Monthly Archives: September 2019

This is why I was inspired to write a story about a young, half-dragon who grows up in a town full of humans. He is the only mythical in his neighborhood, and the other teens are ruthless as they humiliate him day-in and day-out for what he cannot change. Each morning, he binds his wings, tucks his tail in his brief, and tries to disappear. But it’s never good enough.

One of my favorite authors of all time is Mary Schmich. Mary, who? you may be asking. Schmich! She is an editorialist for the Chicago Tribune and won a Pulitzer Prize earlier this decade for her work. Her book of collected essays, “Even the Terrible Things Seem Beautiful to Me Now,” is one of theContinue reading “Advice from a Chicagoan”

“Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, and don’t put up with people that are reckless with yours.” —Mary Schmich These words take on new meaning when I watch Dr. Sandeep Jauhar’s TED Talk. As a practicing cardiologist, he knows hearts inside and out. But did you know that your emotional state can actually CHANGEContinue reading “Emotions that (Literally!) Change the Shape of your Heart”

This week I heard a quote by the incomparable Brené Brown that has kept me thinking: “You cannot shame or belittle people into lasting change.”  This was first spoken to her by a professor when she was an undergrad. At the time, it didn’t make sense. She thought, but that’s how our society operates. That’s howContinue reading “The Power (or Lack-of) Shame”