Author: nhagberg

Sometime in the last year, I was telling TLC co-founder, Barb Wilkinson, about a tennis mom who said she would never send her child to TLC because “they brainwash them there about sportsmanship, and I don’t want my child to be taken advantage of in tournaments.”  My tendency, upon hearing things like that, is to…

“I’ve known Liz since I started working at TLC 8 years ago. She’s experienced being the only woman in a leadership role at times, sexism from coworkers and campers, and many times where she’s felt alone. And through all of that she’s persisted and is one of the strongest leaders, male or female, in our…

When you come across someone with the TLC attitude, you notice.  When it is someone working right beside you, you are grateful daily for it. When Kevin Lungay, TLC’s Assistant Director of Operations, told me a month ago he was leaving for another position at a non-profit TLC has collaborated with, Youth Frontiers, there were…

Steve Wilkinson, meet Sasha.  Sasha, meet Steve.  The two of you would have gotten along beautifully. Six years ago today, Steve died.  He lived as full a life as anyone I’ve known, but it was still too short.  He didn’t decide to go, terminal cancer decided for him.  The thing he continued to learn (and…

It’s been a rough year. But today, I will recall my conversation with family camper Kim this week, that made me laugh so hard my spouse, Leandra, came out of her office afterwards and said, “You sounded so happy.”  Because, during these times, happiness can sometimes seem like a treasure you can’t remember where you…

Our country is broken into millions of little pieces. Why? Because every human being I know is broken. Can we ever be put back together? That depends. We are always faced with two choices with our brokenness. We can take those jagged pieces of our lives and we can slash, and we can stab, and…

I’m not a good meditator.  I know I’m “supposed” to be.  We hear all the time how meditation will calm you and make you a more centered person.  I have tried.  And tried. And tried.  But “centered” and ADHD aren’t usually two concepts you use in the same sentence.  So tennis becomes my meditation. On…

Let’s face it.  Sometimes there’s not much to smile about these days.  And I don’t even have to explain to you why, so I won’t. So, try this. Bring to mind someone whose name makes you smile. Sit there with it for a few moments.  And let yourself smile. They do not need to be in…

TLC was put into a situation out of our control three months ago when COVID-19 hit, just as you were, and the entire world was.  All of TLC’s revenue as a not-for-profit comes in the eight weeks of summer camp that we are canceling for the safety of all, and we face uncertainty, just as…

I talked with my 88-year-old mentor, Chuck Lofy, two days ago, as the magnitude of the pandemic washed over me.  Chuck is probably the person who has helped me through more life changes than anyone in my life other than Leandra and Madeline.  He, Steve Wilkinson, and Dennis Johnson have been my rocks as mentors.…