The prospect of becoming a footnote in history grows more intriguing to me with each passing moment. Contemplating this leads me to better appreciate the sheer significance of having any sort of legacy, minimal as it may first seem. By expressing myself through these reflective, introspective essays, I can create a legacy for others to…

In our time together, Emily and I have embarked upon many journeys along U.S. state highways. What we end up seeing along these often-neglected byways leaves us feeling sorrowful and longing for the comfort and familiarity of home. These trips often unveil the remnants of bygone eras, countless abandoned houses standing as eerie witnesses to…

Each of us are blessed with a great gift: the privilege of consciousness. The mere fact that we’re aware of our surroundings, our emotions, and our own existence is a remarkable thing. We often take this privilege for granted, but it’s the one that we should most cherish and celebrate. To be conscious means to…

My muses were once models of perfection I could never hope to attain. But, of course, they were only as I wished to perceive them, and not truly as they were. They weren’t so much objects of my own romantic desire, but rather various aspects of the object of desire I longed to be. It…

Often, I ponder how many incredible ideas end up falling through the cracks over the years. With the postal service and shipping industry both in overload crisis mode, it’s not just ideas getting lost in the mail. Of course, who really sends letters anymore? Rather, how many great ideas, including pitches for manuscripts that never…

Road trips are one of my all-time favorite pastimes. Adventures on roads less traveled are even more my favorites. Back roads often provide the most inspiring memories. But oftentimes it’s less for the remarkable scenery and landmarks than the company shared between family, dear friends, and special loved ones. The conversations shared range from small…

There she sits, dreaming up names for her heroes and heroines, her villains, and her trusty steed, or car, or spaceship. She dreams of an endless space, full of wonders, delights, and dangers she can’t yet fathom. The train that is her imagination has not yet departed for such reaches, frontiers, and fantastic outer spaces…

As a child, my world was a symphony of sounds and melodies that swirled around me in a whirlwind of wonder. I’d hum along to familiar tunes, losing myself in the rhythms and beats. I let the music take me to places beyond reality, stimulating my already wild imagination. During these innocent times, I’d often…

The deepest cuts of my writing often emerge in the latest hours of the night. When they do, the inspiration slowly fades as dawn approaches. If this phase of inspired prose is left to wane without expression, it’s lost forever. So, to force rest when there is none seemingly to be had is pointless, especially…

Have you ever had a moment where you were sure the creative juices were about to start flowing, but then refused to gel into anything useful? Many of my scribblings over the years would start with a great idea, then suddenly stopped making sense. Sometimes, my train of thought will even stop mid-sentence. Sometimes, I’d…