Batten Down The Hatches

For the first time in 5 years, I didn’t write a blog post.

Nothing occurred to me. And when Sunday night rolled around, and I had nothing in the queue, I just sort of shrugged and wrapped myself in a blanket.

No real accomplishments to speak of. Not many thoughts. I’ve … Read more...

A Little Light Left

Light through hole in dark room

Her church was the first to call.

“She’s forgetting things.”

It was sort of blamey, at least that’s how I took it — me, one of two sons, 22 hours away. Or two flights and a long shuttle ride, which has to be coordinated ahead of time.

The last time I we… Read more...

The Dark Place

Landscape photo of forest

I founded my company on optimism. It’s who I am.

But even the BrightSide gets dark now and then.

And when it does, I try my best to welcome the darkness. It’s coming whether you want it to or not. There’s much to discover in the darkness.

But it’s not a place to spend a … Read more...

One Less of Us

Although I was hoping for it to happen all week, it sort of happened organically.

“Ow!” I heard Evaline say through the wall, which made me stop typing.

She came into my office.

“I stepped on a tack. Do you still have that cup of thumbtacks?”

I pointed to my c… Read more...

Good Neighbors

I was just about to sit down and look up the latest political nightmare when I got the text I’d been waiting for.

“Okay. We’re back.”

I threw on my shoes and ran down my steps. As I hit the sidewalk and saw their dusty car sticking halfway out of the garage … Read more...

Celebrating the Return

sunrise illustration

Everyone knows the saying “Don’t Know What you Got ‘Til It’s Gone.”

But here’s a new one, something that’s equally universal but with a positive spin.

Don’t Know What You Need ‘Til it’s Here.

Often times we go dark and get … Read more...

Counseling My Lyft Drivers

Trying to show off a new car for a couple of friends

It happens inadvertently, but it’s happened enough that I can call it a trend:

I career-counsel my Lyft drivers.

It seems like the common thread among Lyft drivers is being in the midst of seeking something else.

Most are entrepreneurs with big ideas, some have suspended caree… Read more...

What’s It All About?

Person standing on a rock in the sea

It’s hard to live.

Our brains are well-developed. We’re a thinking species; not always a good thing. We’re a long way from being content just sitting on a mossy rock. After 5 minutes of one thing, we feel an urge to move on, to find a reason to make us grow. And … Read more...

Reason to Interrupt

Thank you, NHS.

We were deep into it; I was talking with my hands, sitting there at our wobbly table on the sidewalk amongst the other wine drinkers at dusk.

Three young women, no more than 20, with hip, baggy clothing and patches of skin showing here and there, approached our table, one of them … Read more...