Yesterday was rough for me. It was one of those days where every little thing stacks up in the wrong direction so that, by the evening, you’re completely disheveled. I sat through several hours of administrative meetings at work (not my favorite), my son forgot about his dentist appointment, the gym was packed full ofContinue reading I Tranquilized Myself to Avoid Work
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
I love to read, but getting started is always hard. My brain won’t turn off, and when I do manage to sit down with a book, I find myself getting up a few minutes later to check on something – anything. There’s a real resistance to focused work. This morning, when I started my book,Continue reading It’s hard to Focus and Read
Saturday morning is insanity in my home. It’s chore day, which means that nobody can enjoy anything until the toilets are scrubbed, the beds are made, and the mysterious junk drawers are emptied and sanitized. It’s a lot of work, and with it comes a lot of noise. Kids shout that they’re out of cleaningContinue reading Slowly, But Surely
Valentine’s Day is not a good day for many people. Relationships run sour by the hour, hearts are broken, and the grocery stores are gluttonous with cheap candy and threadbare teddy bears. I have friends who won’t get out of bed during Cupid’s 24 hours of affectionate obsession. It’s just too painful to face theContinue reading Valentine’s Day can be Awkward
While it’s euphoric to read in silence, you must learn to read your books in noisy places. Otherwise, you’ll never get any reading done. The world is full of people shouting, cars honking, circular saws buzzing, feet stomping, woodpeckers pecking, and houseflies hovering. This damned planet is set to distract me. I thought I wouldContinue reading Learn to Read in Loud Places