What unexpected tidbits do we stumble across during our excursions through life?One of the most surprising and gratifying aspects of travel for me doesn’t have anything to do with experiencing history, different cultures and cuisine.All of that, of course, is the bomb. And I am not suggesting otherwise.But a lot of times...

Protecting your peace in a world addicted to outrage and dramaWe’ve worked hard our entire lives. Over the years, we’ve watched our energy get consumed by jobs, family obligations, deadlines, bills, financial stress, difficult bosses — all the things that come with building a life.No complaints. It went with the territory. It’s just what...

What impatience reveals about the pressure many guys quietly carrr dads, husbands, sons, employees, and friends. In that context, you just want to get things over with as quickly as possible.Now, with more time on my hands, patience is coming easier — especially with things I’m not particularly excited about: standing in line...

Finding meaning in the memories as my beloved mother fades awayMy elderly mother, 92, hasn’t been out of bed for more than a year.Dementia has all but stolen her mind. Her aging body is slowly withering away. She has wonderful hospice care and angelic around-the-clock caregivers in her own home. She is...

It’s about learning how to live wellIf only we paid as much attention to our minds as we do our bodies.May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which seems like a good time to raise this important topic.For many in our society, mental health only hits the radar during crisis — when a person or...

On a recent flight from Northern California to Boston, a man in his 70s sat behind me, narrating and asking questions about everything he was seeing.It was the first time in his life he had ever flown.“Wow, we’re up high… look at all those baseball fields… oh — the mountains and snow… is that...

There’s a Surprising Joy in Rethinking Micro-BeliefIt recently dawned on me how many beliefs about myself have ossified over time — quietly hardening into what felt like unassailable facts.I’m not talking about the big existential questions humanity has wrestled with for centuries: Why am I here? Is there a God? Is there...

Is there a better poster child than Robert Plant for how to create a second act in life?The former singer and front man for Led Zeppelin — which, after all, is kind of a big deal — could have comfortably rested on his laurels, frozen in time. Like The Who, The Rolling...

What I’m learning now that the clock isn’t running my lifeSchool deadlines.Work deadlines.Career deadlines.Financial deadlines.Family obligations.Like most people, I’ve spent decades responding to expectations — fixing problems, meeting demands, and running on a clock that was never truly my own.I told myself that someday, I would be free of these things. Free to pursue...

Photo by Dibakar Roy on UnsplashThe first step to being creative is realizing you already are.Creativity doesn’t care about your age, social status or even talent.Creativity isn’t limited to painting, writing, acting, or music. It shows up in how you think, how you solve problems, how you cook, fix things, ride a bike,...

Photo by Jan Valečka on UnsplashAnonymity is sacred in sobriety. It offers protection when alcoholics and addicts are most vulnerable — just beginning to seek help. It took me time to understand that AA is a safe place — a kind of secret club for people from all walks of life who share a common...

Photo by Hamal Amank on UnsplashAs is the case with many guitarists, I have a serious GAS issue — Gear Acquisition Syndrome.This is the mistaken belief that if only I buy a certain amp, pedal or guitar — or even that $35-dollar pick — I will miraculously advance my abilities and become the player I want to be.This...