Author: Ron Stempkowski
I'm an award-winning writer living in Chicago. I have a passion for writing, storytelling, and my dog.
The Unseen Grief in Workplace Change
Workplace change always looks so tidy on paper. A reorg announcement lands in your inbox with color-coded boxes and arrows pointing confidently toward the future. Leadership says things like “alignm... Read More
An Infusion of Empathy
Lately, I’ve been carrying around this steady, low-grade urge to give the world a giant dose of empathy. Not in a grand, superhero way. More like a quiet nudge. A refill. A top-off. Something warm p... Read More
The Quiet Ways Grief Changed Me—for the Better
Grief and loss don’t define me. They inform me. For a long time, I thought grief had rewritten my entire identity. After Ken died, everything felt marked by before and after. I didn’t recognize th... Read More
The Writing Life, Rewritten – November Edition: Momentum Happens Quietly
Hi friends, November always feels like a creative crossroads. The year’s winding down, but my brain seems to ramp up this time of year. Maybe it’s the early darkness. Maybe it’s that familiar en... Read More
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