She made authenticity look effortless. She gave permission for all of us—especially women—to be exactly who we are, without apology or pretense.

It has been a colossal reordering of my world. My friend’s words were spot on.

The quiet times allow me to think, and overthink — guilty as charged — and so I share with you some of my thoughts and insights gifted to me from the sandy shores of a small spit of land 30 miles from the Massachusetts coastline.

Imagine if we could look at our lives through the formidable lens of age, with all the knowledge, experience, and hard-earned wisdom we’ve accumulated through our middle years (okay, maybe our later middle years), and somehow apply it to our past.

What would we change? Would we have made different choices? Would we have lived differently?

This year’s French Open men’s singles final felt like more than just a game. There was something noble and exemplary—not just in their style of play, but also in their respect for each other, for tennis, and for the power of the human spirit.

Photo Credit: Christophe Petit Tesson / EPA

Easter was different this year…and I didn’t like it at all.

Maybe it was the challenge — how could polishing lamps take all winter? — but reluctantly, I decided to give it a go.

There is beauty in contrast. I have been thinking a lot about this idea and how it is applicable to our life and the human experience.

I would like to offer a different perspective - or maybe just a different story - about my relationship with a box of chocolates, and the wisdom I have gained along the way.

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?