Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash “How are you?” If you’re from the United States, you know that this phrase just means, “Hello!” If you’re not from the United States, it can be jarring and baffling. Why do people ask this question, if they don’t really care? Eventually, newcomers to…

Photo by Zeynep Sümer on Unsplash When I was a graduate student, I had a unique opportunity to work on a Black oral history project. It was called the Wisdom of the Elders, and it encouraged inter-generational and cross-racial experiences between students and the community. In a town south of…

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash Throughout my life, I have looked for people like me. When I moved to the U.S. West Coast, I thought I had landed in Shangri-La. “These are my people! This is my place!” Finally, I had found my tribe: unconventional, eco-friendly, left-leaning idealists. A…

The urge to chase presents itself at a young age. First, we chase the attention of our parents and teachers. We chase grades, awards, accolades, educations. After that come the status careers and promotions, fancy cars and homes, and other markers of success. Most of us, at one point or…

When you think of “taking care of someone,” what comes to mind? Perhaps you might think of “love,” “warmth,” “devotion,” “attention,” or “concern.” You might also think of “hardship,” “sacrifice,” “burden,” and “burnout.” All these words speak to the complex reality of taking care of our loved ones. I’m now…

Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash The other day I had a great conversation. It was life-affirming, easy, and clear (“everyone was on the same page”). Each person honored each other with deep respect and curious inquiry. It made me smile for a long time afterwards. I was grateful because…