There’s something truly special about the few weeks of fall we’re experiencing right now. The leaves have burst into their brightest colors and there’s a crisp chill in the air that invites us to nestle into our cozy sweatshirts and warm socks. The anticipation of the holidays to come is just beginning to spark. It […]
Colleen Cook, Thrive Correspondent
Posted inWellness
Commentary: Reflections at the end of the baby phase
This weekend, a friend who’s expecting her first child in a month came over to help me unload a mountain of baby gear. As we filled the trunk of her car with clothes, equipment and supplies, I wondered if I might feel a little sentimental about saying an official farewell to the baby season of […]
Posted inWellness
Commentary: Finding quiet amidst the noise
Life feels so noisy right now. There is a lot to be worked up about, so many decisions that need to be made, so many heartaches to mourn, so many injustices that need righted. Amidst it all, we have to carry on with our daily lives and keep it all together. It seems like everyone […]
Posted inWellness
Commentary: We’re wrong about what makes someone ‘smart’
This week, my second grader, Eloise, came home from school and, as I do most days, I asked her what she learned. She said, “I learned that I can count on my fingers, I don’t have to have all the math memorized.” I was ecstatic. When she was in first grade, in spite of the […]
Posted inWellness
Breaking out of bad habits
Think about a season in your life when you were truly thriving. In those seasons, you’re operating on all cylinders: eating well, sleeping well, my energy is positive, my work is strong and my relationships are healthy. All of those elements work in synchronicity, each influencing the next as you operate at your full potential. […]
Posted inWellness
Finding belonging in community
I was driving through Ashland today, and with each yard I passed, I felt myself tense up. The signs in the yards reflected a political candidate I feel opposed to, and I found myself being curious about why it bothered me. One of the best things about living in a small town is the strong […]
Posted inWellness
Commentary: Adjusting your family to new routines
My entire life, I have loved the first day of school. As a child, the night before school started felt a little like Christmas, with new clothes set out for the morning, new supplies in the backpack. The potential that came with a new school year, with new teachers and new classmates, was absolutely thrilling […]
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Commentary: Love your neighbor as yourself
I came across a video today that brought me to tears. A man kept getting motion alerts from his driveway security camera each evening because a little boy kept riding his bike in his driveway. In response, the man chalked a racetrack in the driveway for the child to have some fun as he rode, […]
Posted inWellness
Commentary: What if we disagree?
There’s a lot to disagree about these days. Each day, it seems the lines that divide us get drawn in new and surprising ways. Moreover, messages about how we should feel about that division are conflicting and difficult to navigate. Someone you may have seen eye to eye with a week ago on most issues […]
Posted inWellness
Commentary: Trying to be here
I spend an inordinate amount of time looking down the road with binoculars. As a result, I’m great at planning and foresight, strengths that I use in every avenue of life. When it comes time to pack for a vacation or plan for a party, I can make a list that would bring you to […]