love Archives - now & gen

In Conversation with John Freeman

Nowandgen Author — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 21:10:04 +0000

Gen has a wide-ranging conversation about environmentalism with TALES OF TWO PLANETS editor John Freeman and writer Aminatta Forna.

The post In Conversation with John Freeman appeared first on now & gen.

In Conversation with Jacqueline Woodson

Nowandgen Author — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 22:32:50 +0000

Prolific author Jacqueline Woodson chats with Gen about her exquisite novel RED AT THE BONE, the N&G Book Club pick for October.

The post In Conversation with Jacqueline Woodson appeared first on now & gen.

In Conversation with Leigh Stein

Nowandgen Author — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 21:42:01 +0000

Author Leigh Stein discusses her smart, funny novel SELF CARE with the N&G Book Club.

The post In Conversation with Leigh Stein appeared first on now & gen.

In Conversation with Lisa Taddeo

Nowandgen Author — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 20:40:40 +0000

Gen chats with author Lisa Taddeo about her powerful book, Three Women, the N&G Book Club pick for July.

The post In Conversation with Lisa Taddeo appeared first on now & gen.

Turning Words Into Action

Heather Catania — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 04:30:26 +0000

I have always prided myself on being informed, but, after listening, researching and looking inward this past week, I’ve realized that I still have a lot to learn (and unlearn) about being a true ally. That’s uncomfortable to admit. The perfectionist in me never wants to do or say the wrong thing. But I’m realizing that the only way to move forward in a meaningful way is to be willing to sit in that discomfort and learn from it. This past week I’ve been opening the pages of suggested books on anti-racism, engaging in uncomfortable conversations and digging further into the products and platforms that I support. What I found showed me that I need to be doing a lot more to ensure that I’m listening to and empowering a diverse community. For example, I consider myself an advocate for the earth yet am unfamiliar with many black environmental activists and how their perspectives can advance my understanding of the issues I care about. I often recommend products here on the blog, but few are made by BIPOC. In the last week, I’ve discovered so many black-owned brands who are making beautiful products that rarely get the press or support […]

The post Turning Words Into Action appeared first on now & gen.

My Kind of Valentine’s Day

Nowandgen Author — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 21:50:21 +0000

I sat down to write a Valentine’s Day blog post about the best gifts to give the ones you love, but…I got stuck. The truth is, I kinda hate Valentine’s Day. It feels so manufactured and cheesy, with overpriced roses, cliché jewelry and gimmicky prix-fixe dinner menus. Sure, I dutifully arm the kids with cutesy cards for their fellow classmates. (I do have a soft spot for the elementary school DIY love tokens.) But when it comes to real romance, I’ve realized that experiences—not stuff—are what make me feel the most love. One of my favorite romantic experiences to date: hiking Machu Picchu with Jared. We both love hiking and camping and wanted to accomplish something special together. So we booked the trek for our honeymoon without really considering the nitty-gritty. Emphasis on gritty. Fast forward through the excitement to the reality that set in at the bottom of the Inca Trail. No showers. No bathrooms. No mirrors. No way to wash bodies or clothes. The makeup, face cream and dry shampoo I’d brought? Yep, that stayed at the bottom of the trail in the hotel. This was a bare bones, carry-only-what-you-really-need adventure. We’d only been married a little while […]

The post My Kind of Valentine’s Day appeared first on now & gen.

Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude

Heather Catania — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 06:00:34 +0000

Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to pause, sit down, and reflect on what we are thankful for. Every Thanksgiving, like many of you, my family has a tradition of going around the table to say what we’re grateful for. (Me? I’m most thankful when someone else does the cooking.) I know it’s a little cliché, but it’s a sweet ritual and I look forward to hearing what the boys come up with each year. It also reminds me that I should be practicing gratitude more often—not just when I’m shoveling another bite of stuffing into my mouth. Because between diaper changes and shuttling the boys to school and sports practices, the days can feel like a blur. And I’m not exactly thinking,” I am so grateful for this moment.” No. I’m usually thinking, “Oh crap—I’m late, I suck at this mom thing, or what time exactly is too early for a glass of wine?” Gratitude really is good for us, though. Research shows that it can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, boost our immune function and reduce our risk for depression. In a recent study, they even found that the simple act of writing gratitude letters—regardless of whether they’re sent—can […]

The post Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude appeared first on now & gen.

Celebrating Father’s Day

Heather Catania — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 17:59:23 +0000

Marriage, like parenting, is messy, complicated, beautiful, emotional, and imperfectly perfect. We learn so much about ourselves through our relationships, for the people we do life with often hold up a mirror to our most triggering aspects. I experience wild comfort in knowing I married my best friend – someone who constantly reminds me that I’m enough, as I explore, evolve, and cultivate new sides of myself. As human beings, we make relationships hard by initially painting them as easy. Real-life relationships are not exactly what we grew up watching in Romantic Comedies. They require work, and sacrifice, and tolerance. They are our biggest lessons in joy, sadness, loss. And, most importantly, while they don’t always promise happy endings, they crack our hearts wide open in the process, leaving us better, wiser, and certainly stretched out of our comfort zones. So, this Father’s Day, whether you’re a dad, a single parent, an uncle, a grandfather, a bonus parent, or a single mom – this day is for you. Why? Because your kids are paying attention. In showing up for them, you are shaping them, molding them, and helping them cultivate their most resilient selves. In reading this, I hope you […]

The post Celebrating Father’s Day appeared first on now & gen.

Self Love and Healthy Boundaries with Terri Cole

Heather Catania — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 22:24:54 +0000

As women, we’re programmed to be caretakers, so much so that many of us put others’ needs way above our own, running ourselves ragged to make everyone around us happy. But when we’re stretched so thin, how are we supposed to take care of ourselves? Licensed psychotherapist and love and relationship expert Terri Cole calls this phenomenon the “disease to please.” Her passion is helping women set boundaries and live more authentically so that they can find and receive love. The “disease to please” is something I can definitely relate to: I was always the straight-A student, the overachiever, the firstborn who went off to college at NYU…At a certain point, after years of overextending myself, I had to figure out how to set boundaries in a healthy way so that I could feel more whole—and not like I was prioritizing everyone else’s needs above my own. Putting yourself first isn’t an easy thing, but it also helps friends, family and, yes, romantic partners to know the real you and what you stand for. I recently sat down with Terri to chat about opening yourself up to living a more fulfilled life, and how to practice self-care, self-acceptance, compassion and […]

The post Self Love and Healthy Boundaries with Terri Cole appeared first on now & gen.

Resilience 101: How I am Raising Strong, Brave and Curious Kids

Heather Catania — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:09:28 +0000

This is a sponsored post in partnership with the Nexcare Brand. All words and opinions are my own. When I was growing up in the Bay Area, we played outside constantly—climbing trees, making up games, riding bikes, you name it. My parents pushed us to go, go, go, to get out there, explore and be curious. With their guidance, I grew up with a fearless spirit that took me from the mountains of Montana to the bustling streets of New York City, then to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles, to most recently moving my family to Austin, and exploring a million places in between. That’s something that I’m trying to instill in my three kids, too: nurturing in each of them a brave spirit that will inspire them to live authentic, independent lives. Teaching them to be fearless is definitely a work in progress for me—like any parent, I can’t say that I relish the moments when they scrape their knees or fall off their bikes— but falling down is part of this crazy thing called parenthood. As my partners over at Nexcare know, a full, well lived life comes with some bumps, bruises and #ToughLove along the […]

The post Resilience 101: How I am Raising Strong, Brave and Curious Kids appeared first on now & gen.