Caryn Sullivan's Blog

    May 23, 2022 The phone call came unexpectedly late last week, triggering far more memories and tears than I expected – for he is a dog, after all. We know our pets won’t live forever. And yet, there’s nothing that can prepare us for the news that the snuggles and the furballs will…

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From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, October 4, 2019 It’s said that the right decisions are the hardest ones to make. That’s certainly been true for me. In 1993, I was a practicing attorney with a baby on the way when my two-year-old son was diagnosed with autism. Autism – one new word,…

The post Oh, the lessons I’ve learned. And, farewell. appeared first on Caryn M. Sullivan - Bitter or Better.

  From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page,  September 20, 2020 Why do some people survive, and others thrive when faced with adversity? That question plagued Emma Bell during her childhood as she noted how she and her two siblings responded differently to the same challenging circumstances. It followed her into her career as…

The post 9 Secrets to Thriving arrived at the right moment in this year of adversity appeared first on Caryn M. Sullivan - Bitter or Better.

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, Aug. 30, 2020 If you’re a person who likes to have things under control, as I do, 2020 has likely gotten on your last nerve. Last spring, we were forced to cede some control over the way we live as we learned that a new virus was…

The post Taking control while more things than usual are beyond our control appeared first on Caryn M. Sullivan - Bitter or Better.

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, August 2, 2020 We’re eight months into what is hands down the most bizarre year of my lifetime. With a global health crisis and ensuing economic downturn; concerns about schooling, racism, and policing; and an upcoming election, the atmosphere is swirling with uncertainty, anxiety, distrust, anger and…

The post Can we agree or disagree, or agree to disagree – and listen along the way? appeared first on Caryn M. Sullivan - Bitter or Better.

  From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, July 11, 2020 There’s a lot of fear in the air. Week after week, we’ve been hearing about death in different contexts: the coronavirus, George Floyd, and the latest shootings. In the days following Floyd’s death, I watched as police officers and National Guard members in…

The post A thinning blue line appeared first on Caryn M. Sullivan - Bitter or Better.

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion Page, August 16, 2020 Last week the St. Paul School Board voted overwhelmingly to begin the 2020-21 school year through distance learning, following the same course as Minneapolis. Distance learning would be the norm until the October MEA break. In the meantime, officials would continue to study options.…

The post Schoolkids and risk management: A think-inside-the-pod moment appeared first on Caryn M. Sullivan - Bitter or Better.

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, June 21, 2020 “In parts of our society, there appears to be a turmoil of trust and a crisis in civility. There also appears to be a very sweeping, debilitating and destructive narrative of if you are not with me, then you are against me. Sadly, this…

The post Learning about leadership in the St. Paul midway appeared first on Caryn M. Sullivan - Bitter or Better.

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, June 7, 2020 Protestors with masks on freeways, a fuel truck bearing down, horn blaring. It’s one of many powerful images reflecting the surreal state of affairs in 2020. For months we’ve been told to quarantine, furlough employees, avoid family, friends, churches and gyms, all to protect…

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From the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page, May 24, 2020 Way back in January, I decided this was going to be my best year ever. Resolving to be more deliberate about how and with whom I spent my time and resources, I set goals and made a plan. Then the coronavirus arrived like a…

The post Reflecting and regrouping during the pandemic appeared first on Caryn M. Sullivan - Bitter or Better.