Why I Went To A Taylor Swift Concert
May 19, 2023
Do you know how hard it is to get Taylor Swift tickets? You literally have to win a lottery. Well… … More Why I Went To A Taylor Swift Concert
Category: People and Places
I Wish You Well, Omar
May 2, 2023
A few days ago, I had a Zoom meeting with Omar, my nephew by marriage. It’s been a while since I last mentioned that I married an Egyptian woman—a truly beautiful person named Azza—a little more than twelve years ago, back when I was living in Cairo, Egypt, and teaching at the American University in … More I Wish You Well, Omar
Sharing is Caring
April 28, 2023
Dear, Readers, I’m speaking for all Wise & Shine writers when I say that we so appreciate your continued support of this blog. To show how thankful we are, we want to ask you to share a link to your blog or site in the “thoughts” or comments section at the bottom of this page. … More Sharing is Caring
Absurdities
April 13, 2023
The other night my wife and I celebrated our 6-year wedding anniversary. We went to a restaurant called Absurdities. It was, without a doubt, the weirdest dining experience of my life. The restaurant itself was comprised of various rooms or “worlds.” In each world (6 in total), we were served a different course. We had … More Absurdities
The Bachelor Party
April 7, 2023
Surreal. I never understood what that word meant or what it felt like. Until that morning. … More The Bachelor Party
Want to Write for Wise & Shine?
March 19, 2023
Hi, all. Wise & Shine is looking for a few new writers. If you’d like to apply to join the team, send samples of your writing via our “Contact” form. Please familiarize yourself with the sort of things our blog publishes before contacting us. We’ll send a set of writing guidelines to those who send … More Want to Write for Wise & Shine?
Whatever Happened to the Wise & Shine Podcast?
March 17, 2023
At the end of last year, this site started a podcast. We came up with a few topics and scheduled conversations, almost entirely among ourselves (those of us who publish our writings on the site). We then recorded those discussions and posted them. We were going at a great clip in the beginning. We managed … More Whatever Happened to the Wise & Shine Podcast?
10 Caring Traditions from Around the World
March 5, 2023
After the podcast of Billy Osogo on Ubuntu, I decided to search how people around the world show kindness, whether it comes from caring tradition or generosity. This may inspire you to show kindness to yourself or someone else today. Common to many cultures in Sub Saharan Africa, this concept was made popular by South … More 10 Caring Traditions from Around the World
Still Crying, Still Dying, Still Fragile
March 3, 2023
We recently passed the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. The first images of the scene were horrible, especially the faces of the Ukrainians who were displaced, mourning loved ones, or just plain fearful of what was next. … More Still Crying, Still Dying, Still Fragile
How Learning a Foreign Language Has Positive Effects on Your Brain
February 26, 2023
Learning a new language is like learning to drive. It doesn’t matter in which order you learn to steer, use the brake, or change gear. It’s what you do as a whole that is important, not which component you learn first. The latest breakthroughs in neurosciences, combined with innovative technology for measuring brain activity, are … More How Learning a Foreign Language Has Positive Effects on Your Brain
Prayers for Turkey
February 7, 2023
Hi all, I was going to write about another topic but I do not have the mental clarity for it. As you might know, I am from Turkey. As you might also know Turkey had very devastating earthquakes since Sunday, biggest in decades and in a populated area. Everyone I know is safe (that is, … More Prayers for Turkey
Cold Cash In Canada: A Family Misadventure
February 3, 2023
We were in a foreign country with no cash and no working credit cards. What could possibly go wrong? … More Cold Cash In Canada: A Family Misadventure
New Wise & Shine Podcast Focus
January 18, 2023
Dear Readers and Listeners, As you know, Wise & Shine started a podcast at the end of last year. As newbies to this sort of thing, we were mostly flying by the seat of our pants during those early episodes. We’ve decided to provide a little thematic focus to the podcast going forward. Here’s what … More New Wise & Shine Podcast Focus
Question of the Day (Inspired by the Red-headed Stranger)
January 5, 2023
I’m currently reading The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart, with “Willie” being the great Willie Nelson, musician and songwriter extraordinaire. As you might guess from the title, the book, coauthored by Nelson and Turk Pipkin, elucidates the singer’s philosophy of life, which was strongly influenced by Buddhist and Taoist … More Question of the Day (Inspired by the Red-headed Stranger)
Wise & Shine Podcasts in 2023
January 3, 2023
In October of last year, Wise & Shine started a podcast. In the weeks ahead, we’ll be recording new episodes for your listening pleasure. Tuesday will be the day we publish new podcasts to the site. If you haven’t already done so, please have a listen to our recordings from 2022. We are interested in hearing … More Wise & Shine Podcasts in 2023
New Podcast: What Can the World Learn from Africa?
December 27, 2022
In the latest installment of the Wise & Shine podcast, I talk with Billy Osogo—one of our writers and a brilliant young man who lives in Nairobi, Kenya—about what the world can learn from Africa. In Billy’s very insightful response, he tells me about “Ubuntu” and a variety of other subjects. Have a listen and … More New Podcast: What Can the World Learn from Africa?
Longing for Home
December 24, 2022
What does it mean to be at home? A simple sentiment, but one filled with rich metaphorical meaning Home is much more than a shelter which protects you against the elements More profound than a property that stores your possessions It is a refuge not only for the body, but for the spirit Home is … More Longing for Home
New Podcast: Soaring Over the Clouds with David!
December 20, 2022
On Wise & Shine’s newest podcast, I have an entertaining conversation with David (known as “AP2” on this site) about flying airplanes, writing, art, fatherhood, regrets, and other topics. After listening to our talk, check out David’s writing, including “Why I Write,” a piece that got 514 likes when it was first published.
I Said Goodbye to a Great Man
December 15, 2022
It’s that time of year again when my mind goes back to December of 2003, exactly nineteen years ago now, when I had one of the most profound experiences of my life. A bit earlier in that year, in May of 2003 to be exact, my maternal grandfather, a real-life cowboy and a man I … More I Said Goodbye to a Great Man
Max Dodo
December 8, 2022
The tutors who work at the Palo Alto College Writing Assistance Center are mostly in their late twenties and early thirties which means they’re young and energetic. Because they haven’t clocked many years on this planet, they’re not yet tired or jaded. This is likely the reason they’re so incredibly gung-ho about everything. So, when … More Max Dodo