LadyKflo - The Writing of Katherine Flores

Context is Everything and Sometimes that Sucks

Context is everything is one of those phrases that sounds so obvious it almost feels meaningless. It’s a cliché. But it’s also something people say when they want to sound wise but don’t take the time to get specific. And yet. I’m increasingly convinced it’s the truest and most useful cliché we have. Because nothing we decide, believe, buy, justify, defend, or regret exists outside of context. Every choice lives inside a story. And most of the time, we’re responding to the story more than the facts. When […]

George Wallace - LadyKflo - Vivian Malone and James Hood leaving Foster Auditorium after registering for classes at the University of Alabama.

Who was George Wallace and why do I care?

I often work inside the Tribeca Film offices. Which means that on my way to mediate high-stakes human conflict, I walk past walls covered in movie history. Posters. Portraits. Faces that mean something to millions of people. It’s an oddly cinematic commute. One afternoon, waiting for a client, I found myself standing in front of a poster with Robert De Niro’s face. He looked relaxed and friendly. Smiling. It was a comedy. And then there was Taxi Driver. The hollow stare. The menace mixed with loneliness. Travis Bickle.

Regrets are Good

Why Regrets Are Good (And People Who Say Otherwise Are Wrong) There’s a vapid sentence people like to say in interviews and late-night conversations. “I have no regrets.” It’s supposed to signal courage. Backbone. Fearlessness. A life lived without hesitation. We often admire that person. That’s because we’re also suckers for a polished lie. Because unless you’re emotionally anesthetized or profoundly unreflective, you have regrets. If you’ve loved people. If you’ve raised children. If you’ve built anything that matters. You have regrets. There was a time when I