I am an American.  I enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as my birthright.  I have always enjoyed the privilege of these rights.  They were gifts given to me at birth, and they are ideals that I’ve always valued and clung to.  I have my freedom. Or do I? What is freedom, anyway? …

Kauai is an island where once nothing grew.  It was barren and isolated and raw, with only iron in its soil and nothing living on it at all.  Not a single thing breathed on that island.  It stands today as a tiny and vibrant island in the Pacific, sure-footed and majestic in its exuberant life. …

Turning 40 is different than I thought it would be. I used to think that turning 40 was a mark of a life being over, or if not over, certainly on a downward trajectory.  Thinking of 40-year-old celebrations from years past, I picture black everywhere with canes and wrinkle cream and lots of talk about…