All upcoming Personal Development programs

Discover the power of reflective writing inspired by visual art guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface. Step into the Expressionist paintings of the fascinating early 20th-century German artist Gabriele Münter. Slow down, look closely, and reflect as you explore the window as a metaphor for shifting perspectives in our lives.

The disappointments and sorrows of life can leave us hurting and isolated. But journalist Steven Petrow, has a surprising insight: Joy is always present—in our everyday routines, in ties to those we care about, even in our grief. In a conversation with Todd Doughty, author of Little Pieces of Hope: Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World, Petrow draws on personal experiences, research, and interviews with experts to describe the many expressions of joy and how to find, cultivate, and share it.

Guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface, immerse yourself in the colors, light, and forms of Claude Monet’s exquisite The Japanese Footbridge to explore the bridge as a metaphor for the thresholds and journeys of our lives. Designed for writers of all levels, and for the curious, the workshop invites you to look outwardly at art and to look inwardly through writing.

Does free-market capitalism promote economic growth at the expense of virtue and happiness? Steven M. Emmanuel, chair of the philosophy department at Virginia Wesleyan University, examines texts in the canonical literature of Buddhism that describe an ennobling form of economic activity that is compatible with moral and spiritual growth and promotes the conditions for a peaceful, prosperous, and happy society.

Your family is unique in all the world, but how do you best tell its story? Whether you’re starting with boxes (or digital folders) of photos, diaries, news clippings, recipes, and other mementos, or whether memories are your main material, documenting a family history can be daunting. Writer Mathina Calliope offers the tools and guidance you need to confidently create the most meaningful story to share with the people you love.

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by 20th-century artist Edward Hopper’s People in the Sun.

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by the self portrait of 19th-century French artist Suzanne Valadon.

Certified yoga therapist Linda Lang leads an immersive two-part exploration of some of the philosophical foundations of yogic awareness. Through lectures and guided meditation, participants investigate topics including the symbolism of the Sanskrit sacred syllable “om,” ideas of embodiment, and yoga’s paths to an enlightened and illuminated sense of self.

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by Japanese American artist Kenjiro Nomura’s The Farm.

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by Antonio Martorell’s La Playa Negra I (Tar Beach I).