I consider myself a socialist. That's a sentence that can create awkwardness at dinner parties, and suspicion and confusion in political conversations. Socialism is a dirty word in some political circles. Case in point: think of all the times that Barrack Obama has been accused of being a socialist in the past seven years, As if that is some grave insult. Because of the stigma around socialism, it is curious to me (and encouraging to me) that Bernie Sanders, a vocal and proud socialist, has . . .

I've talked before about how self-care can be a difficult thing for me. "Self-care" sound like such a frivolous thing, especially to someone like me. I struggle with perfectionism and caretaking for others, so self-care can feel self indulgent and unnecessary. But I am realizing, more and more, that self-care is actually a vital ingredient in me being a good writer, a good mother, and a healthy person. It is something I am trying to take seriously this year. As such, I've made some goals for . . .

Like many of you, I watched the video of a child falling into a gorilla habitat in horror, especially as he was dragged around a body of water like a ragdoll by his foot. I am still stunned that the child did not to drown or suffer any life-threatening injuries. I can't imagine what it must have felt like to be that mom. And as I heard her voice calling out her son thaf "mommy's right here," just trying to offer him comfort in the midst of that trauma, I felt so much empathy for . . .