Is the space around you beautiful? I didn’t ask if it was fancy or expensive or lavish, I asked if it was beautiful. For example, Ugandans tend to keep their yards swept clean. Even if the space around the home…
Category: Conversations that matter
Converting Confrontation Into Invitation (3 strategies for civil discourse)
A friend of mine—of another faith—told me that she recently went to her homeowners’ association meeting to confront them about the abundance of Christmas decorations in her apartment building. She strongly argued that this was not an inclusive practice, and…
“25 Things I’m Grateful for!” (My monthly gratitude list.)
Emails from my kids. After the long journey from Uganda, I walked into my American office on Monday and found a delightful gift and card from a colleague whose last day of work had been whilst I was away. That…
“Unexpected Ways” (An 80-second reading on what I am enjoying most about this human experience.)
Early this morning I was seated in the lobby of one of Kampala’s oldest hotels, The Africana. The Senior Advisor to Uganda’s First Lady had asked to meet me there. We have been friends for many years, and I happened…
“Thought-Snapshots” (A 2-minute post from London–on contemplating delight.)
Two nights ago I was in a meeting with colleagues, discussing cultural implications for resilience among young people, and then off to a dinner with friends at a favorite eatery in downtown San Diego. Last night I was crammed into…
“Africa in Your Tone” (A 90-second reading on how diversity informs authenticity)
“Good afternoon, sir,” I said to a distinguished Ghanaian scholar who had just joined our already-crowded minivan as we headed out for more school visits in Kasoa, Ghana last month. We then made introductions around the vehicle, and I mentioned…
“Especially Set Aside” (An 80-second reading on creating space for conversations that matter.)
The music is pumped up on the car radio, you’re driving to a somewhat familiar place, but then suddenly you realize you’re lost. What’s the first thing you do? You turn down your radio. Why? Because you need to create…