We adopted 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 we had a famil...

 There’s something truly magical about stepping away from the daily grind and immersing yourself in a new place. Whether it was learning about the rich and complicated history, wandering the streets of Wittenberg, or soaking in the vibrant culture (and lots of authentic Berlin/Ge...

I wrote this note while traveling in Berlin, 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! 

We anticipated our trip to Berlin...

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 ...

Every year since the kids were small, we stop by the annual festival in our town, 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.

For you history buffs: th...

 I was in my hometownhere (population about 900!) for my 30th high school reunion, and I couldn't wait to see my classmates for a BBQ get-together and bonfire. 

I grew up in that small town, and my parents have lived in the same house by the railroad tracks since I was born. My ...

Every year, my family and I have a tradition of watching fireworks from our pontoon on the lake at our cabin (a very Minnesotan thing to do!). Once, all five of us together with my husband’s father, cooler weather, and (almost) no mosquitoes - a small miracle. 

As we all sat tog...

We live in a free country (so much gratitude to those who serve and have served to make that true), but sometimes, in our personal and professional lives, we feel anything but free.

Sometimes we feel trapped by stories we tell ourselves and old ways of thinking and doing. Our h...

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. 

Ideally, World Productivity Day is a chance to pause and think about how we manage our time and resources- so that’s what I tried to use it for.

Although the origins of World Productivity Day are a bit fuzzy, it's a day recognized globally for sharing tips and strategies to help...

My family and I don’t always see eye-to-eye on politics, so I thought about how the skills I try to use to navigate tricky family conversations about politics are also useful in our legal workplaces.

As legal professionals, we often find ourselves at the intersection of law a...

I've been thinking of my former neighbors. Although we didn't know each other well, we occasionally encountered each other at neighborhood gatherings. They certainly seemed nice enough, and we always exchanged pleasantries and small talk at the mailbox or waved as we drove past e...