The Dharma is the most important source of insight and inspiration to me as I heal from racism and discrimination and as I work towards social justice. The Dharma has taught me important truths about being a “minority” and the powerlessness, discrimination, and prejudice that often come with that status. Growing up, I strongly identified by [...]

Continue Reading →

Imagine this… It’s a nice warm Tuesday in the spring. Suddenly, staff, students, and faculty on campus experience a magnitude 7.5 earthquake along the Seattle fault line. The strong shaking sends landslides along I-405 and State Route 522, stranding motorists. Over 50% of the residents in Bothell and Woodinville are without power, and a water [...]

Continue Reading →

Have you ever heard of UW Carelink? Maybe you’ve heard of it, didn’t know what it was, and never gave it another thought. That was me, but then life started happening: children born, more children born, bought a house, changed positions at the UW, parents started aging and needing different types of attention, etc. During [...]

Continue Reading →

I often wonder if my kids really know what I do at the University of Washington and the incredible opportunities the UW has to offer. Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is celebrated throughout the nation on Thursday, April 23 as a way to share an enriching educational experience with children ages 8 [...]

Continue Reading →

When I became a homeowner just over a year ago, I knew home improvement would become part of my life. What I didn’t realize was that figuring out the best resources would take so much of my time. Where could I borrow tools in my neighborhood? Who should I hire? Where could I get green [...]

Continue Reading →

We all know grief is a natural part of life. In its narrowest sense, it is a response to a significant loss of a person, a pet, or even an object through some form of death. In its broadest sense, it refers to the coping of a variety of losses throughout one’s life, such as [...]

Continue Reading →

Although no campus crime alert goes down easily, several recent and particularly chilling notices left me and colleagues more on edge than usual. At a time of year when few of us can avoid solo walks in the dark, self-defense is often on our minds…but rarely on our agendas. The good news: self-defense education is [...]

Continue Reading →

My mom is 75, has a very active social and physical life, and lives alone in a one level rambler, but recently has had knee, hip, and memory issues, and she’s on my mind. Many of us are finding ourselves worrying about our aging loved ones, noticing changes, wondering if these changes are normal, and even [...]

Continue Reading →

Traditions pull us out of the current moment and take us back in time. That’s why they’re so reassuring and calming: they connect us with the past. Instead of thinking about our present-day stressors, we remember previous years and focus on what matters. Children especially enjoy the predictability of traditions, but it’s good for everyone [...]

Continue Reading →

It’s week six of The Stress Less Holiday Challenge and sometimes family can be stressful. My parents, my sister, and my sister’s boys are all coming into town this year. There will be 11 people in my small home for 10 days. Some may cringe at the thought of hosting for that long, but not [...]

Continue Reading →

Homework. It doesn’t have the best ring to it, does it? But it’s essential! Ever wonder how to improve and energize the process for your child? Now that the school year is getting hectic with holidays and tests, I asked UW Professor of Psychology Dr. Liliana Lengua what habits she recommends for homework success. She [...]

Continue Reading →

Tom Whittaker said, “Everest for me, and I believe for the world, is the physical and symbolic manifestation of overcoming odds to achieve a dream.” I am captivated by Mt. Everest and traveling there has been my lifelong dream. After losing 85 pounds since 2011 and finishing 17 half marathons in 2 years, I recently [...]

Continue Reading →