Yesterday I wrote about how a free bowl of oatmeal and a suitcase that was lifted for me made my day, and made me realize how powerful small acts of kindness can be. This weekend, as we celebrate Labor Day, I was thinking it would be especially meaningful for each of us to commit to performing small labors of love for family, friends and strangers. Buy coffee for the person in line behind you. Mow a neighbor’s lawn. Invite a... Read more
If you follow me on social media, you know that I fly a lot. One of the things I’ve learned about airports is that you often see people on their best and worst behavior– and yesterday was no exception. I was flying from Dayton, OH, to Scranton, PA, with a layover in Detroit. A passenger who was supposed to sit across the aisle from me found his seat occupied by a woman who didn’t speak English. The seat next to me... Read more
Ohio Northern University applied for — and received — a grant to bring me to campus for three weeks during the fall semester. I’m guest-lecturing about international aid, health communications and public health. I’m helping to guide a cohort through the process of writing their stories. And I’m working with the chaplain — who is emphasizing Vocation as the theme of this school year. On Sunday evening, I met with a dozen students in a small, carpeted room behind... Read more
I’m guest-lecturing at Ohio Northern University this week. This afternoon, I’m speaking at an event for students who are undecided about their majors. The faculty asked if I’d talk about the ways in which my academic and career plans went right….and wrong…..and how I ended up on my current path. When I asked them how long I have to speak, they said around 30 minutes, and I started to laugh. Because my story of things that have gone right and wrong... Read more
My journalism professor often told me, “Sarah, you’re burying the lede!” when I put vital details at the end of an article instead of at the beginning. So here we go. Here’s the lede: After two years of living on the road (which included traveling to 25 states and 11 countries, speaking at dozens of events and making a lot of great memories), I am settling down in San Francisco. I’m going to be working a few shifts a month in... Read more
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller I love the Olympics. The convergence of so many countries and cultures. The tremendous physical feats. The electrifying competition. The intense emotions of triumph and defeat. The sportsmanship. The surprises. But what I love most about the Olympics are the stories of athletes who have faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles — and overcome them. Children who were abandoned or orphaned, who acknowledged that,... Read more
I spent the past ten days in Europe with my sister, visiting Paris, England, Northern Ireland and Ireland. One of the things I enjoyed about the trip (besides quality sister time, amazing food and gorgeous architecture) was gaining distance from the U.S. — a country I love, but for the time being, seems to have lost its mind. While I was away, I purposefully didn’t watch the news or read many newspapers. Once I landed, it seemed that not only... Read more
Last night Hillary Clinton made history by accepting the Democratic Nomination, which means she has the potential to become the first female president of the United States of America. My Facebook and Twitter accounts blew up with people who were excited about the U.S. “making history.” Which is fine. Whether you agree with her politics or not, simply looking at the campaign through the lens of gender, it’s Clinton’s moment, and it’s an important moment. But instead of being excited about... Read more
In airports and metro stations, I often see signs that say, “If You See Something, Say Something.” It’s a request from law enforcement to notify them if you see any dangerous or suspicious activity. This past weekend, I hosted three of my dearest friends for Girls Weekend at a home in eastern Oregon where I’m housesitting for the month of July. During the day, we kayaked and picnicked and explored the Columbia River and Wallowa Lake. In the evenings, we... Read more
“How we live our days…is how we live our lives.” — Annie Dillard *** It happened gradually over more than a decade but, as I wrote last week, I went from saying, “I want to change the world someday” to saying, “I want to heal the world someday.” Then, I realized that it wasn’t possible for me to heal the entire world. It was only possible for me to heal my world — the people in my social circle, my neighborhood, my... Read more
Sarah Thebarge
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