It’s Monday morning and we’re back to work. But what’s the point? Sure, we’re putting food on our tables and we’re keeping the bills paid, but there has to be a greater reason for all this running around. Maybe you love your work, or maybe you’re in a job because it’s your only option forContinue reading The Rat Race
When I read a magazine, I compare myself to the people in the articles and the ads. They’re wearing nice clothes, live successful lives, and generally make me feel like I have a ways to go – like I’ll never be happy until I have what they have. When I read the news, I getContinue reading Why Books Matter
A tropical plant stood in the corner by a small table and a stack of books. I grabbed the most colorful story in the pile and ran back to my mother. We settled into the hard, plastic chairs and waited for the receptionist to call us back for my doctor visit. I was playing baseballContinue reading Oh, the Places I’ve Gone!
A few days ago, I spent the afternoon with my dentist getting a crown. I’ve since had headaches from the sensitivity of the tooth and haven’t wanted to read – at all. I’m feeling better now, but for a while, my life was sponsored by Tylenol and Ibuprofen. It’s hard to do anything when IContinue reading Feel Well, Then Read Well
The sea of Philosophy is wide and worn deep – it spans in all directions unending and complete. It’s an ocean first tranquil then unhinged – and I am but a traveler, sailing its brim. I peek over the edge of this boat of mine – to find on the surface a reflection supine. I’mContinue reading The Sea of Philosophy
Last night, I spoke with a friend who feels like a failure. He left a high-paying career for a blue-collar job and wonders if he’s sold himself short. He’s happy, but worried that he gave up the “better life.” It made me think of Henry David Thoreau shoveling manure. The nineteenth-century philosopher left his lifeContinue reading I Love Shoveling Manure
I work as an accountant, and the number one tip I can give you for saving money is to log into your bank account every day and review the transactions. You don’t need to reconcile the books or run complicated reports – just look at the transactions. The process of seeing your money daily makesContinue reading How to Get Smarter
There are two kinds of people in this world, those who love Monday mornings and everyone else. We have complicated relationships with our work, which makes sense, given that we spend more time with our colleagues than we do with our spouses, partners, and children. A relationship that demanding is bound to have some baggage.Continue reading It’s Not Enough to Be Industrious
Apologia is a Greek word that means, “Speaking in Defense.” You hear the term Apologetics used as a label for people who defend a set of beliefs. The word has a foundation in Plato’s Apology where Socrates had to defend himself in a trial for corrupting the youth of Athens. He was asked to justifyContinue reading The Sunday Apologia
“Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” This quote comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s fantastic essay titled, Self-Reliance. Let’s unpack it. My first job in college was doing basic accounting work for a homebuilder. I was tasked with keeping track of all the bills we had to pay. We were building 250 homes aContinue reading Foolish Consistency