Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Have you ever taken a work trip with your coworkers that left you all closer together? I find that traveling with anyone can result in closer bonds or decisions to never speak with them again. You see the fullness of your companions–the spectrum of their happiness and frustration–and it’s not always pretty. Ah, but when guards come down and everyone becomes at once vulnerable and sensitive to one another’s needs, you can guarantee that lives will be forever changed and those people will always hold a special place in your heart.

Last weekend, I found myself in a rousing group text conversation with a couple of friends about the favor economy. One friend shared that she and her partner were thinking about updating their will because the guardian they had in mind, should something happen to them, would not be willing to leave her community of friends to care for my friend’s son. The intended guardian noted that in her shrewd, parentless observation, the way to “reduced-stress parenting” was to have a community of friends and family nearby that could help with childcare in a pinch. Leaving her city for this city to care for a child who would have lost both parents without the support of her village was not exactly what she signed up for.

Earlier this month, our eldest child Ila turned 13, and it’s been bittersweet. For weeks, my sister has been asking about our plans to celebrate. Big celebrations and material gifts are not my strength. I do it, but it’s definitely a chore. Because I typically throw at least three birthday parties a year—one for each child and their classmates plus friends from outside of school—I told Ila a couple of years ago that her large party days had ended. Instead, we would pare down to celebrations with one to three friends.