Bob Votruba, 54, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, is dedicating the next ten years of his life to spreading kindness. He and his Boston terrier Bogart plan to visit 100 college campuses to try to convince young people to aspire toward pursuing one million acts of kindness in their lives. That would add up to…
Sometimes, just occasionally, I’ve been known to go a tad over-the-top when it comes to do-it-yourselfing. My husband’s a good sport, but he’s been a much-needed balance when I come up with a new lofty idea. For instance, several years ago, he (and every gardening book I read) warned me that I should start with…
I love documentary films. They have a special capacity to entertain while making people think, shifting viewpoints, and increasing awareness of different subjects. Here are 5 of my favorite outlook-changing documentaries: 1. Rivers and Tides (2004) Andy Goldsworthy creates ephemeral sculptures in remote areas from natural materials, like ice, stones, and wood. He meticulously plans…
I love the feeling of coming out of a rut. The rhythms of life sometimes go stale. You find yourself preparing the same meals every week, going through the same routines, taking the same walk, doing the same chores. Then one day the whole world feels electric again, your brain buzzes with ideas, and you…
My husband and I allocate $10 to $20 of free money to ourselves each week. We call it “walking around money”. But I rarely see anything I need, so most weeks, mine ends up tucked away to be saved for later. I want to spend my money on something I’ll really value. But I’ve always…
This fall, my neighbor, an avid grower of corn, fertilized his backyard garden and pinned black plastic over it. A couple of days later, a few ducks showed up and stayed for the night. He surmised that from above they may have mistook it for a pond. The next evening more came. And then more….