Have you ever driven by a sign outside of a business again and again, always wondering what it meant but never taking the time to find out?
My interest-piquing sign is at the corner of Main Avenue and Fourth Street in downtown Fargo. By my math, I’ve driven by that Cenex station more than 2,600 times (You don’t even want to ... Read More
Tag: Nicole Phillips
Boy Turns Mean Joke into Act of Kindness
I recently talked to the father of a Minnesota boy who could very well capture the attention of the nation and change the way the medical world uses marijuana.
Brett Solum is a 13-year-old boy who, in many ways, is like a lot of other teenagers. He goes to Moorhead Middle School where he’ll soon be starting seventh grade. He likes ... Read More
A Token of Kindness Can Heal a Heart
Nothing scares me more than the thought of losing a child. And yet, tragically, it happens.
I have never been able to grasp how parents get through an experience like that. And yet, miraculously, they do.Jeanette Maré lost her son, Ben, when he was just 3 years old. His airways constricted, and he was gone in moments.
“The depth of pain we ... Read More
Serving Others Makes ‘A Wonderful Life’
I’m way out of season here, but do you remember that movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life?” My husband and I watch it every Christmas snuggled up on the couch. I start getting misty-eyed right about the time Clarence, the guardian angel, jumps into the river, forcing George Bailey to save him. When the town comes through for George at the ... Read More
The Red, White and Blue of Kindness
If you haven’t pulled every red, white and blue decoration out of storage by now, you’re late. If that’s you, grab something colorful from your closet and then come back and finish reading this column.
The colors have been unfurled for a weekend of family, food and fireworks. While festive, I appreciate that combination of colors for the switch it turns ... Read More
Extra Time Opens Door for Kindness
The late, great Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi had a thing with time. His players knew there was “normal time” and there was “Lombardi time.” If you played for Vince Lombardi, you were 15 minutes early, or you were late. I used to operate on Lombardi time. I loved being early. I appreciated a few extra minutes to get ... Read More
Don’t Speed By Your Chance to Be Kind
My husband got pulled over for speeding the other day. Mr. Leadfoot has been teasing me for years about what a bad driver I am, so as you can imagine, I was delighted to be in the car witnessing the whole thing.
I’m also pleased to have the opportunity to write about this event in the paper and perhaps publicly embarrass ... Read MoreKindness Found in Reminiscing
I remember two things from the end of my grandfather’s life. I was a very little girl, but I remember his eyes and I remember his stories.
His eyes were normally blue, but on this final visit, they were almost turquoise. They were extraordinarily bright, shining, a little damp-looking, and not exactly focused on the people or things in his nursing ... Read MoreA Race to Remember
My 16-year-old niece, Kate, has had severe health problems since the day she was born. She has never had a pain-free day in her life.
Two years ago, she spent a month at the Mayo Clinic learning how to cope with the pain. The doctors had come to the realization that the pain wasn’t leaving, so they needed to teach Kate ... Read MorePerfect Gifts in a Time of Need
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of speaking to about 500 people in my church sanctuary.
I told those people about my life growing up. I talked about visits to a prison to see my mom’s husband and about struggles with addiction during my years as a young mom.I had one main point: Kindness doesn’t just make the world a ... Read More
