Why 2026 is Forcing Us to Choose Who We Really Are Like so many others, I held my breath as I watched hockey star, Scott Hunter, risk everything to courageously invite the love of his life onto the ice after his victory in Heated Rivalry. I definitely was feeling that
“Since you’re now in public office, I should probably tell you all the weird things you do—and all the ways you’re wrong.” My husband, Robert, offered this loving threat shortly after I began my term as a Spokane City Council Member. Robert has always had quick wit
January has a way of stripping things down to essentials. Our mornings are frosty, our breath steaming the air. The daily work does not care who won an election, only that it be done. Out here at the ranch, the seasons keep their own rhythm, and that perspective matters when
A Journey from Magic to Mindfulness As a child, I was absolutely certain I would grow up to be a world-renowned magician. Not a hobbyist. Not a guy who does card tricks at parties. A world-renowned magician. I rehearsed relentlessly, fundraised to buy expensive props, and devoured every
Happy Reclamation Season! “Reclaiming my time!” — a phrase popularized by Rep. Maxine Waters in 2017 — has been around for far longer than the meme. But this year, I’ve noticed the profound influence “reclaiming” has had across the nation. It signals a deep, positive shift: people taking back ownership of
During the pandemic, I was diagnosed with heart failure after landing unexpectedly in the ER. The medical team was covered head-to-toe in plastic shields, gowns, and gloves. I spent hours alone in a dark hospital room. My husband wasn’t allowed to enter. I held onto my cell
Thankfulness is found in the turbulent waters of this historic time, by charting a path toward community and away from the idea of rugged American individualism, self sufficiency, and the nuclear family. So many dream of moving to the mountains and become as self sufficient and removed from urbanity as
We’re lonelier than ever, and it’s killing us. We’re forgetting what community looks like—just when it’s what will save us. But community isn’t found in another app- it’s found on the front porch, at a coffee shop, or out on the kickball field.
Entrepreneurship and small business culture love to glorify hustle. We’re told that success means scaling fast, posting constantly, and staying “on” at all times. The algorithm rewards urgency, and often our peers echo it back: move faster, do more, never stop. But for those of us building purpose-driven
We tease here at the ranch that we have animal pastures and people pastures, and both require husbandry. There is much to be learned about humanity by caring for animals. Particularly, camelids, which include alpacas and llamas, bring a very unique set of lessons to the human than that of
How to Evolve Your Business Without Burning It All Down You started your business with purpose. You poured your heart into the brand, the website, the mission statement. You knew who you wanted to serve. You felt aligned and excited. But now? Something doesn’t quite fit. Your offerings may
Recently, we had a party check into one of our yurts, a grandpa and adult son coming up to help the grandson build a house up the road from us. It was their first time staying at the ranch. During our check-in routine, grandpa pipes up, “my wife wanted
Conflict. Just the word makes many of us uncomfortable. For me, as a gay man, it has often carried an even heavier weight. When I think of conflict, I don’t just imagine tense conversations—I recall the time someone spit on me in a Walmart. The time food was
Many of us start our own business for freedom; the flexibility to work on our terms, to choose our customers, to create something that supports a dream and reflects our values. But even in the most intentional businesses, boundaries can quietly blur. It might happen slowly: a little extra time
Nothing can give one the truest sense of what it means to be an American, then to live through being marginalized by your fellow citizens, forming close-knit subcultures and communities, being overrun by a plague and the associated stigmas, and then finding the strength and fortitude to overcome...all
I considered running for office years ago, so I sat down and drafted a set of courageous, self-reflective questions—questions I felt I needed to answer honestly before moving forward. This wasn’t an academic exercise; it was born out of genuine concern. At the time, I was disillusioned.
