I’m not sure where middle age begins, but I’m pretty sure that even grading on the most generous curve, I’m in it. In some ways, maybe we all are. With Kim's father in hospice the past week, and with his only brother in hospice for three weeks before that, I've naturally been thinking a lot about life and death. And last times. Gary and his wife Joyce are experiencing a lot of last times right now. And reflecting on the ones they didn't realize were the last when they happened. I wonder, is middle age the point of life when you start collecting more last times than …
You & Improved
When is Failure a Success?
At the beginning of 2022, I set a goal of achieving 400 studio hours. It was born out of a retreat I had a month earlier in which I felt God telling me to spend less time doing His job and more time doing mine. It was made clear to me that a big part of my job included making art. I figured an average of 8 hours a week was worthy of aiming for.After starting out of the gate strong, I hit a speed bump when we went on vacation to Florida at the end of January. Missing a whole week required me to squeeze in those eight hours elsewhere. It took me till the end of February to get caught up.Things …
That New Year Smell
A new year is upon us. It's filled with possibility, free of dents and scratches, and still possesses that new year smell.In the coming year, I have now reached the age where I can expect to be surprised by many of the events that will occur. Some will be happy and thrilling, others... not so much.I will not claim to predict the future (who can?), but I am quite certain about a few things. For instance, I know at least some of the big plans I have for the year will fall flat. Now that's always been a fact, but it's finally no longer a surprise.I also know – without a shadow of a doubt – that …
The Light Within You
I had a bully in middle school. His name was John B. (I'm withholding his last name because I am sure he matured into a nice man with great kids and has started a charity to feed homeless cats.) But he was a jerk back then. He looked like a swollen eggplant with hair. A year older than me, John B. never punched me or beat me up. He never separated me from my lunch money. No, John was an orator, preferring to use his words to belittle and humiliate me. It all began when we had to draw our shoes in art class and the teacher hung our work in the hallway. Now my brothers and I weren't …
Trying to Make the World Better is Always Worth a Try
I don't know if you've noticed, but the world is pretty jacked up. There's plenty of blame to go around, but the real question is, how do we fix it? Here's an idea: If there was any way we could all become a little bit more like Mister Rogers, I think we'd be on the right track. Easier said than done, I know. But making the world better is always worth a try. I suspect even he would downplay that suggestion, pointing out that we're all special in our own way. He wouldn't want us to be more like him; he'd want us to be more like ourselves. Our best selves. If there's anything we …
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Your Inner Check Engine Light
Mama said there'd be days like this. Sometimes when we're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or sad, we simply need a time out. Or pizza. That was the prescription our midwife gave us after Lucy was born. Kim and I had come into the delivery day mentally depleted, our first child already a few weeks overdue. Then the labor itself was a marathon. After the birth, Kim almost fainted because of a drop in blood pressure. As she recovered, it was on me to put on Lucy's first diaper and figure out out to dress a four-hour-old (it's like trying to gift-wrap Jell-O) before clearing …
What Makes Someone An Artist?
What makes an artist an artist? I was dubbed an artist as a kid and I held onto that label ever since. Back then, I operated under the assumption that artists were people who were good at drawing things. Eventually, I started to realize that artists came in many flavors. We could include painters, sculptors, fashion designers, photographers, poets, songwriters, musicians, actors, dancers...and the field grows. Looking at the aforementioned list, one might be tempted to reframe an artist as anyone who does creative work. Which is fair. But doesn't it require creativity to figure out a way to …
May This Force Be With You
May the force be with you. Especially if that force is the power of compound interest.Even a small amount of money, if earning interest and given enough time, will eventually become a mighty sum. It's a much better play than burying money in a metal can under a maple tree. The hard part is getting started because it takes a while to notice any momentum and it's more gratifying to spend those dollars on something you can enjoy NOW. Only recently have I realized the power of compound interest extends beyond the financial realm.When I was in my twenties, I regretted not being able to put money …
A Case for Embracing Your Comfort Zone
We need to spend more time IN our comfort zones. There, I said it. Bless me, Father, for I have sinned against all that is holy in the culture of self-improvement. Every so-called guru constantly advises us to shore up our weaknesses and do things that are out of our comfort zone. It's apparently the magic path to success, riches, and enlightenment. And it might be robbing the world of the best we have to offer. Of course, there is a pearl of wisdom in this adage. I am an introvert, and I can credit some of the most awesome aspects of my life to the times I stretched my comfort …
What The Best Leaders Do
His name was Joel, but I called him Mr. Dawson. He was one of the best leaders I’ve ever known.On the surface, Mr. Dawson was just a regular guy who coached youth baseball. But he was kind, humble, and strong, albeit not in the "benchpress dump trucks" sort of way. A rare autoimmune disease took several fingers on one hand. But he was able to balance a baseball with it while holding a bat with his other hand. During practice, he'd carefully toss the ball upwards and whack it with the bat in the direction of a fielder.When I played Little League, he managed an opposing team, but his vote helped …