What the life, and death, of my 10-pound chihuahua taught me about living
I realized he hadn’t been holding on to my pain. He’d sent it away.
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Researching family history unlocks keys to the past – and, possibly, your future
Want to learn more about your roots? Here’s where to begin, including some budget-friendly options.
How Melissa Etheridge hopes to change treatment options for addiction
After the loss of her son, this Grammy Award-winning singer is driven to change treatment...
Was our house haunted? Memories of the unexplainable are as perplexing today as they were then
I do not believe in ghosts, and yet I have no explanation for what happened...
Author W. Bruce Cameron remembers the lost art of boredom
When I was a young boy, there was nothing so thrilling as exchanging the boredom...
How ‘The Endless Summer’ ended for one surfer in 1966
Imagine riding the last waves at "Killer Dana" and viewing the rough cut of "The...
What does it mean to change your name after you marry?
The real reason I added Terry’s last name to mine...was more about who I had...
Homeward bound: What if we are drawn by instinct to the place we feel most at home?
We were chasing a memory from my mother’s youth, from before I was even born.
How to save your digital life before it disappears
Many of our modern memories could vanish at the click of a button, or become...
What a red-tailed hawk taught me about the power of aging
After two decades watching 'The Red Queen,' I understood aging isn't surrender – it's sovereignty.
Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity taught me more than how to swing a hammer
That overwhelming amount of satisfaction you receive by having a part in building that house...
Volunteers at this Inland Empire food bank are helping their community fight against hunger
Food banks touch the lives of thousands across the Southland.
This Santa Ana resident created LibroMobile not just to sell books but to bring people together
LibroMobile Bookstore is part of a national revival of independent bookstores with an advocacy bent,...
When addiction recovery means leaving a pet behind, this Palm Springs nonprofit steps in
Pets in Recovery takes care of animals while their owners seek addiction treatment.
This Palm Springs retiree traded his golden years to help Cambodians recover from a war’s awful legacy
Here's why Bill Morse is the man who couldn’t retire.
Can small museums make our world bigger? This LA author thinks so
Researcher Todd Lerew's curiosity has led him to America's smallest, quirkiest museums.
LA’s Corita Art Center honors the legacy of a pop artist who wanted to build a kinder world
At the core of the Corita Art Center is the question, How to keep a...
Force Blue: Veterans become eco-warriors in the battle for ocean conservation
Force Blue is a nonprofit that recruits veterans with military dive training to channel their...
An avid volunteer shares the how and why of getting involved in your community
Learn how to lend a hand with our volunteer guide.
Volunteers at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance get the chance to help Mother Nature
Get involved with ongoing science-based conservation projects at the San Diego Wildlife Alliance.
How running for local office can help you connect with – and help – your community
Demystifying how to get involved in local politics: A guide.
Shelley Hoss has learned a few things as California’s longest tenured community foundation leader
Hoss has spent 25 years growing and guiding what now amounts to $100 million a...
Here’s the man who returned the cowboy tradition to Catalina Island
“Chief Experience Officer” at Catalina Island Horseback Adventures Jeff Skelton thinks everyone needs to ride...
Spend time in the presence of California’s awe-inspiring giant sequoias
California is home to the largest trees on Earth, the giant sequoia. Here's how best...
Here’s your guide to the ultimate Highway 395 road trip
Take a drive to dramatic landscapes, geological marvels, and outdoor thrills.
Set out for the ‘Lost Sierras,’ one of California’s most untamed terrains
A writer in the 1930s coined the term 'Lost Sierras' for this rugged part of...
Day trip on a budget throughout Southern California with Metrolink
No matter where you’re heading, or how many transfers you need to get there, Metrolink...
Here are 5 Southern California hotels that welcome dogs
Looking for lodging with your fur baby? Here are some ideas.
A Hollywood staycation might be all you need to revive that creative spark
In the heart of Hollywood, Kimpton Everly offers views of the LA skyline and the...
Mysterious Point Sur offers a look into a turbulent past
Spies, shipwrecks … and ghosts? This California state park is like no other.
These historic San Francisco Bay area sites offer a reset for mind and body
A must for history buffs: Angel Island and China Camp state parks plus Rosie the...
Palm Springs-area resort La Quinta gears up for its centennial
Like a lot of aging Hollywood beauties, La Quinta looks better than ever — and...
Here’s what happened when my son and I turned off our screens for a day
Once we hit San Francisco, we’d time-travel the only way modern families could — by...
How to get your kids to love the same movies you love
What movies did my parents love? No idea. I was never supposed to know what...
How to avoid the ‘ugly American’ label when traveling abroad
How best to travel internationally as an American in a world of shifting alliances and...
How to stop drinking tequila like an amateur
The ascent from amateur tequila-drinker status takes time and perseverance.
6 tips and tricks to help you be a Super Commuter
Take the advice of someone who has spent thousands of hours on Southern California’s not-so-open...
Need to get away? Here’s how to enjoy traveling alone
People going it alone make up a growing percentage of travelers. Here are tips to...
How a lifelong meat-eater learned to love a plant-based diet
Enjoying a plant-based diet is easier if you know these basics.
‘Talk to Me Nice’: How (and why) to speak to others in a way that builds trust
Can speaking kindly to others build or repair trust? A workplace expert says yes.
Why gardening and digging in the dirt is good for your health
Is gardening the secret to overall wellbeing? Here's what we know.
How to grieve for the beautiful orchid that you killed
Face it: You're probably going to kill that beautiful orchid eventually. Here's hope to cope.
Tips and tricks to help buy a good used car for cheap
If you are patient, diligent and persistent, you can find a good, reliable vehicle that...
How to learn to love Formula One racing
The popularity of Formula 1 racing has surged in recent years. Here's why.
7 dos and 7 don’ts for how to give a eulogy
Here's what to do if you have to speak at the funeral of a beloved...