Life has a way of keeping its schedule. The sun rises. People go to work. Ballgames are played. Holidays come and go. Stores open. Bills arrive. Before long, the world looks remarkably similar to the way it did before someone we loved was gone. For everyone else, life has moved on. For the grieving, it … More The World Moves On Faster Than the Heart
One of the interesting things about the World Cup being here is that it gives people a chance to discover something the news rarely does a good job of showing. Most people are not their governments. Most people are not their headlines. Most people are not the loudest voices on television, social media, or in … More The World Cup Chronicles: When the World Shows Up in Person
There is an old saying that goes, “Common sense is a flower that does not grow in every garden.” I used to think it was just a clever expression. The older I get, the more I wonder if it should be engraved on the entrance to every parking lot, grocery store, and government building. Whatever … More The Common Sense Chronicles: The Flower That Doesn’t Grow in Every Garden
Every now and then someone asks me a question that catches them a little off guard. “Do you make money from your blog?” The answer is simple. No. There are no pop-up advertisements. No pay-per-click revenue. No subscription fees. No premium articles hidden behind a paywall. I don’t earn anything simply because someone visited my … More Why I Keep Writing… Even When It Doesn’t Pay
Ten years ago this month, I was carrying around a worn-out index card. At the time, it was one of the most important things I owned. I was facing a decision that felt enormous. I was considering leaving my home, my house, walking away from a job I had held for sixteen years, and moving … More Stop Trying to Solve Tomorrow
I was thinking recently about playgrounds when I was growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. Modern playgrounds look like they were designed by attorneys. The playgrounds of my childhood looked like they were designed by people who lost a bet. Back then, playground equipment wasn’t necessarily built to be safe. It was built to … More The Playground Chronicles: We Survived… Mostly
One of the greatest frustrations in life is being judged by a test you were never designed to take. Imagine asking a fish to climb a tree. Imagine asking a mathematician to compose a symphony. Imagine asking a gifted musician to prove their worth by rebuilding an engine. None of those people are incapable. They … More You’re Not Failing. You’re Taking the Wrong Test
I have come to the conclusion that nobody is happy. The person with curly hair wants straight hair. The person with straight hair wants curly hair. The blonde wants to be brunette. The brunette wants to be blonde. The person with blue eyes wants brown eyes. The person with brown eyes wants blue eyes. The … More The Beauty Chronicles
My parents spent years teaching me one very important lesson: Never trust strangers. It was a simple rule. Don’t get into cars with strangers. Don’t give strangers personal information. Don’t follow strangers. Don’t accept things from strangers. Sound advice. Then I became an adult and discovered that modern society is built almost entirely on trusting … More Don’t Trust Strangers…Unless You Want Something
Every room has one. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a business meeting, a church gathering, a social event, or a group discussion among friends. Sooner or later, someone feels the need to let everyone know how much they know. They have an answer for every question. An opinion on every topic. A story that tops … More Every Room Has One…