Category: Be Kind

Some people just ooze sunshine and enthusiasm wherever they go. You can’t help but like them, because their attitude is just contagious.

I’ve had the chance to spend some time this summer with someone like that. His name is Hale Scraper, and he is 9 years old.

Hale was in a summer theater program with my kids. Since we have to drive ... Read More


Kindness is a tricky thing. Sometimes it comes so naturally: I walk out of my house and feel like smiling at strangers, holding the door for people and leaving a little extra money in the tip jar at the coffee shop.

Other days, I wake up wondering why everyone has to be so noisy, why the driver in front of me ... Read More


I used to work in the news business. Every day, a team of people, including myself, had the incredible responsibility of choosing which stories should be covered.

Some stories were so horrible I had a hard time reading them. But I am ashamed to admit that other stories, like those of war and natural disasters were so prevalent that they became ... Read More


At a certain age, women tend to begin complaining about birthdays. They aren’t exactly welcomed holidays like they were when we were 5- or 6-year-olds.

I have to tell you, I celebrated my 37th birthday a few weeks ago, and it was the best birthday I think I’ve ever had. I got the best gift ever.

I woke up that morning to ... Read More


My first job was as a television traffic and news reporter for a morning show in Milwaukee.

It was 1998, and I was making $18,000 a year. When the job was offered to me, I was ecstatic. I got to be on TV and they were going to PAY ME!?

I quickly realized that when you’re on TV, people tend to think ... Read More


School is out for the summer in Fargo, so I feel it’s safe to let you in on a little family drama. My sweet, 6-year-old boy, Charlie, made a really bad decision a few weeks ago.

Before you accuse me of throwing him under the bus, believe me, I am only sharing this because the entire family learned a lot about ... Read More


I feel like I’m in the middle of a tiny tornado. Or maybe it’s just a big windstorm. Either way, the world is moving quickly, and I can barely catch my breath.

I thought I was the only one feeling this way until the other day. I was talking to a couple of girlfriends and they shared the exact same sentiments. ... Read More


There are a lot of people who are going to be challenging themselves today.

I love the way the entire F-M community embraces the Fargo Marathon. Those who can run, run. The rest of us fall into line, either helping out with race day preparations, playing music along the route or handing out water.

Some people, like my kids, stand along the ... Read More


A woman on my street recently lost her husband. Her three kids lost their dad. I’ve never met any of them, but I find myself thinking about what I could possibly do to let them know I care about the pain they are going through.

What small gesture could I do that would really mean all that much?

I just got a ... Read More


People have bad days. For some, it seems like life just keeps throwing them curve balls.

That’s how Heather from Fargo feels sometimes.

Last August, her home burned to the ground. Then in December, she bought a trailer home for $3,000, only to find out that the person she gave the money to wasn’t the real owner. The real owners threw her ... Read More