Learning from my friend Cliff. Not long ago I sat down with my friend Cliff and asked him some questions about growing older. Here is our conversation and how it has impacted my view on aging. I sat in Cliff’s living room and looked around. Hanging on the wall were…

Everything he does tells his story. — “Finn, I love you!” He smiled at me and puts his hand to his mouth and kisses it. That’s his way of saying, I love you. My son is nonverbal. He turned three last month and has never spoken a word. …

Because parenting is never as simple as people imagine. — Parenting is challenging and it will mess you up. Life with children is complex. It doesn't matter who you are, it is complicated, challenging and often overlooked in our culture. It is one of the most important jobs in our world yet it constantly undervalued and minimized. …

Prove me wrong. — In my part of the world, there are four distinct seasons. Each has its appeal, but to me, one stands out above the rest. Fall. You can call it Autumn or Harvest, but I call it Fall. Fall is the best season, its not hard to prove. This all started…

Why it still matters. — As a society, we should always be reaching for what will make us better. The way we choose to live today impacts our likelihood of developing a future that includes a healthier society. However, we all have different views on what that means. Exceeding the status quo is more than just inventing a new way to eat cereal in the morning and surprisingly it's…

How do I answer her hard questions that I can’t answer for myself? — I love taking my daughter on long trips. We have really great conversations while driving. Life is busy and slowing down to really talk is hard. But on road trips, we are stuck together for a long time. Sometimes we talk about silly things like stories she has read or…

Paddling at night is a deep breath for the soul. — I paddled slowly out onto the lake. It was dusk and the water was flat. I dipped my paddle slowly trying not to disturb the water. I wanted to be one with this world. I needed to feel like I was part of the environment. I was sitting on my paddleboard with my heels dangling in the…

Women inspire my daughter to overcome her medical complexities. — My daughter needs heroes. Doesn’t every eight-year-old? My daughter’s health is complicated and often suffocating. She needs things to remind her of all that she can be. After all, there is much in our world that tries to hold girls back. Of all the things that try to hold her…

I miss my “normal” life. — My life is complicated. Every day is a struggle and its no one’s fault. Hardship snuck up on me and I didn't realize how easy I had it until everything changed. I used to enjoy the little things of life, without even really knowing they existed. They were just part…