I hope you’ve had a productive, energizing week. I’m guessing it’s been a busy one for you (it sure has been for me), so I hope your Friday is providing an off-ramp into a restful, restorative weekend!

Tomorrow, September 21, is World Gratitude Day, so that makes it the perfect time to reflect on h...

My parents are in town this weekend, and today we are zipping out to the college my daughters attend 90-minutes away so my folks can see the girls’ college dorm rooms. (Yes, my daughters ended up choosing the same college, which I have to admit is very, very convenient!)

This morning, I decided to ...

Last week, my family and I visited the Minnesota State Fair (the “Great Minnesota Get-Together”), an annual tradition for our family filled with all the sensory delights you could imagine—mouth-watering food, endless activities, and a vibrant atmosphere. 

The State Fair is a quintessential celebrat...

A few weeks ago, my oldest daughter and I met a sweet rescue dog named Sadie. We connected with her immediately—her gentle eyes and tentative wag of the tail spoke volumes. But just as we were about to welcome her into our family, life got hectic. I had speaking engagements in Philadelphia, and then...

I’m just back from our week-long trip to Berlin, and while the jet lag is still hanging on a bit (it’s amazing how much you can get done at 3:00 a.m. because your body thinks it’s 10:00 a.m.), the memories we made are more than worth it!

There’s something truly magical about stepping away from the ...

Greetings from Berlin! 

I wrote this note to you this morning as the city was still quiet, and my husband and daughters were fast asleep after a long and unexpectedly eventful journey. I had the lovely chance to enjoy some coffee and muesli as I thought about you! (I had intended to write this on t...

Growing up, I always worked hard in the summers. As a first-generation college student who paid my way through college and graduate school, I had to have multiple jobs every summer (and throughout the school year). 

One of my (many) summer jobs was a lifeguard. I worked at public pools all day, eve...

This weekend is the annual city festival in our town. Every year since the kids were small, we stop by, eat some “fair food”, check out the vendors, and let the kids ride a few carnival rides.

This got me thinking about the merry-go-rounds that we all see at every carnival, especially today, which ...

Greetings from Franklin Grove, IL (population about 900)! 

I'm currently here for my 30th high school reunion, and I can’t wait to see my classmates tomorrow for a BBQ get-together and bonfire (thank heavens it’s a bit cooler than it has been - 78 and sunny will be perfect!). 

I grew up in this sm...

I hope you're all enjoying the summer as much as we are in my family! 

I’m at the Professional Development Consortium (PDC) conference in San Diego, but I wanted to pop into your inbox and share a personal story from our family’s Fourth of July celebrations last week that offered a beautiful lesson...

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July - so here is an advance “Happy Fourth of July!” since you are hopefully out of the office tomorrow relaxing a bit. 

Before I check out for a long weekend of fireworks, s’mores around the campfire, boat rides on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, and dousing myself regul...

Let’s face it – saying “I’m sorry” isn’t always easy. 

But have you ever noticed how powerful those two little words can be? Apologizing isn’t just about etiquette; it can show a deep level of emotional intelligence and is essential for nurturing strong, healthy relationships. 

Especially in the l...