Look around you. There's a host of people working in jobs that are, shall we say, less than rewarding. If it were not true, the acronym T.G.I.F. wouldn't exist. Of course the reasons most people give are legion: "I have a family to support"..."We need the benefits"..."This is all I know"..."It's a tough job market, I'm better off staying where I am"..."I've only got a few more years to retirement"..."We couldn't afford a pay cut"..."I'm too young"..."I'm too old"..."I don't know the right people"... and on and on. I argue that although perfectly admirable, these reasons are really more of an …
Live Passionately
Summer Checklist
Have you enjoyed the summer? Last January, when you longed for a hot summer day, did you live up to those dreams that you had promised you would do once the weather was nice? This is a friendly service announcement to notify you of a somewhat harsh reality… there are only 6 official weeks left of summer. I know families who have kids going back to school are saying, “Six! I wish…school goes back next week!” Yes, I am sorry about that. In an attempt to fully appreciate the summer, to delight in all of the wonderfulness of summer, I am sharing a list of eight summer activities to squeeze …
Charlie Brown and the Free Prize at the Art Museum
Today was a swell day. After much anticipation, Kim and I finally had a chance to head to Milwaukee to check out the Masters of American Comics exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. It showcased the original artwork of comic legends like E.C. Segar (the creator of Popeye), Chester Gould (creator of Dick Tracy), Jack Kirby (Captain America and The Fantastic Four), and the guy who brought us Charlie Brown, Charles Schulz. If you're a cartoonist, and you go to an exhibit like this, I'm pretty sure you're bound to come away with two distinct thoughts. The first is, "I completely suck." And the …
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In Search For Peace
She’s 39 and a mom of three. Life is busy. Work is challenging. The kids are always on the go. Her husband helps out with household family stuff as much as he can, about as much as she can these days. At the end of the day she is exhausted. She looks forward to the kids going to bed so she can have some peace. Peace doesn’t come easily, though. When she finally sits down on the couch her mind is filled with a list of “to do’s” and demands. She wants to relax. She deserves to relax. It starts with a glass of wine a few nights a week. It’s a small little joy. She soon finds herself drinking a …
Taking Things for Granted
This weekend Jason and I got a chance to see Toad the Wet Sprocket in concert. They are one of the bands that Jason and I listened to all of the time in college and have in our many iTunes playlists. Every song was a “classic.” The concert was awesome! When we got home I was listening to some of my favorites on our iPod in bed that night. One song hit me more than the others. It’s called, "I Will Not Take These Things For Granted.” It’s a slower song and well worth the 99 cent download, if you don’t already have it. The lyrics hit me because of a recent tragic death of a family friend a few …
Of Crucial Importance
Ian Ybarra is a guy who helps authors edit and market their books. He's also a guy who writes quite eloquently about many crucially important things, particularly the role dreams and passion have on your life. Do yourself a favor and take a look. Be sure to take his very important three question pop quiz from the movie Rudy. …
Six Years of Childlike Wonder
As Kim mentioned in her latest post, we celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary yesterday. After picking up some delectable morel mushrooms at the Farmer's Market, we had lunch at Ian's Pizza (Mac and Cheese pizza for Kim, Philly Cheesesteak for me.) Then we toured the new Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Olbrich Botanical Gardens -- both free! -- and capped off the evening at The Eldorado Grill for dinner and the Hilton's Olive Lounge for some dueling piano action. It was a beautiful day, packed with new adventures and a cornucopia of childlike curiosity. Ever since we spent a …
You Want What On Your Pizza?
Today I had lunch with a friend at a remarkably childlike place. It's called Ian's Pizza, and it sells pizza by the slice as well as by the pie. What's remarkable is what's on those slices. You can choose from Mac and Cheese (their most popular), Lasagna, Steak and Fries, Chicken Cordon Bleu, or Guacamole Burrito, to name a few. (I heard they had Chicken Mashed Potato, but I didn't see it on the menu.) Of course, you can also get -- ho-hum -- pepperoni. I felt like I was in the middle of Escape Plan Challenge #15 -- eating something new. If the concoctions above don't seem too appealing to …
Just Jump
A while back I added this quote to my collection of inspiring words that surround my desk. It's been stumping me ever since. "God does not require success, but radical, immediate obedience." I'm not sure who said it, but I am challenged by it. What a statement. I think it's the word "radical" that really gets my attention. When's the last time I acted radically about anything, especially for God? Not long after coming across this quote I found a profound story online, told by Gilles Côté about his first-hand experience witnessing childlike faith in his three-year-old daughter. The …
Mushrooms
It is important to be passionate about your job. And your job should revolve around something you are passionate about. No child willingly subjects himself to spending a third of his life suffocated in an activity that he could care less about. Neither should you. Not only should businesses be staffed by a team of passionate people, they should make it a point to engage the passions of their customers, too. Kim and I were in Rochester, NY for a speaking engagement a few weeks ago. We met a chemist who had a passion for...mushrooms. In fact, he was a member of a national mushroom club. …