My New Album Releases Today!
It’s fun starting projects and working on them, but nothing beats getting one across the finish line- even if it takes longer than we expected ( or in this case, a lot longer!) Continue reading My New Album Releases Today!
Loving and Learning
Is love conducive to our bottom-line goals? Perhaps when it is the goal itself but from my experience, love is the big disruptor that often interrupts our progress on the things we can measure. Continue reading Loving and Learning
Survival of the Friendliest: The Key to Our Species’ Evolution
The book Humankind by the Dutch historian Rutger Bregman is the inspiration for this blog post. The author invites us to explore a different perspective. He argues that people are inherently decent at heart and proposes a new worldview based on the corollaries of this optimistic view of human beings. He explores, among other things, the concept of survival of the friendliest. When it comes … Continue reading Survival of the Friendliest: The Key to Our Species’ Evolution
Why Did I Say That?
Ego & self-consciousness make being creative a lot harder. Continue reading Why Did I Say That?
Marcus Aurelius: What Is a Philosopher?
I think the claim that Marcus Aurelius would not have thought himself a philosopher is incorrect. At the same time, the way it is incorrect is very interesting. Exploring this will show us some important things about what philosophy and philosophers were in the ancient world, what they are perceived to be now, and how we might choose to regard and engage in philosophy going forward. Continue reading Marcus Aurelius: What Is a Philosopher?
Why We Must Tolerate Intolerance
The Paradox of Tolerance Back in the 1940s, a philosopher named Karl Popper came up with something called “The Paradox of Tolerance.” He said that if everyone tolerates every idea, then intolerant ideas will emerge. Tolerate people, being the soft pushovers they are, will tolerate this intolerance. However, the intolerant will not tolerate tolerant people. So, eventually, the tolerant will get rammed up the backside. … Continue reading Why We Must Tolerate Intolerance
The Universal You
There was a carousel in the town I grew up in that held a special attraction for me as a kid. It was originally built in 1909 and had beautifully carved wooden horses big enough that they could create the illusion of really riding. But in addition to that, the ride purveyors had added a chute of rings that riders on outside horses could reach. … Continue reading The Universal You
Identity: What’s in a name?
Context The catalyst for this post was my most recent Introductions Over Coffee #10 post. There I discuss why new bloggers should use a name. That got me thinking about the nature of identity. In particular, why we feel its necessary for others to have names, why it might be difficult to pick a name and the likelihood of exclusion as a result. These are … Continue reading Identity: What’s in a name?
Explore the Ancient Origins of Qi Gong: A Journey Back in Time
Step into the world of Qi Gong, an age-old practice that traces its roots back to the rich world of ancient China, where it first blossomed some 5000 years ago. This holistic discipline has been profoundly shaped by an interweaving of philosophical strands, including the profound wisdom of Taoism, the transformative teachings of Buddhism, and the ethical principles of Confucianism. Initially flourishing within the realm … Continue reading Explore the Ancient Origins of Qi Gong: A Journey Back in Time
Repost: Napping as an Act of Defiance
I’ve been thinking a lot about defiance lately. Actually, because I’m very much a contrarian at heart, I’m always thinking about ways to defy. That’s what contrarians do; they defy conventional wisdom (among other things). (By the way, it seems pretty clear that we need a lot more contrarians in the world.) I guess you could also say that I’m part of the resistance against … Continue reading Repost: Napping as an Act of Defiance
Ending In Divorce: A Vocational Love Story
I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. The day I say goodbye to my room. We’ve been together for 25 years. Even longer if you count the time we spent together before we made things official. Continue reading Ending In Divorce: A Vocational Love Story
Songs of Life
Avicii (…I know. Hella way to start a post after being MIA for longer than a Tyler Perry series!) Anyway, as I was saying, Avicii’s song has been playing on repeat on my head. …One day you’ll leave this world behind… The Nights by Avicii My grandad passed on recently. We buried him last week. Orada (which in my native language means lion) was 91 … Continue reading Songs of Life
Your Favorite Writer Quotes
After posting My Favorite Writer Quotes last week, I loved the ones submitted in the comments so much that here’s a post of your favorite writer quotes. “People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character.” – Ralph Waldo EmersonSubmitted by the insightful and delightful Vicki Atkinson of the Victoria Ponders blog “One thing that … Continue reading Your Favorite Writer Quotes
RIP Mr Nils
Once upon a time, I knew a man.
I met him at a writing course which he was teaching at Bøler Library.
Today I found out that he has crossed over to the other side.
I felt a strong desire to honour him by sharing a poem he had written.
Continue reading RIP Mr Nils
Discover Your Perfect Relaxation Method: Embrace Tranquility in These 5 Ways
In the fast-paced world we live in, finding a way to unwind and relax can feel like a challenge. If you’re unsure about which relaxation method suits you best, look no further – I’ve compiled a list of my personal favorites to help guide you towards inner serenity. So, take a deep breath and explore these rejuvenating techniques to find the one that inspires you … Continue reading Discover Your Perfect Relaxation Method: Embrace Tranquility in These 5 Ways
Bad Life Advice I’m Tired Of Hearing
I have a serious beef with some of our tried and true inspirational sayings. It’s bad advice! In fact, I’ve discarded it for most of my life and that seems to have worked out pretty well so far. But, I’m tired of seeing others suffer needlessly as they cling to this nonsense, believing they’re doing the right thing. Continue reading Bad Life Advice I’m Tired Of Hearing
My Favorite Writer Quotes
I think it’s safe to say that writing is the subject that I’ve studied longest. Sure, it started with just grasping the pencil with some dexterity and has developed through school essays, technical writing, and now to developing a personal angle with memoir writing, and blogging. But whatever the genre, it feels like an incredibly rich and vast subject of study. So here are five … Continue reading My Favorite Writer Quotes
An alternative approach: Using prompts in blogging
How we blog; where our inspiration comes from can be quite a topical discussion. In this post I consider the arguments for and against using prompts to guide our writing. Continue reading An alternative approach: Using prompts in blogging
Feed Your Appetite: An Unintentionally Honest Slogan?
Not that long ago, I found myself stopped at a traffic light, across from a rather pricey development combining shopping and dining. Next to the road was a large sign, advertising for the entire place. What caught my eye was the slogan for this place: “Feed Your Appetite.” I was partly amazed, partly amused, and partly disturbed. Of course, if what “feed your appetite” meant … Continue reading Feed Your Appetite: An Unintentionally Honest Slogan?
Embracing Wabi-Sabi: The Beauty of Imperfection in Japanese Culture
Several centuries ago, during the peak of the Japanese autumn, in one of Kyoto’s splendid gardens, a tea master instructed his apprentice to prepare for a tea ceremony. The young man meticulously trimmed hedges, carefully raked the gravel, plucked dry leaves from the stones, and cleared the mossy path of any twigs. The garden appeared flawless: every blade of grass was perfectly in place. Silently, … Continue reading Embracing Wabi-Sabi: The Beauty of Imperfection in Japanese Culture