Spring is in the air and the seasonal intoxication that comes with it. The onset of every season engages each of my senses uniquely with the surroundings. Right now, spring weather brings more than eye candy in the form of greenery and flowers. The scents of the tree blossoms and rainfall are tantalizing enough to…
Life is full of stigmas. They are everywhere, and most of them are untrue. Short, cute, blonde does not equal cheerleader. Cheerleader does not equal unintelligent. Depression does not equal crazy. A behavioral health center is not an insane asylum. Stigmas are labels of judgment that have no merit. I have a friend who suffers…
How many times have you said or heard, “Things aren’t like they used to be” or “My how times have changed?” These are common sentiments that aren’t untrue. Life has and will continue to change, but certain principles would serve society well if we maintained them. Young George Washington had the right idea when he…
Years ago, a friend gave me a card that read, “I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world.” With or without princess attire, I’ve never had illusions of saving the world, but damn, if I don’t try to make the world a better place through acts…
December is upon us already, and there will be no shortage of reasons to celebrate. At the end of the month, three holidays align this year: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza. We all have our reasons for celebrating. The three holidays acknowledge different points in history that represent hope and the idea of overcoming the impossible.…
Tomorrow marks a day in American history that no American will ever forget. Most people cannot recall what they ate for breakfast, but on 9/11, no one can erase the details of that day. Where you were, what you were doing, even what you wore is probably on total recall. For some, there is no…
Once upon a time, there was a fisherman. He was very successful at fishing but wondered if there was more to life than what the sea had to offer him. He wanted to know of his happiness in advance. The next time he was in port, he visited a fortune teller. The fortune teller waved…
Let’s take a page from the book of any Native American tribe’s philosophy and learn from their example of waste not, want not. Indigenous peoples hold Mother Earth in high regard, one that more people can benefit from learning. Believing that all living things have a soul, respect, and honor were bestowed on all things…
In 1930, Watty Piper wrote “The Little Engine That Could.” The most famous line in the book is, “I think I can. I know I can.” Nearly one hundred years later, the lesson of believing in yourself remains the same. The Little Blue Engine never told herself or let anyone else tell her she couldn’t.…
Fort Collins is home to the only lowland Nordic ski team in Colorado, the Poudre School District Prairie Dogs. In 2017, Kyle Steitz, the coach, was laughed at by the other twelve teams in the state. Everyone assumed a team of Lowlanders didn’t stand a chance. The competition had grown up on Nordic skis. Most…