Profiles & Wellness Writing

I write about family, education, health, wellness, culture, people, and personal stories.

Calm white room with fairy lights, colorful pillows, and several potted plants
  • white rustic building with garden behind it

    A Place of Hope and Healing

    On her Virginia farm, floral designer Holly Heider Chapple draws from her own life experiences to share the restorative power of blooms.

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  • float tank

    Floating Across Virginia

    Sensory deprivation tanks with mega-salty water can reduce stress and improve wellness.

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  • Farm Work Wonders

    The Little WV Farm with Big Dreams

    In Wardensville, Farms Work Wonders grows vegetables, businesses, and opportunities for Appalachian youth.

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  • Hugo Kohl metal master

    A Master of Metals

    Hugo Kohl masters a wide variety of metals in his Harrisonburg boutique, using both historic and innovative methods.

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  • Gordon Campbell’s Aerial Photography

    Gordon Campbell’s Aerial Photography

    The photos of this Virginia pilot and photographer are valued by homeowners and scientists alike.

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  • John and Joyce Wanda

    Making School a Happy Place

    John and Joyce Wanda grew up in poverty and left Uganda. Their commitment to education took them back. Image courtesy of REACH for Uganda.

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  • walking tour of Ireland's Lost Valley of Uggool

    What I’m Reading: Me, Myself & Eli

    As a travel writer who scouts for compelling stories, I talk to my cab drivers. Sometimes our conversations lead me to happenin’ musical venues and less-discovered cultural gems. Sometimes they help me deepen my understanding of a whole country.

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  • woman walking on a beach shoreline

    Choosing a Wellness Retreat

    How to get what you need from a wellness retreat.

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  • close up of a young boy reading a picture book

    ‘You Can Be an American But Not Always Feel Like You’re Seen as One’

    Asian Americans were underrepresented in the stories of Wendy Shang's youth. Now she’s writing the books she always wanted to read.

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  • a young girl shows her mother her project in their kitchen

    How to Stop Fighting With Your Kids Over Homework

    Is homework a constant source of tension in your household? Students and education experts offer advice to well-meaning parents.

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  • close up of a bottle pouring red wine into a glass

    How I Solved My Hangover Woes

    Did I really have to break up with wine?

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  • close up of someone pouring whiskey into a whiskey glass with ice and an orange peel

    The Whiskey Book Club

    Think book groups are only for wine-drinking women? Think again.

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  • seven woman smile and laugh at each other candidly

    How to Vote for Women Every Time You Shop

    “Women-Owned” is becoming such a selling point that it is now stamped on products.

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  • blue lights shine out from a purple musical stage while four silhouetted people look on

    Dancing for My Grateful Dead

    Weddings present families with hundreds of choices both momentous and symbolic.

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  • young girl has her back to the camera as she looks through a library of chapter books

    How to Raise a Reader

    Want your kids to become avid readers? Here's how to share the love.

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  • The back of a student's graduation cap during commencement with several other graduates in the background

    What Colleges Really Want

    Getting ready to apply? Don't stress. Here's what's important in today's competitive landscape. And what's not.

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  • Simply Delectable

    At Thompson Italian, savor the seasonal main dishes … but always leave room for dessert.

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