Main Course Courage Amid the Chaos “Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” -Maya Angelou I’m not a pundit, the aim of this newsletter isn’t political per se, and certainly wiser folks than I have plenty of insights to offer about the current political state of the US (and honestly, anyone who’s talked to me for more than 20 minutes probably has a good sense of my politics anyway). Whatever your political...
6 months ago • 4 min read
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutesHow do you measure, measure a year?How about love? -from "Seasons of Love" by Jonathan Larson Main Course Measuring Love in 2024 Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen numerous organizations recapping their year—highlighting their accomplishments, noting their progress toward goals, and proudly sharing the milestones achieved in 2024. As someone who loves seeing and digging into data, I’ve appreciated these metric reflections as a window into...
8 months ago • 4 min read
Main Course Healing Fractured Spaces A quick show of hands: Who else is feeling this mood right about now? Yeah, me too. I’ve been feeling this for weeks, presenting a facade of calm and normalcy while knowing the absolute dumpster fire that is current American politics is raging in the background. Recently, I’ve been thinking about the fact that, regardless of who wins tomorrow’s presidential election, much of what ails this country will continue. The toxicity, the fracturing, the discord,...
10 months ago • 4 min read
Main Course A Joyful Image from Summer October is here, which means many of us have shifted into an autumn frame of mind. Although Summer 2024 is officially behind us, I found inspiration for reflecting on the summer months in this prompt from @TheIsolationJournals: If you're like me, many of the joys of summer are captured in the photo library of your phone. Scrolling back through this past summer's images, I can easily conjure up the sounds, smells, and tastes of places visited. More...
11 months ago • 4 min read
Main Course The Stories of Our Names When was the last time you thought–really thought–about the story of your name? A few years ago I co-facilitated a six-session workshop series, alongside my colleagues Ophelia Bitanga-Isreal and Kuʻulani Keohokalole. The series was an exploration of race, culture, power, privilege, and the pursuit of racial equity in the context of Hawaiʻi. We knew we needed to set a tone of openness, connection, and vulnerability from the outset, given the weighty and...
12 months ago • 3 min read
If you're receiving this newsletter, you're one of those people who I'd always welcome chatting with over a cup of coffee. I hope you'll consider this newsletter an invitation to continue being in conversation, whether in real life or online! Main Course Practicing the World You Imagine Near the start of 2024, I came across a quotation from activist, filmmaker, and author Valarie Kaur: “We live into what we imagine. Imagine the world as it could be. Paint that world. Sing that world. Invite...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read