I call my grandma almost every afternoon before she goes to dinner. We don’t talk very long—my grandma has dementia and the length of the phone call varies based on what kind of day it’s been—but even still it has become such a routine part of my afternoon hours. Need a five minute screen break? Call Grandma.  She doesn’t always answer. Sometimes she’s at a concert at her assisted living facility or in the family room with her friends or taking a nap. Sometimes I remember to try again later...

I’ll never get tired of talking about the ways The Smile Project has brought so many wonderful people into my life. A perfect example is the friendship we’ve formed with   Matt’s Kindness Ripples On . Each month they recognize individuals and organizations who are making the world a kinder place. You’ll see many of their honorees turn up on The Smile Project blog as we love the community we’ve formed through lifting each other up. With that said, I’m thrilled to introduce Cathy Heying,...

Against conventional wisdom, I take myself too seriously. I’m highly organized. Extraordinarily Type A. Particular to a fault. I can admit these things. Perhaps that is why it is so fun, in the midst of all that, to also be someone who decides—after a series of morning meetings looking at my reflection in the corner video of my computer screen and not loving how my hair looks—I could play salon.  A couple emails later, and trusting that I remembered how to do it from the last time, I looped...