Personal Note

There comes a time — maybe many times — when you realize you’re living under the weight of expectations that were never truly yours. Sometimes they’re loud and obvious: the job title you’re “supposed” to chase, the kind of parent or partner you’re expected to be, the house, the status, the picture-perfect version of a […]

This week, my daughter graduates from 8th grade. My only daughter. My middle child. And while this isn’t our first graduation as a family, it carries its own kind of gravity. Not because it’s “the first” or “the last”—but because it’s hers. Because she stands at this threshold with her own story, her own voice, […]

There’s a quiet kind of grace in being known—not in the surface-level way where people know your name, your job, your general likes and dislikes—but in the deeper, soul-level way. The way someone knows how your voice changes when you’re overwhelmed, even if you’re trying to sound “fine.” The way they can tell you’re avoiding […]

Traditionally, spring has been about new beginnings and a rebirth from the dead of winter. From religion recognizing Easter and Passover, to cherry blossoms in our nation’s capital, to a new season of baseball, spring brings a sense of promise, growth, and transformation.  Over the years, and with a little help from Hallmark and other […]

In today’s digital world, scams have become more sophisticated than ever—and unfortunately, they often target the most trusting among us: our aging loved ones. From text messages pretending to be from UPS, to fake toll road violations, to phishing calendar invites that pop up right on your phone or computer, scammers are using technology to […]

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how much of yesterday we unintentionally carry into today. The conversations we had. The tension we didn’t resolve. The way we felt when we woke up, or how we collapsed into bed. Even the little things — a to-do list left unfinished, a laugh shared over dinner, or that quiet […]

There are many words to describe what a mother truly is to her children and family – the heart, the glue, the rock are just some among many others.  As I reflect on the mothers in my own life, all are very true. However, I can confidently add one more descriptor – pure gold.  Recently […]

There’s a force inside us that doesn’t show up until it has to. It’s not always loud. It doesn’t need fanfare.But when something feels off—or someone we love is threatened—it comes forward without hesitation.Some call it the “mama bear” instinct. Others call it “papa bear” energy.But no matter what name it goes by, it’s the […]

There’s this quiet little question that’s been tapping on my shoulder lately:Am I holding onto something that’s quietly hurting me more than helping me? It’s so easy to carry things because they’ve always been there. A way of working. A role in your family. A routine that once kept everything in order, but now feels […]

If my younger self could step into my life now, I wonder what they’d see first. Would they recognize me right away, or would it take a moment to reconcile the person I imagined becoming with the person I actually am? Would they focus on the ways life turned out differently than expected, or would […]

How many times have you caught yourself thinking or saying, “ugh, I have to ______ (insert a task or event from your busy life)”?   It’s easy to do. Carolyn and I know as we’ve said it (or grumbled it) many times.   However, some influential people in our lives encouraged us to stop the grumbling […]

Life has a way of flying by, doesn’t it? One minute, it’s Monday morning, and before I know it, I’m sitting down to dinner on Friday, wondering where the week went. In between, there’s the steady rhythm of work, family, and responsibilities—all important, all fulfilling, but sometimes a blur in the busyness of it all. […]

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what it means to be “lucky.” Growing up, I often thought of luck as something that happened to certain people—almost like a random twist of fate or some kind of magic that changed their lives. You’d hear about people hitting the jackpot, or […]

As a dad, I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to teach my kids—to show them how to navigate life, make good choices, be kind, work hard, and grow into the best versions of themselves. But the more I watch them, the more I realize something surprising: I have just as much to learn from them […]