Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.
Dr. Maya Angelou, American Poet
Engaging in the work to truly bring understanding, compassion, and growth to our culture–full of oppressive systems, an anti-intellectual sentiment, echo chambers, and disengagement–is intense and personal. To be successful, we must self-reflect. We must challenge our own biases and assumptions. We must engage with those who are different than us. And, to be honest, that applies to everyone.
I’ve been on my own journey to understanding for a long time now and there is no way I know all the answers! Instead, what I think I do best at is helping others on their journey. Individuals. Organizations. Holding up uncomfortable mirrors that challenge, causing cognitive dissonance (a term to describe the difficulty that we have holding two competing values/ideas at the same time), and spurring growth and action.
Read more about me, my musings, and what I might be able to assist with by exploring the site!
Read What You Watch
Cinema is a matter of what’s in the frame and what’s out.Martin Scorsese, American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor I’ve been fascinated by the power of media for a long time. I actually am trying to pinpoint the exact time–I think it was when I was asked to take over teaching a course on… Continue reading Read What You Watch
Why Saying “Sleepy Joe” Reinforces Ableism
Let’s stop ‘tolerating’ or ‘accepting’ difference, as if we’re so much better for not being different in the first place. Instead, let’s celebrate difference, because in this world it takes a lot of guts to be different.Kate Bornstein, American author, playwright, performance artist, actor, and gender theorist Our nation’s 45th president, Donald Trump, leapt to… Continue reading Why Saying “Sleepy Joe” Reinforces Ableism
“Danger Will Robinson!”
Wisdom is tolerance of cognitive dissonance.Dr. Robert Thurman, American Buddhist author and academic I’ve been reflecting a lot recently on the foundations of cognitive development–see, I’ve been studying human development since I was in my undergraduate days at Lebanon Valley College (shout out to the amazing psychology department there–Drs. Deanna Dodson, Lou Manza–are just extraordinary!),… Continue reading “Danger Will Robinson!”
Gene Kelly, Ph.D. 