Commentary

October 2, 2026
adult with colorful shawl by a misty lake
October 2, 2026

Aging Well and the Freedom to Keep Becoming

I cannot say exactly when I became “old.” I look in the mirror and see “an old lady with a young woman inside” (my mother’s words upon seeing her own reflection). She lived robustly until her death, days before her ninety-eighth birthday. Most of my other relatives died well before […]
Do you like it?
0 Read more
August 27, 2026
Dale and Samson
August 27, 2026

Staying With Grief and The Gift of Presence

As many of you know, my beloved dog, Samson, died a few weeks ago.  I received an outpouring of love, care, and condolences that continue to comfort me as I learn to integrate this profound loss into my everyday life. Over the years, I have written a lot about grief […]
Do you like it?
0 Read more
July 5, 2026
feature multi generation black family walking in forest
July 5, 2026

Attention as Love: Navigating Technology in an Age of Connection

Attention as Love: Navigating Technology in an Age of Connection As we celebrate 250 years of American history, I find myself thinking not only about where we have been, but about what we want to carry forward. The strength of a nation begins with the strength of its families and […]
Do you like it?
Read more
May 27, 2026
man sculpting pottery on a wheel
May 27, 2026

The Quiet Power of Making: How Art Supports Our Healing

The Quiet Power of Making: How Art Supports Our Healing I’ve been thinking lately about the role of art in our lives, not as something reserved for galleries or special occasions, but as something essential to how we heal and maintain our wellness.   When I say “art,” I mean […]
Do you like it?
Read more
May 1, 2026
grandpa telling stories to his grandchildren
May 1, 2026

Why We Tell Our Stories

Why We Tell Our Stories Lately, I’ve been thinking about a simple but important question: What happens when stories stop being told? Not the grand public narratives, but the quieter ones; the family stories shared across kitchen tables, during long car rides, or in the in-between moments of everyday life. […]
Do you like it?
Read more
March 25, 2026
Sir Nicholas Winton with saved children
March 25, 2026

One Life, One Choice, One Act of Goodness

One Life, One Choice, One Act of Goodness I recently had the privilege of hearing Nick Winton speak about his father, Sir Nicholas Winton. It was one of those evenings that stays with you – not only because of the story itself, but because of the way it was told. […]
Do you like it?
Read more
March 2, 2026
young and old drinking coffee having a conversation
March 2, 2026

Beyond Our Own Age: A Call to InterAge Living

Beyond Our Own Age: A Call to InterAge Living The value of intergenerational relationships keeps revealing itself to me – not just in research, not just in theory, but in lived, everyday moments. Recently, a grandmother who lives with her husband and teenage grandson shared something that stopped me in […]
Do you like it?
Read more
January 21, 2026
senior couple in love
January 21, 2026

What Really Matters: Living Well in a Complicated World

What Really Matters: Living Well in a Complicated World I’ve been thinking about something that challenges almost everything our culture tells us about success. We’re told that achievement matters most – the career milestones, the financial security, the perfectly optimized schedule. But the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has […]
Do you like it?
Read more
January 2, 2026
feature - Asian grandmother and caregiver daughter embracing
January 2, 2026

The Emotional Side of Caregiving – And Why We Need to Talk About it Sooner

The Emotional Side of Caregiving – And Why We Need to Talk About it Sooner Caregiving brings up every emotion imaginable, and most of us aren’t prepared for that. We start out thinking our love will be enough, that we’ll handle everything gracefully because we care so deeply about the […]
Do you like it?
Read more