As I prepare for my 50th high school reunion, I’ve been reminded of just how much I value my friendships—both the ones that have lasted through the decades and the ones I’ve formed more recently. There’s something profoundly grounding about walking back into a space filled with people who knew me long before life’s layers of jobs, families, and experiences were added. These connections remind me that while we’ve each taken different paths, we share a history that can never be

When we step onto the playground, we step into more than childhood laughter—we step into a field of living metaphors for the soul’s journey. Every piece of equipment, every game, holds a lesson waiting to be rediscovered. On the swings, we learn rhythm. Life moves forward and back, push and pull. To soar higher, we must trust the release, lean into the arc, and find delight in the motion. On the slides, effort is required to climb, but joy comes in surrender. Letting go at th

How often have we dimmed our own light because someone rolled their eyes at what made us come alive? Mockery, sarcasm, and “that’s silly” are subtle control tools — they push us toward conformity and away from freedom. The truth is, enthusiasm is sacred. Whatever sparks wonder in you is your invitation to live more fully. When we protect our curiosity instead of defending it, we begin reclaiming the joy of being freely inspired. The world doesn’t need less sincerity — it need

This morning, I caught myself offering the kind of heartfelt reminder I so easily give to others: “Don’t forget to take care of yourself.” It flows effortlessly when I’m comforting someone who is caring for a partner, a parent, or a friend. Yet somehow, when that same wisdom is meant for me, it doesn’t land with the same intended strength. Then I came across these words: “And while you are all lovers—seeking to help and uplift those around you—you do so best when your own cup

“Sometimes when you are in a dark place, you think you've been buried, but you've actually been planted.” — Christine Caine There are seasons when life feels unbearably heavy. Loss, change, or uncertainty can press down until it seems the light has disappeared. In those moments, it’s easy to believe the story that you’ve been buried—that you’ve been cut off, closed in, and left behind. But what if the dark isn’t an ending at all? What if it is a beginning? A seed cannot grow