Ways of Seeing: ‘Freedom’ is in the eye of the beholder

The little saucer landed gently in my side yard and the little green creature hopped out onto the lawn. 

While sustainability in building and construction has been around for a while now, one aspect that people are starting to take into account is the idea of embodied carbon.

Most of us have heard the story of Noah’s ark. It’s often told to young children, perhaps because of the compelling images of all those animals, coming two by two.

In these unbearably long weeks since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, acts of really listening to one another have been in very short supply.

An old saying about not seeing the forest through the trees implies someone isn’t seeing the big picture. Recently, I had a first-hand opportunity to experience this expression.

I’m an introvert, a term I embrace with pride, though I didn’t always see this trait as positive. Throughout my life, I’ve heard people refer to me as “quiet,” in a tone suggesting I have a terminal illness or that I’m hiding something.

I have bungled many situations in my life. Some stand out above others.

Every day seems to bring a new revelation of a public person behaving badly and then botching their apology. Why is saying “I’m sorry” so very difficult?

In July, I traveled to Mongolia again, hoping to interview the various protagonists in my documentaries.

Recently I was offered the opportunity to help revive the Early Childhood Leadership Institute at the Snelling Center for Government. It was a sweet and bittersweet offer. 

A wise friend recently asked a question which I’ve been pondering ever since. “How do you cope,” he asked, “with the times we are living in?” 

This summer we’ve had the chance to see all too much rain, and while we’ve not seen a lot of fires directly, their smoke has blurred our skies, their destructive potential displayed on our televisions. What next? Where do we go from here?

Last December I turned 40. The milestone birthday was a reminder it was time to make an appointment at my doctor’s office for a physical.

The harsh reality is that this summer is emerging as a no-holds-barred Climate Chaos Summer.

Walking through town the last month, I saw a white woman in fully traditional Mexican dress, the kind my grandmother used to bring back to me from Mexico when I was little.