“No one is coming to save you.” In Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, Nathaniel Branden penned this line to remind his readers of their self-responsibility. While many of us imagine that we’ll be swept away from our miseries and weaknesses by some […]
I cut my teeth as a young employee in part by working in a hardware store back in the summer of 2014. Hardware stores are magical places, and they’re perfect places to be if you want to learn about home maintenance […]
After running an unofficial 5K last weekend, I decided to build on my momentum by joining a couple of friends for what became my first official 5K – the Atlanta Westside Beltline 5K. We ran this morning, and it was a blast. The whole […]
I realized recently that I am a stereotypical native of Charleston, South Carolina. Yes, unfortunately it’s true. I wear boat shoes and occasionally even what might be described as “preppy” clothing (it’s unintentional, I assure you). I sail boats. I […]
Last night I watched a fun + inspiring (if unextraordinary) film called Being Awesome, about two high school students who reconnect after their high school reunion and form a mutual pledge to overcome their decade (or decade plus) of failure. […]
I wrote a blog post about laundromats last night. If I hadn’t written lots of posts about apparently random things, I might be more concerned. This blog has never been a single-topic affair. But it has ranged far afield into […]
My dryer broke at an inconvenient time this week – in the middle of a conference and on the eve of out-of-state travel. To top it all off, I was stuck with a pile of washed but definitely-not-dry laundry to address. I’ve always […]
I’ve been thinking a lot today about the young people of the Allied liberation of France, which started 74 years ago today with the invasion of Normandy. Many of them were several years younger than I am now, but they […]
It’s a fun thought experiment to break down your personality and likes/dislikes into “ages”. I often find myself acting with the priorities and characteristics I might normally associate to a young boy, or to a grandfather. Humans are complicated. But why not enjoy the […]
SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, be warned that I’m about to reveal the ending. In Saving Private Ryan, a squad of Army Rangers led by Captain John Miller (played by Tom Hanks) sets off deep into […]
Waffle cone. That delicious scent is probably the first thing to draw my attention to the ice cream shop. It’s one of the most packed places in a busy Atlantic Station on a busy springtime Saturday night in Atlanta. Sitting outside […]
As I round out 365 days of daily blogging (today is day 364), I have asked some of my good friends to send me questions they’d like to see me answer on my blog. Grant Parker asks: What are the values […]
When was the first time you felt connected to the life of a city? When I was younger, I could see the busy-ness of the world around me – the high office buildings, the businesses, the traffic, the construction, the people rushing […]
I’ve got some 50 years to train for being the best old man ever. They say you should visualize your success, so here are seven things I’m looking forward to about senior citizen status. 1. I will finally be able to say things […]
Age is relative. And I know I’m still young by most measures. But I’m also well aware that I’m getting older fast. And time is really starting to pick up (see point #2). There are some benefits to this aging […]
No matter how secular our world may be, most of us have some “sacred objects” and talismans. These are nothing special – just objects that hold meeting (or allow us to experience meaning.) Some of mine happen to be mixtapes (OK, mix CDs). […]
There’s nothing like living in a city in your early 20s. The feeling gets better if you’ve never lived in a city before. The bigness of everything in Atlanta is still awe-inspiring for a country boy like me. If (like […]
For most of us, driving is just a chore. It’s sedentary. It’s waiting. No matter how far we travel, we can get out of our cars at the other end feeling like we’ve been sitting at a desk. Do you […]
They say FM radio is dying. And to some extent, they’re right. FM radio is playing only the hits. But Spotify, Apple Music, and the like have made it possible for just about anyone to play any song, anywhere, at any time. […]
A lot of people worry about being useful. They especially worry about being useful when they’re in their 20s and they’re trying to prove themselves. They worry even more about not being useful one day. They especially worry about not […]
“Have you ever felt the longing for someone you could admire? For something, not to look down at, but up to?” – Atlas Shrugged Aside from creating something I believe in, I never feel better than when I’m surrounded by […]
What a person gives and receives can be a pretty good clue to their character and interests. I think it’s an interesting idea to track gifts given and received every year for Christmas. Maybe next year, my tastes will have […]
1. Old Family and Old Friends. I’m hosting a bonfire this year post-holiday, so I’ll get a good chance to catch up with friends from previous parts of my life. I have so many stories to share and so many good […]
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. […]
Snow is wasted on the north. Down in Atlanta, when it snows, the world stops. Unless you’re driving (if you are, then God help you), you get a chance for a day to see your city in a whole new […]
As Shakespeare says, “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.” Most of us poor players play our parts and live our lives by a script. The […]
Millennials are kind of bad about thoughtful traditions. I include myself in that number. We* don’t send thank-you notes. We don’t send sympathy notes. We don’t typically send gifts. Flowers are rare enough. I don’t think our hearts are entirely […]
I’m often told that I’m “very mature for my age,” and even that I’m “well ahead of [my] peers” (whatever that means**). I appreciate the intention. These words are meant to compliment. And admittedly, I sometimes feel like I have a […]
You’re a lucky person if you had a grandfather to help raise you. Grandparents can teach you things your own parents can’t. It’s a special gift for a kid to get the gift of 50 years of master from someone. That was […]
Today my grandfather died. I’m still processing what it means to live in a world without him. But there’s one thought that gives me extraordinary satisfaction: he ended so well. He was 90 years old. In his life, this man […]