Category: Authenticity

  • The Survivor moment we should all be talking about

    I started watching Survivor three seasons ago on a whim. Some friends I don’t see often asked me to join their online fantasy Survivor pool. I figured it’d be a fun way to connect. But I’ll be honest – I had low expectations. I first watched the veteran reality show in the early days when…

  • How Musical Harmony Can Bridge Our Divide

    I love to sing, especially harmonies. In a large choir or a small group, the harmonies provide depth that even the loveliest melody can’t produce on its own. Imagine a song that begins with a simple intro by piano and guitar. After a few beats, the lead vocalist starts the first verse with the lone…

  • Telling Our Stories

    This week, thousands of people gathered for the 29th year at Weber State University in Ogden, UT – to hear stories. Yes, you read that right. They could’ve stayed home and read a book, but instead, they were drawn to hear students and professional speakers telling their stories during the three-day festival. For the “tellers,”…

  • My Least Favorite Four-Letter Word

    When the waiter first approached the table, I greeted him with a smile and a quick “Hi, how are you?” I expected him to come back with the usual “fine.” But after a split-second pause, his response was more insightful: “Crazy busy tonight but keeping up, thanks so much for asking.” His whole vibe exuded…

  • Where’s the mute button?

    Since the election last week, reports abound of racist texts sent to black Americans – including children – telling recipients they’d been “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation” and to “prepare to be searched” on the plantation after being picked up in a van by slave catchers. Equally disturbing is the surge in…

  • Is the nature versus nurture debate finally over?

    I’m an identical twin. People have always naturally compared my sister and me. We accept that we’re a novelty. Yet it’s an interesting phenomenon as an independent adult to be considered (at least initially) as half of a whole. We look so much alike that we confuse people. We both love to sing. Sometimes we…

  • Are You Brave Enough to Recycle Your Box?

    As much as January gets all the hype for new beginnings, September represents a fresh start for me in ways the post-holidays new year can’t. The student perk: newly sharpened No. 2 pencils and a blank slate of spiral notebooks with covers intact. The adult equivalent: A time of welcoming new activities and different perspectives…

  • Breaking the Mold

    Have you been watching the Olympics in Paris? Something’s changed. The athletes seem different. Confident, but (mostly) humble. Laser-focused, but more relaxed. Intensely competitive, but even more respectful of their opponents. Overall, they just seem happy and comfortable in their own skin. We’re here for it. We’re all in. Showing more respect. The athletes’ support…

  • We Need the Real You

    The show started with the most unexpected act. Legendary musicians played an annual benefit concert at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta recently to preserve and restore historic theaters and fund education programs across the state. During the evening, Shawn Mullins did his best to assure us that everything’s gonna be alright. Charlie Star and Blackberry…