Have I ever mentioned I have the happiest email inbox of anyone in the world?
Seriously. Who else gets messages each day telling them about all the good things going on in our communities?
I love writing this column so much I would do it for free (but don’t tell my boss that)! I recently got an email from Becky Salberg, of ... Read More
Have you ever been on one of those vacations that requires an additional vacation just to recover?
My dear friend, Ann, celebrated a special wedding anniversary with a trip to Europe with her husband. Ann deals with a lot of chronic pain, so you can imagine the toll that flight took on her body. Luckily, Ann knows the power of kindness ... Read More
I wonder how many opportunities for kindness we miss simply because we think, “It’s none of my business.”
I have driven past people without coats on a cold winter day and averted my eyes when someone was stuck on the side of the road. Have you?
Certainly, no one can do everything, but as the wife who sent in this letter explains, ... Read More
I’m often asked if the state of the world is as grim as it seems. I have to be honest: In my opinion, it’s not.
I get to hear good stories day after day, like this one sent in by Michelle Lund from West Fargo. They remind me that even though we don’t always get to see it, there is so ... Read More
There is a packet of hot chocolate sitting on my desk. I don’t care how cold the wind blows in South Dakota, I am determined not to drink it.
It’s not a weight loss or healthy eating thing. It’s a kindness thing.
I took my boys to Minneapolis for a weekend at the Mall of America to celebrate, well, nothing. We just ... Read More
I remember my first friend. Her name was Tina and she lived down the road from me. It was such a big deal when we were old enough to ride our bikes the quarter mile back and forth to each other’s houses.
Eventually Tina’s family moved to an area closer to town and I ended up moving two hours away. ... Read More
There are kids in your community who are keeping a secret.
They want to participate in after-school activities but they won’t ask. Even in elementary or middle school, these kids already know the state of their parents’ or guardians’ budget.
They won’t ask to learn how to play the tuba or join the football team because they know there isn’t money for ... Read More
I am a rule follower. It makes me very nervous when someone uses a discount card that doesn’t belong to them or parks in an area that is designated for a specific business.
I do like to speed, but that’s another story.
My friend, Amanda, is also a rule follower. We both know that sometimes we need to bend a bit more ... Read More
I often forget what a tough spot my kids are in each day. I send them off to school and ask them to be kind, but sometimes that gets confusing.
When the teacher is talking but a friend is trying to get your attention, what is the kind solution? When you’re trying to do your work but a classmate has a ... Read More
You know how teachers have favorite grade levels?
The ones who teach middle school will tell you they love helping kids work through the uncertainty and challenges that come with being a new teen. The ones in high school enjoy developing the gifts of young people finding their way in the world.
And the teachers who shepherd elementary students? I think they ... Read More
