Blog

I write this as I'm flying across the great pond - from Athens to New York. I had the honor of spending the last two weeks with sixty-four incredible kids. A week in Italy with thirty-two high school students and another week in Greece with thirty-two international...

Last week, the non-profit youth leadership program that I had the honor of founding 18 years ago, had its annual National Leadership Academy. Truly humbling.  Over a hundred and twenty-five high school students from around the nation, came to Denver, Colorado, to...

I have a favorite Aunt.  I know it is not polite to pick favorites, but if you met my Aunt Loralee, she would become your favorite too.  She is Aunt Loralee to my two sisters and I, but she is Sister Loreen Spaulding to the world.  Sister Loreen Spaulding of the...

Having run youth leadership programs for over twenty years, I'm often asked by parents what advice I have for their graduating sons and daughters.  With May upon us, here's a graduation gift to pass along. Click here for a downloadable PDF of the list! Tommy's Top Ten...

I shared a story in my first book- an experience I had when I was fifteen years old and attended my first youth leadership academy. The closing keynote speaker shared words that changed my life. Literally. "There are three types of people in the world," exclaimed Tom...

I took my daughter, Caroline, last week to the orthodontist. It's time for our eleven-year old to get braces. She was not very excited about the idea. Still isn't. But the doctor, Kevin, did a great job explaining to young Caroline why she needs braces and what her...

When I was single, in my early 30's, I had a list of ten qualities I wanted in my future spouse. I made a pledge that my one-day bride would embrace the qualities I held closest to my heart. When I first met my wife, Jill, fifteen years ago, she was recently divorced...

One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia. Trying to get out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk hoping to get a room for the night. "We'd like a room, please," the husband requested....

I got married 12 years ago. We honeymooned on the French island of Saint Barths, officially called Saint-Barthélemy, 35 kilometers southeast of St. Martin and north of St. Kitts - tucked away in the West Indies. Women dream of planning their wedding day. Men think...