Author: Ron Stempkowski
What Grief Taught Me About Storytelling
There’s a strange thing that happens after you lose someone you love — the story you thought you were living ends mid-sentence. One minute, you’re a “we.” The next, you’re a plot twist you... Read More
The Rituals That Remain
I’ve always loved a good ritual. There’s something comforting about repetition — the way lighting a candle, brewing the same cup of coffee, or playing a familiar song can create a little order i... Read More
The Essay as Mirror: Why I Keep Coming Back to Personal Narrative
Writing personal essays isn’t about oversharing — it’s about understanding. Every time I sit down to write, I end up meeting a new version of myself in the reflection. Sometimes he’s brave, so... Read More
When the Story Starts Writing You Back
Something has been stirring lately. It started earlier this year when I organized the fundraiser in honor of Ken’s 60th birthday. What began as a simple idea—to celebrate the life he lived and the... Read More
The Luck We Carry
Every so often, you meet someone who changes the temperature of your day — not through grand gestures or deep conversations, but through a single, simple truth. That happened to me recently at the l... Read More
A Redemptive Friendship
I woke up to the news that my friend Craig has died. It was less than a month ago when his sister Teresa, also a dear friend, texted me to tell me that, after some investigation, they were blindsided ... Read More
The Premiere, the Fundraiser, and the Love That Filled the (Virtual) Room
When I first had the idea to bring Ken’s one-man show, My Foot Left, back to life as a digital premiere and fundraiser, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself into. Honestly, it fel... Read More
The Power of “Yes!”
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the power of saying yes since putting this fundraiser together. It’s such a simple word—three letters, one syllable—but it can crack open whole new w... Read More