Carmen in Vienna, summer 2026 SAND PARTICLES Dear Friend, BE KIND TO YOURSELF! I am not a perfectionist. My bosses have, over the years, reprimanded me for the same one thing, over and over. I can't seem to be able to get that right. But I am a hard worker, and I am also, relatively speaking, kind to myself. Maybe you'd call it tough love. I hold myself to high standards, but I also give myself lots of "treats." Like I give to our two dogs. I have observed that aid workers are unusually hard...

Credit: Masantocreative SAND PARTICLES Dear Friend, WHAT'S YOUR RANGE? The Pension Letter That Made Me Laugh Last year I turned 50 and a few weeks ago, I received a letter from my state insurance company with a pension prediction. Not something I was expecting to receive so young, or so I thought. It was a strange feeling because I recalled when I was young and looking at people aged 50+ and thinking: "ancient fossils." And here I am, officially considered an ancient fossil by my country and...

SAND PARTICLES Dear Friend, You are not your job.But you are always your values. We've all heard it so many times. You are not your job. It's said often, and with good intentions. But for many people working in aid, social work, and the broader social sector, it can feel like a provocation. Because when you chose this work, you weren't just picking a career, you were expressing who you are. Your ethics, your sense of justice, your need to do something that matters. So when someone tells you...