Since 2003, I have led a cartoon initiative called Cartoon Storytelling in which participants use real life experiences as prompt for a new story. Through a variety of creativity and writing exercises, participants learn about the art of cartooning while also creating a new story driven by a personal search to understand something about themselves. The stories are often motivated by a personal pain -- a response to being bullied, grappling with self-esteem issues, healing a damaged...

My friend Eileen recently revealed a staggering observation she'd made about parenting amid the pandemic. "Some parents feel ashamed if they can't buy the latest, greatest gadget for their kids." It triggered from her an impassioned treatise that expensive gadgets aren't necessary for a child's entertainment. She argued, "You can tell stories with a child, create a puppet show with socks, invent a new game, build a doll house out of a cardboard box!" You just need imagination and a simple...