Lately I’ve noticed how quickly conversations snap into right/wrong. Certainty feels safe, and it rarely moves us forward. Progress usually happens in the humble space of “what if.” What if your way of thinking is just that—your way of thinking?What if other people approach the same thing differently—and validly?What if you’re absolutely convinced you’re right?What if you agree there are moral absolutes and still see gray areas where reasonable people disagree?What if considering viewpoints beyond your own makes you anxious because you “know” you’re right?What if you try—really try—to step into someone else’s shoes?What if you start to see their
My husband is a huge history buff, especially when it comes to World War II. He knows all the players, battles, aircraft, troop movements, and statistics like the back of his hand. For years, one of his bucket list dreams was to visit the Normandy Beaches — the very site of the D-Day invasion — to finally see the battlegrounds he’s long pictured in his mind and seen in countless movies and documentaries. While I share a curiosity about history, my interest is more tentative. I enjoy museums and stories, but sometimes, history gets too close for comfort. We’ve visited
After my recent trip abroad, I’ve been carrying around a persistent feeling. Our world in 2025 feels smaller and more connected than ever, much easier to navigate, a place where cultures mix freely and borders seem less rigid. This blending offers exciting chances for greater understanding —and it also brings moments that can be uncomfortable or challenging. How often do US citizens hear the label “Ugly Americans”? Our culture can sometimes clash with others, whether it’s our insistence on comforts like air conditioning and ice cubes, our assertiveness, or simply our limited foreign language skills. When we travel, we carry