Love & Wisdom
Can We Be Friends? Yes We Can.
Evergreen turns to THRED to help students with disabilities form bonds
When Aaron Chasan isn’t running around Seattle wearing a bear suit giving out hugs to help quell the Seattle Freeze, he’s busy running THRED, a company that helps people develop meaningful relationships based on shared interests. Among his favorite and most important clients is the Evergreen Transition Program, a public school that provides services to…
A Seattle Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Shop local and make her day even sweeter
I go through a lot of phases as a mom. When my kids were babies, all I wanted on Mother’s Day was to be alone, and my husband was left with any baggage the request created. These days, I’m looking for a chill family day — maybe a hike with some sandwiches I don’t have…
A Disco-Inspired Love Story
A Bellevue wedding, 27 years in the making
A chance meeting. A long love story. One unforgettable night. Randy Gantenbein, who once managed Paul Allen’s properties and has spent decades in hospitality, and Ernie Vigil, a Navy veteran and longtime nurse, first met in a San Diego Starbucks on Easter Sunday. Randy was sipping coffee and flipping through his horoscope. “It said, ‘You’ll…
Why Text Therapy Works for Teens
Seattle’s free therapy program meets teens where they are — on their phones
When teens in Seattle need someone to talk to, many are starting with their phones. The city launched a free virtual therapy program for teens and young adults in December. It’s open to residents ages 13 to 24 and includes unlimited messaging with a licensed therapist, one live video session per month, and access to…
Heartbeat: I Have My Escape. What’s Yours?
My post-election trauma has me seeking solace in anything but the news
I am in a cycle that certain people are going through after the presidential election. It’s a classic case of grief, refusal, some level of acceptance, and hopefully renewal. I don’t know if just avoidance and escape are part of the model, but they certainly are for me. My reaction? The morning news was part…
Grudge Detox: Purging Toxic Thoughts
Refocusing on the future rather than holding onto the past
I spent 20 years waiting for some sort of an apology from my stepfather. I was not entirely patient about this. For most of that time I was pretty furious, actually. And while I certainly wouldn’t characterize this as good or healthy, I don’t think it was entirely unjustified, either. My mom discovered he had…
Avoid These Common Conversation Crimes
When to talk, when to not, and what not to say to your partner
Because of my work with couples and relationships both as a researcher and an on-air relationship expert, I have observed many intimate conversations ranging from sweet and loving to harsh, nasty, and even vindictive. I have noticed when the best course would be just to listen, and when it’s time to respond. I am also…
Crossing Generational Streams
Teens create art, receive insightful life advice
Kids look toward the future. Older people often relive the past. Those two worlds collided in the best of ways recently when the Woodinville Teen Arts Alliance collaborated with residents from Fairwinds Brittany Park Retirement Home to create beautiful art inspired by residents’ lives. “Our conversations made me appreciate the value of human connection and…
The DEI Backlash: Staying the Course
DEI and merit are not contradictory
The backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has gained momentum in recent months, fueled by political and cultural divisiveness. Some critics have linked DEI policies to high-profile incidents, such as the mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C., Jan. 29. However, there is no credible…
When Your Mind Makes a Promise That Your Body Can’t Fill
Aging is inevitable. We must accept it with grace and gratitude.
Denial is not always a bad thing. I practice it religiously, albeit selectively. I know my age is getting close to the beginning of my eighth decade, but I choose to see that as just the start of another one. I am also into denial about what my true hair color might be if I…
She Never Gave Up
Some of Alissa Leinonen’s biggest mistakes turned into her greatest successes
Alissa Leinonen launched her catering and box-lunched company, Gourmondo, as a simple, four-table lunch café in the Pike Place Market almost 30 years ago. Today, Gourmondo has become a turnkey catering company, offering full services for social and events catering, a successful corporate café division, a retail line of gourmet grab-and-go products, and an in-house…
Reformed Nigerian Scammer: ‘You Can Lose All Your Money’
‘Once I get access, I can manipulate them’
On the Dr. Phil show, a woman named Karla said she had sent more than $100,000 to a man she insisted was Tyler Perry. She said they were married, and he was raising their child together, even though they had never met. Extreme, yes, but an example of a classic romance scam. Christopher Maxwell understands….
10 Ways to Actually Enjoy the Holidays
Because the season is better when it’s fun
The holidays are crazy, right? You’re caught up in a frantic race to make everything special— the perfect gifts, the perfect tree, the perfect cookies. Well, nothing has to be perfect. The holidays are actually better when they’re not. Here are 10 ways to lean into the mess, ditch the pressure, and enjoy the season….
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