Author: Michelle Fairchild
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Raising a Lantern for Dolly Parton 🏮✨
Dolly Parton died today, and there are some people whose deaths feel like the dimming of something that has simply always been there. Dolly was one of those people. She was, quite simply, a lightmaker. Dolly knew poverty. She knew sexism. She knew what it meant to have people underestimate her intelligence because of how…
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What Happens Next
When things don’t go according to plan. Our weekend had gone remarkably well. We had watched the Detroit Tigers win two games against the A’s in Sacramento. The McGonigoggles had survived their inaugural field testing. Kevin McGonigle had even hit a home run during his first at bat while we were wearing them. And then,…
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The Making of McGonigoggles 🥸
How joy catches on. Sometimes joy spreads in the most unexpected ways. A young Detroit Tigers fan named Cece showed up at a game wearing homemade “McGonigoggles”—two plastic cups fashioned into oversized goggles in honor of rookie Kevin McGonigle. Just moments after television cameras featured her creation, McGonigle hit a home run. After the game…
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The Gifts of Live Music
Last weekend my spouse and I joined nearly 80,000 others at Levi’s Stadium to see Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. We were closer to the stage than I had imagined, with a perfect view as a bridge extended over the crowd and Ed walked back and forth between the two stages. It made the enormous stadium…
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Wonder Spotting: The Beauty of Paying Attention
I believe I’ve always been a wonder spotter. Years ago I even had a blog called Notice the Little Things. It’s probably one of the reasons my iPhone contains far more photos than any reasonable person needs. 😄 One of my favorite places to visit during the workday is a small pond on our college…
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🎨 Making Things With Joy: An Update From My Creative Corner
I wanted to provide a glimpse into my creative corner and the artistic projects I have been working on. My venture into painting on clothing is bringing sparks of joy, yet there are also learning curves and at times disappointing results and frustrations. My first foray was painting this jean jumper with flowers and hearts.…
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A Simple, Tranquil Moment of Wonder and Awe
One of my favorite places on our college campus is easy to overlook. Especially if you’re hurrying from one place to the next or looking down at your phone instead of up at the world around you. It’s just a small pond. A few weeks ago a water lily bloomed, and I stopped to admire…
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Glowing Together: Joy, Belonging, and Pride in Redding
Saturday’s Pride celebration in Redding was filled with music, dancing, creativity, and color. 🌈🩷✨ But perhaps more than anything, it was filled with joy. There were performers who brought both artistry and humor to the stage. There were people in butterfly wings and rainbow socks rolling through the crowd. There were families, friends, longtime allies,…
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Adam Mac and the Joy of Being Fully Yourself
🎵 Songs for the Soul There are artists whose music entertains us, and there are artists whose lives themselves become part of the message. Since discovering Adam Mac’s Disco Cowboy album, I’ve found myself returning again and again to his blend of country, funk, pop, disco, and unapologetic authenticity. His music is often playful and…
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Love Takes Many Forms
Love takes many forms. Sometimes it looks like showing up for an aging parent. Sometimes it looks like sitting beside a friend during a difficult season. Sometimes it looks like a phone call, a hug, a listening ear, or simply making time for someone who matters. And sometimes love looks like recognizing every person’s right…
We Are All Meant to Shine! 