There’s a trend going around social media where you compare yourself now to where you were a decade ago. Despite having a blog, I put very little of myself and my family on social media these days. But I found the idea intriguing. In 2016, ten whole years ago, I was already more than 10 …
Writing is not romantic. Growing up, I thought writers lived this wonderful life. They travelled often, wandering down cobblestone streets, notebook in hand, jotting down observations and thoughts. When it came time to write, words just flowed out of them. They would sit at a desk or a table in a little cabin tucked away …
I found this writing in a folder from a long-ago (and very short) stint of writing for a small local magazine in my hometown. I had titled it “Bread is Like Life,” which I still think can be true. Originally, I wrote it in 2013 after spending the morning in the world’s tiniest kitchen trying …
Most of these words came to me last week in a flurry. I sat down with my journal, and they poured out of me onto the page. I don’t usually write long form in my journal – it’s more for the day-to-day happenings, or maybe a note I hope to flesh out later. When the …
When we first moved to Italy, I had a video chat with a friend. She and her husband recently relocated back to the States. They purchased a house and moved in after nearly two months of living in a hotel. During our chat, she told me about their home improvement projects—painting, electrical work, and landscaping. …
A wise man climbs Mt. Fuji once, a fool climbs it twice – Japanese proverb Although the climbing season for Mt. Fuji ended this week, I feel like now is a good time to share my experience. As usual, I like a little time between the “doing” and the “telling.” I plan to put out …
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what’s truly important” – …
