Published in The Orange Journal·Mar 19The Toll of Digital Distraction and How to Overcome ItManage the flow of information in your life to boost happiness. — How many times do you check your phone each day? Or if you’re on your computer, check e-mail, social media, or news while working on something else? If you check your phone somewhere between 58 to 96 times a day, you’re not alone, according to two surveys from RescueTime and…The Orange Journal8 min read
Dec 28, 2021Best of 2021: Pathways to the Systems Change We NeedWe started 2021 with much hope. The worst of the pandemic appeared to be in the rearview mirror. Real possibilities for finally addressing climate change and equity were emerging. Then, Delta and Omicron struck, and the pandemic continued to take lives. COP26 agreements led to some progress at the international…Climate Change2 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Oct 28, 2021Taking Community from the Trail into our Everyday LivesReflections from a Week Backpacking in the High Sierra — My daughter Katharine’s feet protested with four blisters and many aches. My water filter needed repair multiple times. Some climbs were tough and long, testing our stamina and patience. And long downhills pounded our legs and feet. We arrived at campsites at the end of most days tired, “hangry”, and…Community9 min read
Published in Climate Conscious·Sep 16, 2021A Week in the High Sierra with My DaughterConnecting to nature and leaving no trace in the climate era — “Who designed this? It’s perfect,” my sixteen-year-old daughter frequently exclaimed during our week backpacking in the California High Sierra. And each time, we paused to take in our surroundings and agreed that nature’s design was indeed perfect. I’ve been backpacking in the Sierras for over twenty years, but to experience…Climate Change8 min read
Mar 31, 2021All Neighborhoods Need a Slow StreetPart One of a New Series, Local Change and Emerging from the Pandemic (Sign up for monthly newsletter to be alerted to future articles.) The morning light awakens you from your slumber. You slowly roll out of bed. The first sound you hear is the hum of car traffic outside…Slow Streets7 min read
Nov 23, 2020This is the Year to End Black FridayOn Black Friday, large retail corporations hope we shop, shop and then shop some more. Despite the alarming spread of the coronavirus, many chain stores will be open for business. As proclaimed on retailmenot.com, “Black Friday is getting closer, and that means only one thing: time to start your holiday-shopping…Thanksgiving5 min read
Jun 23, 2020Taking Down Walls Where We LiveLiving together in the same communities is the most fundamental, direct and impactful way to dismantle racism and remove the inequities that have been inflicted upon Black, Indigenous and People of Color in our country. The events of the past few months have exposed and brought to the surface the…Diversity10 min read
Apr 24, 2020Nature, Health and Networks: A Perspective on COVID-19 and Life after the PandemicBobcats, coyotes and bears freely roaming in Yosemite Valley. Birdsong ringing throughout our most populous cities. Dolphins and swans returning to the Venice canals (well, not so true). The first story line is what happens when the hoards of visitors to the majestic and breathtaking Yosemite Valley suddenly stop coming…Climate Change8 min read
Mar 3, 2020The Case for Living Connected to PlaceI remember seeing a quote some years ago that distilled the problems we face as a human society down to one fundamental reason- viewing other people and other species as less than ourselves. I’ve continued to think about this as the harm we cause our fellow humans and nature escalate…Localization5 min read
Dec 7, 2019Connecting to Place in Education and Why It MattersAs our society has become increasingly global and digital, so has our educational system. Smart, thoughtful uses of technology can engage learners, enhance learning and boost academic achievement. Likewise, learning and thinking about global issues and learning from other cultures can broaden student perspectives and promote critical thinking and analytical…Education6 min read
