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My 6 Favorite Reads of 2023
Read more: My 6 Favorite Reads of 2023I feel like a fraud. Anyone who publishes a year-end book list should have done enough reading to justify their opinions. And this year, I haven’t. In terms of volume, it was my worst year of reading in over a decade. (It was also my busiest, which may have something to do with that.) At…
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Must the Show Go On?
Read more: Must the Show Go On?Here’s a piece of recent news that will surprise absolutely no one: A prominent, powerful man has been accused of sexual battery. Allegedly, he went to a woman’s residence without her consent and raped her while she was under the influence of alcohol. It’s a story we’ve all heard countless times before. A guy who…
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When Tragedy Is 6,000 Miles Away
Read more: When Tragedy Is 6,000 Miles AwayOnce again, the headlines drip with blood. More violence. More suffering. More death. The most recent series of attacks (and counterattacks) in the Middle East have captured the attention of the world. Thousands of Israeli and Palestinian casualties have already been reported. The horrifying stories and images of bloodshed fill our news feeds, tragically illustrating…
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Parenting without a Clue
Read more: Parenting without a ClueIt’s funny how age and expertise are so often inversely related. You’d think it would work the other way around. The older you get, the more you’re supposed to know, right? But in real life, that’s not always how it shakes out. As a brand new parent, I was an expert at raising children. I…
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All the Wrong Things
Read more: All the Wrong ThingsThere once was a village nestled deep within the forest. It was a thriving community whose residents looked out for one another and took pride in their homeland. Brought together by a sense of shared identity, this village was a refuge for all types of people: artisans and merchants, hunters and farmers, poets and bards.…
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When the Flowers Die
Read more: When the Flowers DieI stood by the compost box at the back of our yard, staring at the wilted roses and lilies I had just tossed inside. Only a few days ago these same flowers had been at the center of our dining room table, bursting with vibrant shades of pink and purple. Now they had been overtaken…
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Detox
Read more: DetoxSince leaving the career I’d once given my life to, I’ve felt the cold and calloused fingers of an identity crisis gradually tightening their grip around my neck. I guess that’s what happens when you morph from a teenager with a crystal clear picture of what your life’s supposed to be into a 30-something with…
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My 6 Favorite Reads of 2022
Read more: My 6 Favorite Reads of 2022There are plenty of things in this world that are more important than books. Stuff like food, shelter, and medical care — you know, the basic necessities that keep us alive. But books are indispensable for other reasons. They have a unique ability to enrich our lives in a way that few other things can.…
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Running in November (a Poem)
Read more: Running in November (a Poem)Liner Notes: Nature is full of metaphors, and these words are my way of exploring a particularly interesting one that’s resonating with me at the moment. Despite the title, it’s probably clear to see that this isn’t a poem about running, nor is it a poem about our crappy Midwest weather in November. Instead, it’s…
