I’m working on a book drawn from “Truths and Wonders.” And I'm sharing the first chapter here.
Practice Makes Persons
We humans become what we practice being. My mother taught me this lesson accidentally, by letting me quit piano and take up drums. How does a kid who despised the practice timer become a human metronome? Read on.
Easier Isn’t Better
The better way isn’t the easier one; it’s whichever one leads to greater fulfillment. Even if it includes freezing nights, Grandma’s guilt trips, and a gold 1970 Chevy Nova on a winding West Virginia country road.
Sometimes the Scar Is Worth It
My earliest memory involves a soccer field, a broken beer bottle, and a choice that left a mark—a scar that still reminds me of my father.
We Hold These Truths
As the USA approaches its 250th birthday, please pause to consider these four often-overlooked words.
Who’s Singing in Your Head Right Now?
Four insights into consciousness from Michael Pollan’s "A World Appears."
What to Do When Life Shows Up Uninvited
Take a moment to appreciate the pinafores and listen to the lollygags.
Why Does Rage Bait Work?
No one wants to be mad all the time. So why does social media constantly tempt us with rage bait? And why do we consistently bite?
The Struggle to Write Is the Struggle to Think
Ask most people to define “writing,” and they’ll tell you it’s the process of putting words down on paper, communicating what you already know. In reality, writing is often how you discover what you don’t know—and so how you learn to think better.
When In Doubt, Sing Out
I learned a crucial lesson about kindness and compassion while Christmas caroling in a nursing home in 1983.
