With the exception of a bit of diverticulosis, there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary about my Nov. 22 colonoscopy. That’s why I want to share about my experience with the prep and the procedure itself (that part will be extremely brief (thank you, fentanyl and midazolam!)). One in every 20 people will be […]
7 Giving Tuesday causes and a bonus
At the beginning of every month, I share a post about my favorite SmartBrief stories from the prior month (here’s October’s, for example). I do have favorite stories from November, but I’m changing things up today in honor of Giving Tuesday, which is December 3. I feel so fortunate that my work at SmartBrief is […]
Grateful Challenge 2019
It’s year six of my taking the Grateful Challenge! Inspired by Spin Sucks, the goal is to set a timer for 10 minutes and try to list 99 things you’re grateful for. (Here are the previous installments: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.) This year’s installment: 1.My husband, Wayne 2.My daughter, Tenley 3.My son, Wayne Kevin 4.My dad, Seabie 5.Tenley’s significant […]
Erasing the cost of hiding
COST: “I’m limited.” These are the first two words of “For Good” from “Wicked,” one of my favorite Broadway shows. I couldn’t sleep well last night, because late in the evening before I went to bed, I learned via social media that my lifelong friend, Duane, had passed away. I turned over in bed, queued […]
10 reasons you are enough, kid
I volunteered recently as a registrar/tabulator at an event designed to help children ages 8 to 10 demonstrate their proficiency in making consumer choices. The kids each had to listen to a scenario for eight minutes (with the help of supplementary material they had been sent in advance), then rank the products based on which […]
Sister survivors: Moving on after abuse
Two 2018 ESPY winners, one I met in person and another I saw via video, factored heavily in my experience of the International City/County Management Association conference in October. One was Jake Wood, co-founder and CEO of Team Rubicon, who gave the opening keynote speech. Another was Brianne Randall-Gay, who won an ESPY in 2018 […]