Each year, millions of people across the world pause to celebrate what is often called the Chinese New Year, more formally known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. It is one of the most important celebrations in countries such as China, Vietnam, and South Korea, as well as within communities worldwide. Unlike January 1 […]
Chinese New Year 2026 – Welcoming the Year of the Horse Read More »
The beginning of 2026 has been catastrophic! My emotions are reflected in my writing. I have written about the violence in Minnesota and the tragic murders of Renee Nicole Good, 37, and Alex Pretti, 37. I have written about the Monks Walking for Peace crossing 2300 miles of pavement with blistered feet and steady hearts. We watched
As the monks walk for peace near Washington, D.C., their final destination in the 2300-mile walk, I find myself reflecting on how deeply their journey has affected me, not just intellectually, but emotionally, in a place that feels both tender and enduring. Watching them walk has stirred something I did not know I was missing.Over
Continuing the Walk for Peace Read More »
Teddy & Bear MomentsThere are some mornings when the light feels softer before I even open the shutters.I know why. Because before the coffee finishes brewing… before the news scrolls across my phone… before the world has a chance to feel heavy… I am greeted by two golden faces who believe, with absolute certainty, that this
National Golden Retriever Day Read More »
Coffee tastes different on mornings when the house feels still. Not silent exactly, but settled. The quiet where you notice small things. The sound of paws on tile. The way light moves across the floor. The feeling that you are not alone, even when you have not said a word yet. This morning, I looked up
The Quiet Intelligence of Dogs Read More »
Some months arrive quietly and leave without much to say. January 2026 was not one of them. This January arrived carrying weight, asking questions before we had our footing, and demanding resilience when many of us were already tired. On a personal level, on a national level, and on a global level, it felt as
January Asked Too Much of Us Read More »
I have written about Groundhog Day before, and it is a fun topic I enjoy. Every year on February 2, we turn our attention to a very small animal with a very big reputation. Groundhog Day is one of those uniquely American traditions that lives somewhere between folklore, seasonal hope, and gentle humor. We know the
Groundhog Day: How a Burrowing Rodent Became a Weather Celebrity Read More »
January 30, 2026Some days call for deep reflection.Some days call for joy.And some days call for a dinosaur drawn with absolutely no expectations. Today, January 30, is National Draw a Dinosaur Day, a holiday that began in 2007 when a bored college student named Todd Page sat in an anthropology class, pulled out a pen, and
National Draw a Dinosaur Day Read More »
A hopeful reflection, inspired by TeddyThere is a version of this story that could feel frightening. A beloved dog. Uncertainty. Tests that take time. Words like lungs, enzymes, and specialists are entering everyday conversation. But that is not the version I want to tell. The version I want to tell is about how far veterinary medicine
What Modern Veterinary Medicine Has Made Possible Read More »
Reflections on Compassion and Accountability This week, the world felt heavier. Saturday morning, I was walking and thinking about Teddy, reciting the mantra I have come to rely on for my daily walks, and honoring the vulnerable monks and Aloka, walking for peace. The light was soft and gentle. The air was crisp. For a
When Authority Fails Humanity Read More »
