Blog
What changed your mind?
I cannot remember one link or forwarded email that has substantially changed my mind. These days, the media I digest through my phone, computer, or TV does little to persuade my thoughts. On the contrary, it’s self-selected and pre-programmed to affirm my inclinations rather than challenge them. An essay or poem by Wendell Berry will make an imprint. And a show, such as Ted Lasso, helps us all to “stay curious.” But more than ever, experiences and relationships are what transform and alter the way I think and feel.
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Our Hero
Happy, heavy, heartfelt Veterans Day. Thank you to everyone who has served in the armed forces. You are welcome here. You belong. And we will never forget how much we love you.
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The choices don't stop here
You can care and have convictions AND strive towards peace and work towards understanding. You can live in a way that you would like your leaders to lead.
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Carving out Pumpkins and Our Future
One of the twisted gifts of loss is that the darkness that currently feels empty also creates space to innovate and give our children a community that is not just rebuilt but reimagined. Now is the time to put together a long-term recovery effort and team that will focus on not just rebuilding but reclaiming and redefining what it means to be mountain strong – making our region and everyone downstream more resilient with future trends and challenges in mind.
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Uncovering the Bedrock of Who We Are
Ah, take my love, take it down
Oh, climb a mountain and turn around
Oh, the landslide will bring it down
Selections from Stevie Nicks’ song, Landslide
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The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Our community will never be the same. The landscape has forever been altered, the damage to our infrastructure - including major interstates - will take years to replace or repair. There is already a steady exodus of residents whose houses and apartments cannot safely see them through the winter and of employees who lost their jobs, particularly within the tourism and service industries. We are working towards a new normal. And hoping to rebuild better. But it will take time and a lot of work, and it will include many setbacks.
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Go, dolphin, go!!
We are not all going to be dolphin trainers and wildlife biologists. Some of us are going to spend most of our time and energy caring for our families. And the intersection of it all is that people who are well-cared for are better able to care for others - and the environment.
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Agreeing to Agree and Not Losing Your Mind
When it comes to our current political and cultural disagreements and challenges, at the root of it, don’t we all want the same things? Don’t we all want to take care of what we love? Don’t we all want to keep our kids and communities safe and have decent opportunities??
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CEREAL BOXES AND DEBATES
Making it through breakfast on a school morning is a major accomplishment. You get up when you’re not ready then wake up your kids, who really aren’t ready either. You get dressed in something that makes you look more “put together” than you feel, then try to convince your kid to wear clean clothes that are not on backwards or inside out, and not too hot or too cold for the current weather forecast.
You try to make a breakfast that is quick and nutritious - and that your kids will actually eat. Then you have to convince them to sit down at the table and spoon some reasonable number of calories into their mouths. Just when you think you’ve done it, when you’re finally there and both kids have utensils in hand, food a few inches from their mouths… at that exact moment, one kid will say something to upset the other.
The spoon drops, milk splatters, voices rise, and tears roll. Fifteen minutes, later you are ushering them into the car with unkempt hair, handing them granola bars because they didn’t eat anything on their plates.
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America, All of It, The Whole Shebang
When I hit my middle-age, mid-career crisis, I didn’t want a sports car and I didn’t rethink all my life choices. I just knew I wanted to use the second half to do more to protect the places that I loved. As the owner of an outfitter and guide service, as well as an author and speaker, I felt like a cheerleader for conservation and a catalyst for engagement. But I also wanted the tools and understanding to sit at a table and help make decisions. I wanted to be able to advocate for these places with deeper knowledge and a stronger voice.
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