When we moved to South Korea for my husband’s teaching job, we were excited about many things. Living on a stunning island, the cultural immersion, safety, and the chance to show our kids a whole new way of life. 

"Somewhere… something incredible is waiting to be known" - Carl Sagan

As the calendar page flips and we move closer to graduation dates and summer’s arrival, students everywhere are abuzz with a palpable frenetic energy. Whether excited to fling themselves out the doors of an educational space, nervous for what lies ahead, or a bit numbed by it all, we’re often met with big feelings as we leap from one comfort zone into a grand unknown. 

“The present moment is the only moment available to us, it is the door to all moments.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

It’s officially spring. The birds wake each day chirping loudly. The sky dips between glorious sunshine and sprinkles of rain, the temperature shifts on a whim. The ebb and flow of winter’s chill transitions to summer sunshine - we’re full on in the mix of it all: the present, the here and now. This elusive space, the one so many of us would like to be able to stay in, often evades us. 

The entrance hall alone makes the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City a worthwhile visit.

With its soaring ceilings and marble floors, Kirkwood Hall is a work of architectural grandeur. Stately Corinthian columns topped with gilded acanthus crowns line the room. Tapestries depicting scenes from Greek mythology by Flemish artist Jan Leyniers adorn the limestone walls. 

“We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share.” - Maya Angelou