Category: Authenticity

  • Success of “bad dad art” shows perfection isn’t the goal

    When British dad Jamie Lee Matthias gave his wife Kate a picture he had painted as a gag gift for their 2024 wedding, it was so bad she refused to hang it on the wall. Instead, she posted it lightheartedly on social media. Little did they know what that one post would become. With thousands…

  • When the hive’s 3AM volunteer went missing

    It started with a comment from Sarah from Western NC: “Where’s Steve G?? He’s never this late posting. Hope he’s ok.” Other early risers agreed. Cheryl Leigh, also from North Carolina, posted: “…it’s 4:06amET and SteveG has not posted…Anyone else feel a bit uneasy about this? Steve, if you see this, just know that I’m…

  • Coach called timeout at sunset for fourth-grade pitcher to eat

    Forty pitches into the game, fourth grader Abid stood ready to throw his next pitch, laser-focused on doing his job. He was performing well, so when his coach unexpectedly called a timeout and walked toward him, Abid was surprised. His teammates gathered around, waiting to see what their coach had to say. But instead of…

  • Wearing knives on your feet or throwing yourself down a mountain

    The Winter Olympics in Italy have delivered a captivating mix of fun, drama, intrigue, and humor – a much-needed escape from a world that feels on fire most days. As spectators, we’re taken in by the spectacle and skill of these extraordinary athletes, and we’re clearly not alone. Social media is buzzing with commentary that…

  • How doing what she loves makes a real difference in Ukraine – one animal at a time

    The headlines from Ukraine often capture the heartbreak of war – the pain, the loss, and the upheaval experienced by the country’s residents. Yet amid the devastation, American veterinary surgeon Dr. Colleen Lambo saw a different kind of suffering and felt compelled to act. As countless Ukrainians fleeing the conflict make the heartbreaking choice to…

  • How to find – and hold on to – that Silent Night peace

    One of my favorite Christmas traditions holds meaning that goes beyond a single holiday, resonating with anyone – whether you celebrate Christmas, another tradition, or are simply grateful to make it through the year. Every Christmas Eve, my family heads to our local church. Outside, it’s dark and cold; but inside, the sanctuary is warm…

  • Getting my son out of his Halloween box

    The first year, we were naïve. My eight-year-old came to me and announced proudly that he wanted to be a stop light for Halloween. So creative, I thought, let’s make this happen. We cut and stapled pieces of a large cardboard box into a stop light shape. We attached colored paper circles in the lower…

  • How becoming a doctor taught me about being human

    Jessica J., MD, is a pediatric hospitalist who explores the small, intentional choices that help people show up with clarity and compassion – in medicine and in life. Thanks, Dr. Jessica, for helping us launch our periodic guest post series “Shared Spaces” and reminding us that our best for others often comes after we put…

  • The world was wrong about Naomi Osaka

    When her dreams of winning a fifth Grand Slam tennis tournament were dashed after her loss to Amanda Anisimova in the 2025 U.S. Open semifinals last week, Naomi Osaka just smiled. “I don’t feel sad…I just feel like I did the best that I could.” This more relaxed version of Osaka has been years in…

  • Not so different

    News and social media like to highlight our differences. Controversy draws viewers. Viewers drive up ratings. Higher ratings and more views mean more money. And sometimes we buy into it without even realizing it. People who don’t look, talk, or act like us – especially if they’re not from our country – get lumped together…