I suspect the feelings were mutual — When I first developed a crush on my former boss Aidan, I dismissed it as physical. He’s a charismatic, good-looking guy who fills out his suit jackets well. But I knew he was married, so I didn’t put much stock in it. A crush can be a fun, lighthearted thing…

Not all food bank donations are created equal — As a freelance consultant, I’m lucky to have some great clients who treat me like an extension of their workplace. A few holiday seasons ago, one such client invited me to participate in their annual volunteer day at a food bank. A truly international firm, the boss lives a few…

I gave myself a big challenge in 2023 — One year ago, a friend and I got together for dinner. “So, what’s new?” she asked as we got settled. My heart sank. It had become my most dreaded question. What to say, when the answer was actually, nothing at all? It was late 2022, and I was seriously dragging. …

Loyalty isn’t all it’s cracked up to be — On a muggy August day 20 years ago, I left my office mid-morning and sat in a nearby park. I spent an hour propped up against a tree, calculating how much damage my career would sustain if I just never returned to work. Forget quitting, I was seriously considering blocking…

My brother was at his best supporting others — Like many people, I was gutted when I heard about actor Matthew Perry’s death on Saturday night. Of all my parasocial relationships, this was one of the longest and deepest. I loved him from the first time I watched the TV show Friends. I can repeat some of his quips…

All my childhood memories, discarded — I was three on my first day of school. You’re not supposed to start junior kindergarten until age four, but my birthday is in December. Family legend has it that I could already read storybooks at that age, so when Mom brought me into the school and had me demonstrate…

A small price to pay for such beautiful memories — One of my first trips outside of North America was to Portugal with a friend. Over the course of a week, he bought half a suitcase worth of colorfully painted roosters, ornamental plates, magnets, and other sentimental items. I started to question if he really needed that many, which he…

Help felt like a punishment — I’ve always prided myself on being an independent person. If I can do something myself, I will. If I have a problem, I can usually figure out the solution. If something scares me, I see it as a challenge to overcome. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, but figuring…

There’s beauty in being a witness — “There’s someone over there,” Dad said from bed in his weak, raspy voice. We were alone in the room, but my eyes went to where he was pointing. “Yes,” I said, “but he can’t hurt you while I’m here.” “O-kay,” he replied, dubious but not wanting to disagree outright. His…