Jason

I don't know who needs to hear this but drinking poison in order to feel better is a bad idea. That's basically what we're doing when we monitor the "news" of the day.Early in the pandemic, I came across the term "doomscrolling." It stopped me in my tracks because it resonated so much. According to psychologist and clinical assistant professor  Ariane Ling, PhD., doomscrolling is “the act of endlessly scrolling down one’s news apps, Twitter, and social media and reading bad news."Seems like a bad idea. And yet, one reason we resort to this habit is to attempt to seek information in hopes of …

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My grandma was a magician. Not the kind prone to cutting grandchildren in half or pulling rabbits out of vintage hats, mind you. She was an artist. The first real artist I'd ever known. My parents had one of her paintings hanging in their bedroom. It was a big one, a landscape featuring a shimmering blue lake. At the edge of the lake was a small dock with two tiny figures sitting at the end. Me and my brother Dan. It really looked like us, and the landscape was pristine, like a real photograph. I loved staring at that painting, wondering how she did it. Pure magic.You can't be exposed to …

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I created this painting last year, as the pandemic was just getting warmed up. With this art came the message to make the most of the hidden opportunities we were given. There were numerous new challenges in this uncharted territory, of course, not the least of which was figuring out how to secure a few rolls of toilet paper. Although we all endured the same storm, we experienced it from different ships, some being more seaworthy than others. But amidst all the upheaval, I encouraged everyone who would listen to see with new eyes and grab the golden opportunity right in front of …

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Waiting for everyone else to leave, she appeared at my autograph table after my second and final presentation of the day. She alternatingly approached and retreated as if her body was mimicking an internal debate going on in her head. Her name tag revealed her as a Jennifer. I assumed she was trying to decide if she wanted to buy something. Instead, she hesitantly exclaimed, “I want to trade you something, but I don’t want you to think I’m crazy.”“I won’t think you’re crazy,” I promised, immediately wary of my declaration.Apparently, I was convincing enough, as she immediately began digging …

[Read more...] about The Incredible Bravery of Letting Go