Terms and Conditions II
The relentless self-centered lust for power over, dominance of, people, places and the resources they represent is inherently destructive. Quests for a god like form of control, one that elevates your every desire and whim and seeks to ensure your every impulse becomes a commandment – well, that hunger for control exists a bit in […]
Friends
I always thought we would be friends forever, especially when we were older. Together on our path. Our circumstances or distances would not matter. Imbalances would sort themselves out. To me, friendships forged in shared work or cause were permanent. Solidified by being together through the best and worst. The beautiful and beastly. But then […]
Lemonade
There is no better smell than a ripe Meyer Lemon. It has taken a few years since Winter Storm Uri for my new trees to make some fruit. For my garden to heal. And for me to heal as well – from a different kind of storm. Some destructive forces in our lives can be […]
Fall Finally
This morning fall is real. All my senses say so. Strangely, fall has a sound / not sound at my home in Houston. When the air conditioning shuts off for a long enough period that the background noises of birds and the roar of 69 and 288 are fully audible at 6:00AM. It’s a strange […]
Sacred Ground
Before you speak, ask yourself – will this in any way ease pain or lighten the load carried by those closest to this tragedy. We all have the obligation to treat heartbroken people and their excruciating losses and grief as sacred ground. Do not set a single critical, judgmental, opportunistic foot upon it. Note that […]
Reality is on the Ground
Not in the headlines It doesn’t take long to learn to wall oneself off from criticism and snark. In my case about nine months. I try to hang on to the belief that people, even reporters, ask genuine questions and want to understand. I continue to behave that way but now I know better. There’s […]
Resilience and Strength.
What do they mean? Houston is seen as resilient. As a city. As a feature of our identity. As I explore the ways we need to become stronger and better protect ourselves from inevitable upheaval, I ground myself in climate realities and accept the uncertainty that comes with our position on the Gulf Coast and […]
Deficit Based Systems and Determination
This is a long post – take your time or just pass by. I’m learning a new role and trying to understand how to get things done in an arena that is irrational. Cynics say a lot about government. Some think we deliberately under-resource it so it can’t be effective. Others think it’s all mediocre […]
On Time
Dear Social Sector Leaders, I have stopped calling you “nonprofit” leaders because what kind of nonsense category is that? I am going to “out” you right now. Not by name. But here’s what you say over the late night calls, or after a glass of wine, or when you are so worn out you can’t […]
Old and Hot
Dear Social Sector Leaders, I have stopped calling you “nonprofit” leaders because what kind of nonsense category is that? I am going to “out” you right now. Not by name. But here’s what you say over the late night calls, or after a glass of wine, or when you are so worn out you can’t […]