A Secret to Success as a Working Mom: Turn Burn Out Into Bliss and Embrace Joy

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Last weekend my youngest was committed to going to the "Water Steps" a man-made water fall in Pittsburgh by the rivers. (Fun Fact: Three rivers converge in Pittsburgh--The Ohio River, The Monongahela River, and the Allegheny River.)  He kept asking. I knew he was serious when he said, "If you won't take me, I'll ask  daddy!" Given that it was highly unlikely that would happen on an unscheduled day, I relented. So, we went. It wasn’t planned in the way most things in my life are. No calendar block. No checklist. No “productive” purpose attached. And, so in some respects it was uncomfortable. And yet, it seemed necessary. It was the idea of my 8-year-old—offered with the kind of urgency only children possess when something is profoundly important to them.
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How Bill Cosby Taught Me How to Be a Good Writer...

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Tonight, PBS aired the awards show of “Bill Cosby: Mark Twain Prize”. It was amazing to watch. Bill Cosby has amassed a significant body of work and has inspired many other performers. I am inspired whenever I see someone honored. However, Cosby’s award show was particularly moving.

As part of the awards show they aired excerpts of Cosby’s comedy routines and of “The Cosby Show”. Those excerpt and were enjoyable and enlightening.

Cosby is a gifted comic. That’s undeniable. However, his true gift was in describing everyday life in a universal way. It defied age, race, and religion. It defied everything! It was just real.

Cosby has so skillfully described the common aspects of humanity. Being a kid, being a parent, and being someone trying to make it, are common experiences. Cosby shared his story plainly and without pretense. That's notable. However, it is even more noteworthy because Cosby came of age when circumstance could have jaded him. However, in spite of it all, he was able to identify the universal human experience. Amazing!

Cosby’s honesty and transparency made all of the difference. Seeing his life portrayed on screen reminded me that reflection and courage are the essence of good writing.

Thank you, Bill. I hope that one day I am half as good.
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