“Her butt cheeks are showing,” my son noted about a nearby girl as we waded into the spray park kiddie pool. Several years later, the same twin commented, “She must be cold,” as a figure skater twirled on TV. Well, yes, son. You’re right. I’m raising twin boys and riled…

I read a bit this year… Here they are in chronological order: Becoming by Michelle Obama — What a gift to get a glimpse into the life and relationship of an amazing woman, her marriage, and their coming into being. Humbled by how Barak and she have lived. Fun Home…

Breathing in the world’s suffering helped me deal with sickness and death — We knew that death was rapidly approaching for Libby when she became too weak to swallow her pureed food or even suck from a straw. …

Or run or skate or cheer or tumble? About the time I started college, women’s track uniforms uniformly shrunk. No longer singlets with running shorts. My first year we basically wore onesies. If we were swimmers, it would have made sense. But we weren’t, and steeple chase wasn’t a women’s…

I assumed it was a heart attack for both the men whose wives were widowed. Not yet 50. Fit. Athletic. Lean. Brilliant. Died suddenly. The tech news headline. The Facebook status update. Registering the words inflicted a bodily jolt. My first thought, “Dammit! Why don’t men go to the doctor?” …

How do you want to spend your days? Your life? How are you interacting with your family, colleagues, random bystanders? What changes if you spend more of your time with a grace face instead of in growling attack mode? Need help making that happen? Try biting on a pencil for a few minutes. See if anything shifts. Be a force of grace. #mardimeditation

On Getting Paid “Globally, women spend an average of 4.5 hours a day on unpaid work,” Gates writes. “Men spend less than half that much time.” 1642.5 hours of unpaid work per year http://fortune.com/2016/02/23/melinda-gates-women-unpaid-work/ Women negotiate for promotions and raises as often as men but face more pushback when they…

Do you know what the Mardi Gras colors represent? I didn’t. The internet did: Purple — symbolizes Justice Green — symbolizes Faith Gold — symbolizes Power I had the chance to be in New Orleans the first Mardi Gras after Katrina. Resilient spirits lined the streets. Talk about persisters! Celebration in the wake of devastation, the city rose to the occasion. In the spirit of persistence, grab your Mardi Gras beads and breathe with me:

Grace doesn’t make a fuss about itself, but it subtly warms and transforms the atmosphere. At its essence, grace is the transference of well-being from one who is calm and comfortable to those around. — Sarah Kaufman, The Art of Grace My sons wish I would show more grace and…