How in tune are you with what’s happening around you? Do you walk into the grocery store while texting on your phone? (I’m guilty.)
When you walk out of that store, would you be able to tell someone the color of the cashier’s eyes? (‘Fraid not.) Or even their shirt color? (Maybe.)
Sometimes my mind is so full of what needs to ... Read More
Does social isolation ever make you feel lonely? Me too.
We hear “we’re all in this together,” but when we’re walking out the day to day, it can feel like we are in this on our own.
I have been delighted by the stories I’ve gotten recently reminding me that people really are looking out for each other and that small acts ... Read More
Weigh in on this for me: Is it more fun to be a parent or grandparent?
I feel like I might know the answer based on the letters I received recently from some readers who make kindness a priority in the time they spend with their grandchildren.
Judi Sebeck, of Deerwood, Minn., sent in this story of kindness that almost went unnoticed.
“Our ... Read More
I’m starting to wonder how much snow a person can handle. I think my personal limit is about 2 inches.
If there has ever been a question about my level of kindness when it comes to snow, let me say, I’ve got lots of room to grow.
My 15-year-old daughter is outside clearing the driveway. I thought about helping her and then ... Read More
TRAM (The Ride Across Minnesota) is a five-day bicycle ride that raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. While I love the idea of being active for a great cause, biking isn’t my thing.
But it is Harvey Laabs’ thing. He’s from West Fargo, and has been crossing the North Dakota/Minnesota border for TRAM since 1991. Here’s his story.
“It was ... Read More
Friends are great. They pull us out of our comfort zones and can rope us into almost anything — especially things we wouldn’t be brave enough to do on our own.
My friends routinely talk me into joining book clubs, Bible studies and 5K races. I’ve even had friends try to teach me to cook (too bad it didn’t stick).
I recently ... Read More
Have you ever heard of Jessy Haberman? Barb Haberman, a summer resident of Detroit Lakes, Minn., introduced me to the little boy whose kindness has truly become contagious.
“Imagine yourself at 4 years old having an infusion at a cancer center wondering, ‘Who are all these strange people and what are they doing to me?’ Then someone gives you a ... Read More
I can’t remember the exact year, but I remember the date: Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve.
Saul and I were living in a little house in north Fargo and Jordan was a baby. It was teeth-chattering cold outside, because that’s what winter in North Dakota is like. On this particular night, we were all cozy in bed until about 2 o’clock ... Read More
You know those super awkward moments where everyone is standing in an elevator and no one is talking? They seem to happen anytime we find ourselves in a contained area with a bunch of strangers.
I had a moment like that recently when I was flying somewhere by myself. I had parked the car in the cheapest airport lot, which meant ... Read More
I’m a sucker for a Hallmark movie. Love is in the air when the owner of a small-town bakery falls for the big-city developer who intends to shut her down, but then has a change of heart and sweeps in to save the building from demolition. Somebody hand me a bucket of popcorn and a hot cocoa.
In real life, love ... Read More
