Like many, we had to completely cancel and rearrange our 2020 travel. Travel for our family is like oxygen… we need it to breath… we need it for our souls… so to say this was hugely disappointing is a gross understatement. After 7 months of staring at a computer screen with no vacation days, and none on the horizon, we decided to…
Summer travel looks very different this year since we are still on Covid-19 stay-at-home orders. However, National Parks across the US are in the process of reopening, and are a GREAT drivable option as people look to get away to open spaces after spending months at home. We visited Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park recently and were immediately soothed…
Medical professionals are increasingly aware of how systemic racism and discrimination in health care affects healthcare professionals and patients. It’s time for institutions to prioritize creating a hospital environment where perpetuating discrimination against physicians or patients is unacceptable. If this doesn’t happen, racial bias will continue to harm both doctors and patients. Meet Dr. Vincent Rowe. Dr. Rowe is the Professor…
In my previous article, ‘5 Ways White People Can Stand Up to Systemic Racism’, I share my plan to spotlight stories and experiences from people who are, or have been marginalized. I now realize that inaction is complicity. I share these words with deep humility, and my hope is these stories are thought-provoking, and spark discussions. I’d like you to meet Will Smith…
Covid-19 has turned the world upside down, and is impacting every single person. It’s been completely bizarre these past few months managing our Covid-19 quarantine. I’m on week 12…16…59…. of quarantine… who the heck knows at this point! Each week seems to blend into the next. I’m desperately trying to find…
Lourdes is nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains in Southwest France. Lourdes is incredibly spiritual, peaceful and tranquil. Lourdes is known for the Sanctuaires Notre-Dame de Lourdes, or the Domain, where pilgrims gather from all over the world. Sites within the Domain include the Basilica of Saint Pius X, the Grotto of Apparitions or the Grotto of Massabielle known for its healing…
The whole world is changed by 8 minutes and 46 seconds. George Floyd’s brutal murder triggered a reckoning for the systemic racism that has existed for over 400 years. Protests have exploded worldwide and many of us are having tough and uncomfortable conversations with ourselves and others. We need to be fueled by our discomfort. It’s up to white people to…
I’ve been living my privileged life thinking I’m not a racist because “I have a ton of black friends”, without realizing I’m inadvertently and unknowingly part of the racism problem. I’ve been confronted with an uncomfortable reality: my silence is part of the problem. My personal feelings are irrelevant. Minorities have been telling us they experience racial injustice every…
I’m a Planner. Planning is my super power. It’s what I do best. I’m the one in our family who already planned, shopped, and wrapped gifts for holidays and events, long before it’s on anyone else’s radar. I schedule our social events, appointments, vacations, kids events, and also plan our downtime. I work with the…
I’m here!!!! Recurrence is THE worst fear for those who’ve battled breast cancer, and five years is an important milestone. I was completely caught off guard when I heard those dreaded words, ‘you have stage 2 breast cancer.’ When you’re given a cancer diagnosis, the immediate goal is to remove the cancer, and complete treatments to reduce…