Posts by Carol Ross
Summer Solstice Virtual Party on June 20
Every year, in honor of the longest day of the year, a friend throws a Summer Solstice party. It’s a wonderful reason to get together—a backyard celebration with food, music, and good conversation. And now, in a digital world, where friends can be across the globe, it’s a little harder to gather. But let’s try…
Read MoreBeing Well-Used
This morning I had a phone conversation with a college friend. It's been decades since we lived down the hall from each other in the dorm. Both of our careers have evolved in ways that we couldn't have imagined when we were 18 years old. I was calling my friend to get advice on the…
Read MoreThe Road to Recovery, One Year Later
I feel different today than I did a year ago. It's not just that I'm a year older. I'm a decade wiser. Unfortunately, the price of wisdom is often a painful life experience. In my case, it was hitting burn out last summer. My biggest concern at the start of this year was this: After…
Read MoreMoments of the Divine, In Your Own Backyard
Backyards have a special place in my heart. My backyard serves as a refuge, an every day sanctuary from the outside world. Literally on the other side of the fence, is a public sidewalk, a well-trafficked street, and the entrance to a heavily used baseball field. But all of this fades away when I'm wandering…
Read MoreMaking Better Use of Your Brain
After my experience with burnout last summer, I've had a fascination with how the brain works. At my lowest point last year, I could feel how limited my capacity was to take in new information. I can still remember one afternoon going into a dark, quiet room in our basement, lying down on a pillow,…
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