OUR GLOBAL FAMILY Many have commented on how unfortunate it was that it took the murder of George Floyd and the callous deadly harassment of other Black men to bring about an acknowledgment of deep injustices faced by African Americans. Potentially, there is a greater tragedy: that what we have witnessed may not move us […]
Carolyn Woo: ‘Thank you’ is not enough
THE GLOBAL FAMILY One of my routines in the early pandemic lockdown was to shop at a big-box retailer at 6 a.m. Along with food, a key purchase was fabric and supplies that allowed me to make face masks with my very rudimentary sewing skills. Over the weeks, I struck up a rapport with the […]
Carolyn Woo: Integrity: To whom does it matter?
OUR GLOBAL FAMILY On Fat Tuesday, I gave a talk titled, “Business as a Force for Good.” A gentleman from the back haltingly raised a question, “What would you do when all your competitors cheat?” This is a common inquiry. People want to do good, but they are subjected to an increasingly lax moral environment […]
Carolyn Woo: Lent: Another step toward ‘enough’
OUR GLOBAL FAMILY “What is enough for you?” was a question posed to my husband and me by our financial adviser. Many factors competed for consideration: the desire to not be a burden on our kids, people living longer, enormous costs of health care, diminishing social safety nets, ability to travel and a certain standard […]
Carolyn Woo: Peace is the first greeting
OUR GLOBAL FAMILY On Jan. 18, 1968, St. Paul VI inaugurated the World Day of Peace and designated the first day of every year for this focus. This day is also devoted to the veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the Holy Name of Jesus. Connecting the events, Pope Paul VI commented, “Those […]
Carolyn Woo: When expectations yield to love
OUR GLOBAL FAMILY This summer marks the special occasions of David’s and my 40th anniversary and the marriage of our older son Ryan to Sarah, our new daughter. In one of the prewedding festivities, I asked the men gathered, married from 10 to 50 years, what advice they have for the groom-to-be. They responded with […]
Carolyn Woo: Faithful over fearful
OUR GLOBAL FAMILY Common to most commencement speeches is the exhortation to approach life with boldness, to pursue one’s dreams, to live meaningfully, to honor one’s uniqueness and gifts, and to fight for the common good. The advice is definitely sound and seems to resonate with graduates. Yet, if life is the guide, most will […]
Carolyn Woo: Two nuggets for commencement season
OUR GLOBAL FAMILY It is commencement season and I am collecting my thoughts for upcoming speeches. Because of space, let me share two of five nuggets harvested from experiences that span both professional setbacks and achievements as well as personal joys and losses. First, it is good to make plans and set goals. Use these […]
Carolyn Woo – Easter hope: God in our future
OUR GLOBAL FAMILY At a cafe in Chicago, I was chatting with a British former journalist and economist who is currently director of social responsibility and sustainability at a large European company. We covered the major challenges facing our human family and the list was overwhelming: the accelerating pace and effects of global warming, massive […]
Carolyn Woo: Let people know they matter
OUR GLOBAL FAMILY A favorite memory around this time of the year is the exchange of little valentine cards in our sons’ classrooms. I cannot remember when they became “too old” to feel comfortable with this practice, but it was such a tender gesture. I wonder what kids learned as they gave each other these […]