Yesterday, I was frustrated with someone—really frustrated. Today, I learned they had passed away. Hearing about their passing, floored me. My heart ached for the family, their friends and myself. Somewhere between the hurt, I realized how much being human is about holding on to the laughter, even when the days don’t unfold the way we expect. That same person tested my patience, but they also made me laugh more than anyone else. They always wanted to know they stood on my good side. That mattered to them. Reading a room wasn’t their strength—not because they didn’t care, but because they focused only on smiles and appreciation. They saw sunshine…
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Snowed In Essentials (According To My Big Brother)
My brother and sister are snowed in up in Michigan. With the cold weather settling in and the snow piling up, I found myself thinking about snowed-in essentials — not the usual ones, but the kind that matter to the people you love. So I did what any good sister does — I checked in. Not about the obvious things. When people talk about snowed-in essentials, they often think of food and supplies, but comfort can look different depending on the person — and the people — you’re caring for. I asked, “Do you have everything you need?” And by everything, I meant his everything. My brother is 65. He’s…
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Lessons in Living — Lesson #2: Why Saying No Is Okay
I’m sharing small lessons in living — the kind you don’t always recognize while you’re learning them. They don’t arrive all at once. They show up quietly, over time, usually after you’ve already lived through the hard part. This one took me longer than I care to admit. For a long time, I thought saying yes was proof that I was a good person. Over time, I’ve learned that saying no is okay — even though it took me a while to believe it. If someone invited me somewhere, I went.If someone asked me to do something, I said sure — nothing illegal or immoral.I believed that showing up —…
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In The Blink Of An Eye
By the skin of my teeth, I missed getting caught in a blizzard this morning. It started as a quiet winter day, and then—in the blink of an eye—everything changed. When I got to work, the skies were clear—or at least I think they were. I didn’t look up. It was Midwest windy, the kind that makes it hard to open your door and then slams it shut behind you. Nothing that suggested what was about to happen. No sooner than I could remove my coat, the temperature dropped, fog appeared, and everything changed. I watched from my window as it went from a few flakes to blinding white, no…
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When Cooking Fills You Up Before You Ever Sit Down
Sink full of dishes after cooking, showing olfactory sensory overload"
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Christmas Is Over (And Mom Would’ve Approved)
This was our first Christmas without my mom — and Christmas is officially over. Letting the First Christmas Without My Mom Be What It Was This was our first Christmas without my mom, and it was the holiday we worried about the most. She gained her wings in June, and somehow it feels like she planned this Christmas in a way she knew we could manage. Still, Christmas showed up anyway. The day felt warm and easy. Laughter came naturally, without forcing itself, and the food followed — plentiful, comforting, and shared without rushing. The gifts felt thoughtful, and joy found its way in right when we needed it. Then,…
