Category: Life and Times


  • How to Think More Productive Thoughts 

    Thinking can be a delightful, sometimes even luxurious pastime. But thinking, much like collecting ceramic figurines or watching reality TV, is only worthwhile if you actually do something with it. For the better part of my existence, I’ve spewed out more words than a caffeine-addicted parrot. Yet, somehow, my thoughts meandered aimlessly, never quite finding…

  • Your Reality Reflects Your Frame of Reference

    Ever have one of those days where you feel like the world is out to get you? Maybe your morning tea tasted like dishwater, your boss gave you that death stare, and even your favorite pair of jeans suddenly didn’t fit right. But before you spiral into an abyss of self-pity, let me ask you…

  • Every Day is Noteworthy

    It’s easy to assume that few days of our lives are noteworthy. Many days simply meld together in our minds without hesitation, and rarely do we regret when they’re over. Yet, I’ve learned that it’s helpful to give special attention to every day and find something in it, no matter how small, to find noteworthy.…

  • Reading is Good

    Reading is Good

    It’s almost embarrassing to admit as a writer, but I once went a full year without reading a single book. Yes, that’s an eternity in literary terms. Now while I could offer you a dozen excuses for this travesty — too busy, too tired, or too distracted — the truth is that I simply forgot.…

  • If You Agree to Disagree, Then Understand Why

    Years ago, a friend of mine and I discussed an important idea about human relationships. He argued that we should focus on where we agree with others, rather than where we disagree. This struck me as a good concept to ponder further. Eventually, my thoughts on the matter grew into what became this essay. Basically,…

  • Context is For Queens

    Humans are stubborn, willful little creatures. We’re relentlessly determined to understand the nature of, well, everything. But as much as we act like cosmic detectives, we don’t have the skill, the right tools, or even a faint idea of what the mystery is we’re trying to solve. Sure, we can keep pretending we can wrap…

  • Celebrating Infinite Diversity

    Why We Should Embrace Our Differences In the world we live in today, it’s tempting to try and force people into cookie-cutter boxes based on their race, gender, or sexual orientation. But, we must remind ourselves that every person has their own unique set of circumstances, experiences, and perspective on the world. Only by embracing…

  • The Road Worth Taking

    As a child, I often spoke out of turn and perhaps it was only because I had so much to say and a desperate need to be heard. I spent so many years speaking in circles, never able to turn off the roundabout in my mind, wondering which road was worth taking. Eventually I chose…

  • Music is a magical extension of the human soul. Without it, we’d all just slowly wither away into the unbearable void of silence, or worse, be left alone with our thoughts. With it, however, we have the unparalleled power to transform our minds into a war zone of emotions. If you want to wallow in…

  • The Mindless Things

    Too many nights, I find myself wide awake. Most of them are spent mindlessly mulling over pursuits that, on the surface, are the intellectual equivalent of scrolling through memes that fail to amuse me. Somewhere in the back of my mind, there’s a small, tired voice gently reminding me that maybe this isn’t the best…