Growing up in North Myrtle Beach, I knew a number of kids whose parents owned small businesses—beachfront motels, seafood restaurants, even miniature golf courses—and I always thought it must be neat to be part of a family business. As I got older, it occurred to me that I was kind of part of one too, … More Secret Family Recipe
One of the very first things you learn in the classrooms and hallways and playgrounds of the public schools of America is you’re a loser if you love school. I mean—being exposed to new ideas that might forever change the way you look at the world, learning to do things you didn’t think you could … More Back-to-School Bliss
Here’s a quick test: think back to a time when you were in the wrong. An instance when, if you really put yourself in the other person’s shoes and imagine what happened as if it were a story told from their perspective, with themselves filling the role of protagonist, the villain would be played by … More A Ph.D. in Self-Awareness
At various times over the years, I’ve been bullied, belittled, undervalued, underestimated, and just plain done wrong. But there’s one person who knows my weaknesses better than anyone else, who never fails to find the chink in my armor with a cutting word, whom I can count on through thick and thin to consistently do … More Own Worst Enemy Award
My husband is the one who usually does this, but the other day, I had the opportunity to go pick up my stepson, a 9th grader, for the weekend. As we headed out, Corin asked, “Do you want me to tell you some stories from my high school?” On the hour-long ride from his mother’s house … More Higher Learning
Maria Linn 