The holiday season is a time of sensory delight: festive lights, family gatherings, and the cozy scent of pine and spices. It has also come to be known as the “giving season,” driving a welcome surge in charity and volunteerism. Yet, this period has become increasingly dominated by commercialism. Following a day of gratitude (Thanksgiving), we plunge into the frantic consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Then the sudden pivot to charity on Giving Tuesday creates a sur

We are living in uncertain times. But if there is one thing we can be certain of, it is the transformative power of the arts. This year, we have seen unprecedented cuts to essential life-saving services provided by non-profit organizations. When funding is cut, attention rightly turns to necessities like food and shelter, and inevitably, the arts are affected, often the first activity to be stripped from the budget. I run an arts non-profit, and we are already seeing a decrea

A Personal Reflection When my firstborn was a few years old, one afternoon, I walked into my bedroom shortly after I had just cleaned it to find him in the process of tearing it down. My initial impulse was to react and solve the problem, probably by stopping him, or maybe even making him pay for this mishap and disrespect, because we are told that as parents we have to immediately correct our children’s “ills,” lest they become horrible human beings. However, something compe

A Case for Radical Self Care In Part I, I wrote about forgiveness, love, and compassion as acts of resistance. In this section, I would like to share an important method for surviving hardships, one that we far too often take for granted or neglect: Self Care. As 2020 tried to beat me down, I decided to embark on a journey of what I’ve termed radical self care. In order to reclaim my sense of inner well being, I had to turn inward and find my light, strength, and courage. I r

Choosing How to Respond to 2020 In April of 2020, I wrote a blog called ‘Turning 50 during a pandemic.’ It was my attempt at accepting the fact that the plans I had for a fabulous birthday were not meant to be. Perhaps it was my way of preparing for the potential hardship and disappointment. Maybe I sensed the Tsunami that was ahead. But nothing could have prepared me (or any of us) for the life-altering nature of the tests that lay ahead. 2020 brought with it so much pain an

Tis a strange time we live in. Donning masks, 6 feet apart… our new normal. Staring at the horizon on a cold spring evening. I wondered… when will this end? I sat there reminiscing of hugs from loved one lost. Dreaming of the time when we will hug each other again. I won’t turn you away when next we meet. But cherish every moment time blesses us with. Source:https://idara-ekpe.medium.com/when-next-we-meet-f287fbe18146

Dedicated to the memory of Tahirih Ekpe, beloved sister. (1976–2015) As I run in the woods, I cry. As I wash the dishes, I cry. As I dress myself, I cry. When the phone rings, I cry. When people speak to me, I cry. When I look at your beautiful photograph, I cry. I cry when I lay on your bed. I cry when I wrap myself in your clothing and smell your sweet scent. I cry as I sift through the papers and books, looking for some part of your soul, something to hold unto, something

Recently, while participating in cleaning up a local park, I felt a sense of longing for my children. From as early as I can remember, I would take them with me on every service opportunity I participated in. With both of them now older and often away from home, I miss having them along. That longing was amplified when I saw a adults out serving with their children. I hope that more people would encourage young people to volunteer, not just to accumulate community service hou

In the process of raising my children, I am constantly being confronted with rather strong emotions. My family is made up of passionate, emotional, sensitive, strong-willed, and impulsive people (myself included). As you can imagine, emotions can run high, and what may seem like small problems or encounters can quickly escalate into full blown meltdowns. While I was growing up, I learned that it was okay to express the pleasant emotions, but no one needed to know about the