Oh, the lessons I’ve learned. And, farewell.

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, October 4, 2019 It’s said that the right decisions are the hardest ones to make. That’s certainly been true for me. In 1993, I was a practicing attorney with a baby on the way when my two-year-old son was diagnosed with autism. Autism – one new word,…

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9 Secrets to Thriving arrived at the right moment in this year of adversity

  From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page,  September 20, 2020 Why do some people survive, and others thrive when faced with adversity? That question plagued Emma Bell during her childhood as she noted how she and her two siblings responded differently to the same challenging circumstances. It followed her into her career as…

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Navigating our troubled times

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, June 7, 2020 Protestors with masks on freeways, a fuel truck bearing down, horn blaring. It’s one of many powerful images reflecting the surreal state of affairs in 2020. For months we’ve been told to quarantine, furlough employees, avoid family, friends, churches and gyms, all to protect…

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Reflecting and regrouping during the pandemic

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, May 24, 2020 Way back in January, I decided this was going to be my best year ever. Resolving to be more deliberate about how and with whom I spent my time and resources, I set goals and made a plan. Then the coronavirus arrived like a…

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Special needs, extraordinary concerns

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, May 3, 2020 It took many years and many hands to assemble the scaffolding that provides the structure for Lucas Houk’s life. When coronavirus infiltrated our communities, the structure toppled. Like my son Jack, Lucas was diagnosed in the 1990s, when little was known about autism. His…

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