old movies. Movies become a beautiful mix of the familiar and surprise once they’ve hit that magical place where it’s been long enough that I don’t remember much of the storyline. Recently, I rewatched Father of the Bride, a Steve Martin film with the perfect balance …
Read More
The problem with catfishing
Catfishing means falsely representing yourself on dating apps. That picture from 20 years ago or 50 pounds ago. The filter that makes you unrecognizable even to your mother. Slightly exaggerating your height….by 6 inches. The reason someone falsely represents themself in the first place is because they don’t believe their …
Read More
It’s time to get unmuted
We’ve been taught from a young age to convey a muted version of who we are. We are careful to not be “too much”, “too different”, “too loud”. In every situation, we’re subconsciously calculating the role that’s expected. If I wear this, they’ll think I’m smart during the interview. If …
Read More
Midlife crisis…want to join me?
Half of my life has been spent in a midlife crisis. It started when I was 22, serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco and witnessing extreme poverty for the first time. Since then I have been on a quest to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Half …
Read More
Small Acts Change The World
There is magic in creating a self-sustaining system for community development. The starting point can be so small. Just as a redwood tree starts from a tiny seed. Or in this case, crowdsourcing the funding to repair the Mariposario Montezuma Gardens butterfly garden in Costa Rica. A butterfly garden that—once …
Read More
Using play to reduce anxiety
The LEGO Foundation is donating 600 miniature LEGO MRI Scanner kits to hospitals worldwide. These kits use play to help children cope with the intimidating process of having an MRI scan. There are two things I love about this example of a business making the world a little bit better. …
Read More
When is enough, enough?
When is enough, enough? When does the US stop crossing its fingers while saying “it will be different going forward?” ❌ Hope isn’t a strategy ❌ Hope isn’t a plan ❌ Hope isn’t going to stop more innocent people from being gunned down Arming teachers, and putting more guns on …
Read More