Category: Reflections

The forming of our character is similar to the art of pottery. We are a hunk of something, spinning around and around, experiencing the same cycles again and again. Yet with the right amount of pressure applied to right spot, after a handful of spins, a new groove emerges, a new shape takes form. Repeat…… Continue reading Taking Shape

To write is to figure things out. To ramble along through the consortium of thoughts in one’s head until, eventually, some truth is found. It is an exercise in patience and exploration. It involves following a line of thought with only feign hope that it will lead to something worthwhile. Bumping against the walls, making…… Continue reading Figuring It Out

Many of us want change. We want something different. Ultimately, we want to live our dream lives. But often, we do not know what that is. We just know that our dream life is not our current situation. Perhaps it is a dead end job, poor physical health, a toxic environment, or a bad relationship.…… Continue reading Run To

The ideas that make up the foundation of our character are worth repeatedly revisiting as a reminder to continue to live them. For it is not enough to know the concepts and ideas of a philosophy, one must embody them. This is why Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations borders on repetitive, because he was reminding himself of…… Continue reading Foundations

Usually what gamblers regret the most isn’t the loss of their money so much as the loss of their insane hopes.”- Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea We like to dream. To fantasize about a life where we have no worries, no stress, where we can do whatever we want. To be free in…… Continue reading Gambles

It is easy to get wrapped up in the image of our future selves. To think of all the things we’re going to do, all the money we’re going to make, the trips we’re going to take, the kind of person we’re going to become. We think the problem—or problems—plaguing us at this very moment…… Continue reading Our Future Selves

We as a species like confidence. We want solid, concrete, unshakeable answers to our questions, and if we don’t have such answers, then we’ll seek out those who do. And if those we find can make us believe they’re right, then, by God, they’re right. Coaches, CEOs, cult leaders, these folks radiate confidence. They give…… Continue reading Confidence

To paraphrase Bill Hicks, “You can tell a lot about a country by the drugs it uses.” America, and Western civilization for the most part, is addicted to alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol to help us forget our misery every night, and coffee to wake us up so that we may continue to toil away at…… Continue reading Comfort

We are a culture that is wrapped up in words, names, and titles. We like them. In school we are taught to memorize definitions. To read a book is in itself an exercise in brilliance, or so it seems. We can read all the books we want, claim all the titles we want, name all…… Continue reading Titles