I spent this past week surrounded by brilliant, provocative, important ideas. My notebook is stuffed full of quotes, my mind is reeling with sparkly new connections – these are my favorite kinds of overwhelm. 

From this ocean of fascinating content, a surprising thread emerged. Despite my love of brain-first adventure, despite my attending this gathering in search of exactly that sort of input, the sessions that affected me most deeply were… something else. 

I shivered with glee when the air escaped from a thousand-year-old ice shard, with a pop and crack reflecting the passing centuries.

I welled up when a chorus of teenagers performed the most stirring rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” that I will ever hear.

I was stopped in my tracks when the sun broke through an ancient forest grove after days of misty gray.

Dear ones, our world requires all of us – brains, hearts, bodies, and spirits.

Our own lives deserve nothing less.

The top photo is the fantastic Janet Echelman’s sculpture Noli Timere – shown with the little medal that I carry everywhere, both inspired by Seamus Heaney.

Finally, finally, Boston is abloom.

I passed an azalea this week so pink it made me laugh out loud.

Then a friend mentioned a decidedly non-conventional stock idea.

Another told a story they’d been keeping in for quite some time.

A third brought me to tears with a heartfelt hug.

Things are busting out all over.

Maybe it’s the sunshine.

Maybe it’s the times.

Dear ones, let’s stir up some courage.

Why hold back?

We must speak the language we use

when there is no one around

to correct us.

       – Terry Tempest Williams, at Bioneers 2026

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.    

                – Maya Angelou

I recently had a chance to see the amazing Samurai exhibit at the British Museum, which includes an overwhelming display of intricate armor.

Helmets sported dragon figurines and goblin motifs, with spiky scary emblems everywhere. But nestled near the back of one display, a more familiar shape caught my eye. Could it be? Yes, indeed! 

Behold the mighty aubergine! All quake before her mighty vegetable-ness!

Dear ones, in a world of copycat dragons,

let’s dare to be the eggplant. 

Original.

Nourishing.

Glorious.

We are continually shaped by the forces of coincidence.  

                     – Paul Auster

Sometimes it seems like the world is conspiring against us, in ways big and small. The flight is mysteriously delayed, there is inexplicable snow despite a sunny forecast, the news headlines stretch the bounds of bear-ability… On any given day, it’s not hard to stack up the challenges that come our way. Just this past week, I encountered all of the items above, and then some.

Also.

Two dear friends were surprisingly in the same faraway city as me, and a third was heading to a remote island retreat just as I was departing. In the charity shop of a tiny seaside town, a recently recommended book practically leapt into my hands, from is spot amongst tattered 1980’s cookbooks. A gorgeous stag perched right alongside the road as our bus passed by. A huge rainbow shone on an ancient Celtic abbey as the sun set on St Patrick’s Day.

I mean, come on.

Dear ones, the bad luck can smack us right in the face.

Let’s let the good luck do the same.