Dorothy Richmond

A Dear Neighbor columnist reflects on a simple, daily resolution—“wake up happy”—and how conscious choices can lead to a more fulfilling life.

Chores have always been my North Star, mostly because they keep me rooted in reality while the world spins itself dizzy chasing status and outsourcing anything that requires bending over. Maybe the real secret is that doing your own dishes and fixing your own toilet builds more character than any pile of shiny purchases ever could.

A visit to Lawrence, Kansas, for her cousin’s son’s pastoral installation becomes a rediscovery of grace, goodness and small-town kindness — from potluck casseroles to a stranger’s red umbrella on Mass Street.