If You're Looking to Strengthen Your Family, This Message Is For You.

“This edition of The Sunday Paper is dedicated to strengthening our families, to sharing more love in our families, to accepting our families and all those in it, and to caring for our common home.”

Family has always been the most important part of my life. It's what brings me joy. It’s what gives me strength. It’s what gives me purpose. And, yes, it's what gives me an identity.

I grew up in a family that emphasized the importance of putting family first. I grew up hearing about family values, family lore, and family expectations (of which there were many). In fact, as a child, I often felt like my family was way more important than any one individual…this one included.

Like any individual in a big family, I have struggled at times to find my own identity within the larger whole. It’s why I chose journalism over politics. It's why I decided to live on the west coast over the east coast. (Just to name a couple of examples.) That said, I wouldn’t trade the family I grew up in for any other. And, the family I created with Arnold is my proudest achievement (by the way, it’s his 70th birthday today…happy birthday!).