RECENT POSTS
Juneteenth, Human Flourishing, and the Practice of Love
Years ago, our daughter was rejected from a preschool program as soon as the director heard that she had Down syndrome. The label she received
Taking the Next Step: Preparing for Penny’s First Solo Flight
I just got off the phone with Delta Airlines. I explained that Penny—our 20-year-old daughter with Down syndrome—will be flying on her own for the
Telling Our Story of Down Syndrome
I mentioned last week that I have been thinking about a response to the controversy over YouTuber Jesse Ridgway’s announcement that his wife chose to terminate
What I’m Reading, Watching, and Listening To: June 2026
Books, essays, podcast episodes, and more that I think are worth your time, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to in the month
Racism, Greed, and the Good Life with Malcolm Foley, PhD
REIMAGINING THE GOOD LIFE PODCAST S10 E5—Where does racism come from? Many of us assume it’s rooted in hatred or fear, but what if it’s
The Dispatch | How We Tell the Story of Down Syndrome
Recently, Jesse Ridgway, a YouTube influencer, announced in a lengthy social media post that his wife had terminated her pregnancy at 20 weeks due to
When Life Doesn’t Turn Out as Planned: Finding Belonging Beyond Unfulfilled Dreams
I never got a Ph.D. I never became a school chaplain. The life I planned is not, in many ways, the life I got. There
What Is a Dugnad? The Surprising Connection Between Happiness and Social Change
I learned a new word, and I love it: DUGNAD: A uniquely Norwegian cultural concept that refers to a collective coming together for community, voluntary,
Just Show Up: The Surprising Gift of Saying Yes to Connection
Most of us find reasons not to, but it is almost always worth it to just show up. My most recent opportunity to be reminded of
The Life You Planned vs. the Life You Got with Karen Swallow Prior, PhD
REIMAGINING THE GOOD LIFE PODCAST S10 E4—Do you ever wonder what your life would look like if you had made different decisions a long time
Why the Language We Use About Disability Matters
When our daughter was diagnosed with Down syndrome, I realized that I had the words “Down syndrome baby” in my head. I remember thinking, “I
What I Want for My Son as He Graduates: Letting Go, Growing Roots, and Looking Ahead
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity in the Becker household. We’ve attended parties and prize nights and championship meets. We’ve offered
The R-Word and the Language of Disability with Christina Cipriano, PhD
REIMAGINING THE GOOD LIFE PODCAST S10 E3—The return of the R-word is about more than language. The words we choose both reflect and shape our
May 2026 • Worth Your Time
Books, essays, podcast episodes, and more that I think are worth your time, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to in the month
What Tish Harrison Warren Taught Me About Faith in the Long Middle and the Spirituality of Weariness
I read a lot of books, and most I never end up mentioning. But when I was reading Tish Harrison Warren’s book, I stopped mid-sentence,
How Disability Changes the Way We See One Another: Interdependence and the Ideal Human
“For blind travelers, it’s like reading a book; for sighted ones, it’s more like watching a film.” I listened to an episode of The Daily over the
The Spirituality of Weariness with Tish Harrison Warren
REIMAGINING THE GOOD LIFE PODCAST S10 E2—What do you do when you’ve done all the “right” spiritual things and still feel exhausted? Tish Harrison Warren,
Why Political Insults Like “Low-IQ” and “Dumocrats” Undermine Public Discourse
Donald Trump has unveiled his new disparaging nickname for Democrats: “I came up with a new name. I don’t know if I should, the president
