When It's Not Someone Else

April 28, 2025

I learned a difficult lesson several years ago—one that reshaped my perspective on life and compassion. It started with the distant wail of sirens as an ambulance sped by. I barely noticed it, continuing my day as usual. Then came "the call." My father was in that ambulance, being rushed to a helicopter that would fly him to a trauma center. He had fallen from a tree he was trimming, suffering severe, life-threatening injuries. Our lives changed forever that day. After numerous surgeries, weeks in the hospital, and months of rehabilitation, we brought him home as a quadriplegic. His remaining years were challenging, filled with hard-earned lessons. One of the most profound was this: It isn’t always someone else who faces heartbreak and hardship—sometimes it's you. That realization has stayed with me, making me more compassionate toward those facing their own struggles. Now, when I hear an ambulance, I no longer brush it off. I pause, imagine the family affected, and often whisper a prayer for them. Learn More

The Charm and Quirk of Ireland

April 28, 2025

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner and many of us having some shamrocks growing around our family trees, it's the perfect time to explore some lesser-known facts about Ireland. From the deep-rooted symbolism of the shamrock to some truly quirky laws, Ireland is a land of fascinating history and charm. St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, is credited with bringing Christianity to the island and uniting its many clans under a single faith. As he tried to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—he famously plucked a shamrock from the ground. Its three leaves perfectly illustrated the principle, and because the Celts already considered the shamrock a sacred plant, it soon became a national symbol, representing Irish pride and identity. Learn More

The Many Faces of Love

April 28, 2025

The Many Faces of Love Since it’s Valentine’s Day weekend, let’s take a moment to celebrate love. Now, I know some of you might be thinking, But what if I’m not in a romantic relationship? What if I’m boycotting Valentine’s Day this year? Don’t worry—I’m not here to make you feel bad. Instead, I want to remind you that love comes in many forms. While romantic love tends to get the most attention this time of year, some of the deepest, most meaningful types of love aren’t romantic at all—and not all love stories have a fairytale ending. Let’s start with a lesson from Disney. In Frozen and Frozen 2, the central love story isn’t about a princess and her prince—it’s about two sisters. Elsa and Anna show us the power of family love as they fight for and support each other, no matter what the cost. Isn’t that what family is all about? Loving and caring for each other unconditionally. I will never forget the day my daughter gave birth to my first grandson. It was both awe-inspiring and terrifying to watch—seeing someone you love in so much pain was incredibly difficult. It reminded me of another kind of love: the love that sees us through life’s hardest moments. I experienced it again as I watched my father, and later my mother, suffer through terrible illnesses, unable to do anything but be there as they took their final breaths. Those losses taught me an invaluable lesson—never take the time you have with your family for granted. Now, with just my brother and me left from our original family unit, I probably drive him crazy with all my phone calls. But sometimes, you just need family. Learn More