In many ways this feels like a strange year to be giving thanks. 2020 hasn’t been a great year for nearly anyone. Many of us will be spending the holidays alone, only able to connect with our loved ones virtually. And particularly in a year marked by mass movements to address racial injustice, the problematic […]
Culture
After the storm
We’ve all really been through it this year. I don’t know how anyone can endure the twin stressors of a pandemic and a particularly fraught and consequential presidential election and rise above it to be your best self. Regardless of your political persuasion, and I know there are plenty of people who read this blog […]
Miscalculating your fears
I’ve been thinking a lot about fear lately. And specifically about fearing the wrong things. In order to be your best self it helps to be fearless, calm, and to see reality as it actually exists, not filtered through an adrenaline-soaked haze. When you are thinking clearly and have access to accurate information it’s easier […]
A year of living uncomfortably
One of the double-edged swords of my personality is that I try really hard to find common ground with people. On the one hand, seeking common ground forges connections; it recognizes shared experiences and our ultimate shared humanity. It makes me an agreeable person on the whole. But sometimes the ground isn’t common. It’s a […]
What is your highest and best use?
I know these are challenging economic times, but if you have any money to spare I hope you’ll join me in donating to We Need Diverse Books, an organization dedicated to ensuring that all children can see themselves in print, something we badly need in these troubled and confusing times. I will never know the […]
Caring about quality in a flash in the pan world
This is a lonely time for people who want to do things the slow way. Attention spans are short. Our chaotic, social-media driven world rewards brevity and simplicity. Purity tests are rampant; shades of gray are in short supply. What if you want to write a blog post instead of a tweet? What if you […]