All The Home Forum
- In cleaning up my corner of the world, I reclaimed my trust in others
As we stooped down to pick up litter, my neighbors and I rose above our partisan differences.
- Gardening lessons: Planting hope and harvesting peace of mind
Gardening was a central part of my grandma’s life. Her pleasures were simple: She found a storehouse of riches in her backyard garden.
- ‘If you want to be happy for the rest of your life,’ keep a bottomless bucket list
As we searched for elusive flora and fauna, I learned that joy isn’t in the discovery – it’s in the quest.
- What my adopted sons from Russia and Ukraine taught me about trust
In journeying with a stranger to a new life in a new land, my boys showed immense trust – and taught me that it flows both ways.
- Where the ribbit meets the road: My adventures in frog shuttling
Helping others – even amphibians – helps us. Our writer learns, it’s impossible to fixate on your own concerns while focusing on alleviating those of others.
- Zen and the art of automotive maintenance
What do you get when four of five children reach driving age? A collision course in car chaos.
- Back of the box recipes from Great-Grandma? Family treasure.
I longed for sentimental family heirlooms – until I learned that pragmatism is inheritance, too.
- The unexpected bounty of winter gardening
In nature and in life, some seasons, like winter, are less celebrated. Under the surface, however, lies growth.
- The actor and the ironing board: An unlikely lesson in improvisation
In our middle school musical, an eighth grade star averted disaster – and imparted valuable lessons in improvisation.
- Hygge season: Learning to winter like the Danes
In exploring hygge, the Danish art of coziness, I learned to rest and savor the season. It’s a counterintuitive lesson in slowing down.
- A friendly face in a foreign place: My encounter with a Soviet soldier
Our visit to Soviet-era Moscow resulted in a chance encounter, and a lesson in humanity, that would stay with me for decades.
- Let there be light: Re-sparking my love of learning
As a veteran professor, I decided it was time to turn the tables and go back to school. I was immediately overwhelmed. Had I made a mistake?
- Snow, glorious snow! Savoring the timeless delight.
In reliving the jubilation of scraping snowplows, school cancellations, and snow days, our essayist finds newfound wonder in every child's delight.
- ‘A visual map of my life.’ Navigating a new year, calendar in hand.
In an increasingly digital age, paper calendars offer a reassuring guide to the year ahead, and a story of the past.
- Rekindling a family friendship across continents
Even when geography, language, or customs differ, sometimes the strongest bonds transcend boundaries.
- Hallelujah! My Christmas chorus memoir (an animation).
I’ve sung Handel’s “Messiah” since I was 4 years old. Much has changed – including my voice – but the exuberance and joy remain.
- In the chaotic crush of travel, an oasis of calm
I was dreading my layover in a loud, crowded airport. It turned out to be the highlight of my trip.
- The hands that shaped me: My grandma's loving touch
Whenever I think of my grandmother's helping hands, I am filled with deep appreciation for the hard work and gentle gestures that defined her life.
- The transforming power of a thank-you note
Revisiting connections sparks newfound appreciation for old friends and lessons learned.
- ‘A ray of light’: How I found gratitude in trying times
I was doing gratitude wrong. It turns out I was looking for it in the wrong places.