Melanie Kahl

This year has had no shortage of new hellos. I’ve done it all: cold emails, requested introductions, brokered new friendships, and been on the receiving end of serious professional generosity. And with each small act of connection, I’ve relearned the importance of a powerful, and personal, introduction. I’m reminded of an experience from a few … Read More

A home away from home “There’s another art of being at home in the unknown…” – Rebecca Solnit, Field Guide to Getting Lost In my previous post, I reflected on using local creative retreats to make my familiar Chicago home feel new and exciting. But one the more familiar challenges of Experience Institute is creating … Read More

Part of this year is about putting yourself out there. About seeking experiences that help you find the familiar in faraway places. But for me, staying in Chicago these last few months, a home I’ve known for 10 years, I’ve struggled with a different challenge. How do I find novelty and adventure in a home … Read More

click to enlarge Gap year? Leap year? Sabbatical? A very busy break? When people asked, “What are you doing this year?” I didn’t quite know what to say. I went through a phase where I referred to it as my learning sabbatical, but that didn’t quite fit. Sabbatical shares a root with the Hebrew term … Read More