Aren’t firsts something? When they arrive in ways we hope for, they can feel magical. First kiss. First love. First romance. First job. First home. First births. Fresh beginnings. Moments that grow into friendships and chapters filled with hope and possibility. And then some firsts arrive in ways we never expected, or wanted. First heartbreak. …
Are you good with change? It probably depends on the change. The kind we choose feels different from the kind we don’t, even when it is necessary. I live in Chicago, and we had our first snowfall of the season yesterday. We’ve had snow in November before, but it still feels early. I wasn’t ready …
In much of the US, this past Sunday, we set our clocks back an hour as we returned to standard time. Spring ahead, fall back. It reminded me of the power of an hour. Sixty minutes. 3,600 seconds. Sometimes it feels just like the hour before or the one that follows. And yet, each hour …
I recently took a break and had a fun memory-making road trip with my two sisters. We drove around Lake Michigan for fall foliage, laughter, and adventure, and we sure had some. Along with the fact that I love getting away, road trips, and spending time with my sisters, I needed the break. I needed …
Have you ever noticed how your car seems to tell you when it needs a tune-up? My car alerts me at different mileage points to schedule a maintenance appointment. It’s a suggestion, not a requirement. You can continue to drive your car without scheduling it, but following the prompts can help it run smoother and …
Will you do me a favor? I want you to meet yourself. What do I mean by that, you ask? Our lives move fast. We jump from task to task, rarely pausing long enough to ask, How am I really doing? This is not a time for judgment or self-criticism. It is simply a moment …
Can you believe we are in the fourth quarter of 2025? I know I’m more of a baseball fan than a football fan, but this analogy fits. It’s easy to see each day as just another copy of the one before, and yet, each day is different if we pay attention. As the year winds …
Recently, I saw a social media meme that said, “The ones who left were never meant to stay.” That can be a hard pill to swallow, especially if you have dealt with the recent departure of someone you cared for. But it really does hold. I am sure you have heard the saying that people are in …
This week’s message is a little different than my normal ones as I wanted to share with you my Sunday walk. I live on the north side of Chicago, and there is a bird sanctuary near me right on the lake. While taking in nature on the International Day of Peace, this message came to …
Do you genuinely believe in yourself? I mean, really, deeply believe. Not just saying it, but aligning your thoughts, words, and actions with that belief. Often, we say we believe in something, yet we act in ways that contradict it. That is not wrong; it is human. Many of us have been taught to focus …
