Full disclosure: I’m not an actual magician. Continue reading “Magicify Your Life”
Build a Mental Wellness Toolkit
As we face the COVID-19 Pandemic, we’re all making preparations to keep ourselves safe, like stocking up on medical supplies and food, practicing social distancing, and being vigilant about handwashing. But what are we doing to protect our mental health?
When Your Child Is Somewhere Between ‘Sick’ and ‘Healthy’
When our son was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition shortly after birth, the first question my husband and I asked was, “What do we do?”
The answer will not surprise anyone who has dealt with a rare illness: wait. Continue reading “When Your Child Is Somewhere Between ‘Sick’ and ‘Healthy’”
21 Everyday Adventures in Creativity
Kids somehow know they need creative activities every day to stimulate their minds and release their emotions — from finger painting to singing silly songs to making up games at recess. But adults, oh, we’re the worst. We think of creative activity as inessential, something better left to artists who are good at it. We are wrong. Continue reading “21 Everyday Adventures in Creativity”
Make Room for Magic
Want to magicify your life, but not sure where to begin? The beginning is an excellent place! Continue reading “Make Room for Magic”
Birthday Magic: Fill a Mailbox with Love
Remember when getting the mail used to be fun? Long before junk mail and bills and email spam and all the other delights of adulthood, mail was special. Continue reading “Birthday Magic: Fill a Mailbox with Love”
How My Dog Found Me – Twice
Not long after our beloved 13-year-old Simba passed, I came across an adorable little dog wandering in our neighborhood.
Continue reading “How My Dog Found Me – Twice”
The Magic of Multitasking and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves
For a while there, multitasking was the buzzword for success. Women could have it all — career, marriage, kids, friends, hobbies, beauty — through the magic of multitasking. But like shoulder pads and greed and everything else that “worked” in the ’80s, it turns out cramming a thousand things into every single moment is actually a pretty bad thing.
Continue reading “The Magic of Multitasking and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves”
Surviving the “Sad Internet”
When the sound of my crying wakes my husband Lex in the middle of the night, it’s usually because I’ve read something incredibly sad on the internet. Abused animals, hungry children, acts of unimaginable violence — somehow, the most depressing news of the day always finds me.
“Where do you get these stories?” he asks. “Are you on the Sad Internet again?”
How the Rare Disease Community Made Me a Better Person
On Rare Disease Day, it’s important to remember that parents of medically complex children aren’t heroes; we’re just regular people doing the best we can to love our kids through difficult circumstances.
While I’m no hero, I do believe I’m a better person because of what my child and others in this community have taught me. Continue reading “How the Rare Disease Community Made Me a Better Person”
5 Books to Magicify Your Life
Stephen King said, “Books are uniquely portable magic.” Here are a few especially magical stories that open up a whole new world of possibilities. Continue reading “5 Books to Magicify Your Life”
The Worst of Times
Friend via text: How have you been?
Me: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Friend: That quote feels familiar…?
(Charles Dickens rolls in his grave.)
Don’t Wait Until You’re Old to Be Like Betty White
Everyone loves Betty White. From her brilliantly dumb portrayal of Rose Nyland on “The Golden Girls” to her game show appearances and animal activism, she’s built a reputation as a respected actress who doesn’t take herself too seriously.
Continue reading “Don’t Wait Until You’re Old to Be Like Betty White”
I Am Not a Jackass Whisperer: Why I Don’t Read Reviews
Recently, a friend mentioned in passing that she’d written a review for my book, “The Name of the Game.” I hadn’t even realized she’d read the book, let alone left a glowing review. I thanked her and apologized for not acknowledging it earlier.
Then I had to admit an awkward truth: I don’t read reviews. At least not anymore.
Continue reading “I Am Not a Jackass Whisperer: Why I Don’t Read Reviews”
The Broccoli of Writing
Feedback is the broccoli of writing. I know it’s good for me, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.