I found the photo above the other day. From left to right, we have “Brother” John (family by choice), my maternal grandmother (AKA Bomma), that’s me in the middle, my great uncle Johnny (Bomma’s brother), and Johnny’s wife, Lyn. We’re in Yosemite National Park on a day trip from Fresno,…
It seems like everyone’s getting laid off right now. Last year and the year before, too. I’ve been laid off before. Early in my career, most of my roles were grant-funded, and that was just part of the gig. If the grant got renewed or a new one came in…
Even though my neighborhood doesn’t have sidewalks, it’s very pedestrian-friendly and I go for lots of walks. When I’m out, there are always others out and about doing the same by themselves, in groups, with dogs (and dog-like cats) and/or children in tow, at fast paces, at slow paces, birdwatching,…
Over the last year or so, I’ve been jotting down life truths I’ve learned—many the hard way—in an email draft as I’ve thought of them. Since my 39th birthday (actual 39th, not “39th”) is fast approaching, I figured I’d share what I’ve collected so far. It’d be awesome if my…
We did it again! We made it through another year! I found myself comparing 2023 to 2019 a lot this year, probably because it was the first one to resemble life before the pandemic started. 2019 was a really good year for me: I traveled to the beach, the mountains,…
The alarm went off at 4:01am (every minute counts, amiright?) to get ready for an early flight to Phoenix to visit my family. (Richie and I decided years ago not to travel for the holidays, so we try to get to Phoenix in between Thanksgiving and Christmas to do festive…
Energy can be contagious. I remember a strategy from public speaking classes and teaching: when you start presenting, match the energy in the room. If you want to change it, gradually get to the energy level you want as you present. I’m not sure if this is still considered a good…
Last week, I traveled to the unseasonably-warm Redwood City, CA for CMX Summit, which is a gathering of community professionals across industries (but let’s face it: mostly tech) to do what they do best: connect. Sure, there are sessions where experts share their learnings and an exhibitor tent where vendors sling…
My friend Jim recently posted a Hemingway quote as an Instagram story and it caught my attention. The quote was, “When people talk, listen completely. Don’t be thinking what you’re going to say. Most people never listen. Nor do they observe.” I’ve been in a lot of workshops and trainings that…
Last summer, I attended One Rare Adventure, which is an adaptive camping experience for young adults (18-35) living with rare diseases hosted by the nonprofit One Rare. We camped at a site on the edge of Lake Superior and went on a couple kayak trips on the lake. I joined…
