What is Love? Baby Don't Hurt Me…

How often do we hear something like: “I will never love again…” Or “Love is a scam.” Even, “I have walls up to keep myself safe from love.” We treat the most cherished and powerful emotional feelings like it’s a plague. But… Love is not something to be afraid of. It is something we should emb...

#philosophy#love#relationships

Home for the Holidays

“My obnoxious uncle is coming for Christmas Supper…” “I can’t believe they would even bother inviting Stephen — he’s an atheist. He will only have complaints and bicker about the church service.” “Apparently my niece is bringing her … ahem … girlfriend for our holiday gathering.” How readil...

#philosophy#love

"Merry Christmas!"

Humans are a complex collection of individuals with different beliefs and ideologies. We all believe different things. At 5, some of us may believe in Santa Clause. Others, maybe it’s baby Ježíšek. Some of us believe in Allah. In the past, others had Artemis and Ukko and Odin. Some celebrat...

#philosophy#religion

"Hello, Darkness, My Old Friend…"

Firstly — you now have that excellent song in your head. Congratulations. But, more important… When was the last time you just enjoyed silence? Literally pause here. Think: When did you actually just drive your car in total peace? Lay in bed in the jet ink of night, no fan, no wind, no TV (or ...

#philosophy

Answer Out Loud: Are You Happy?

Are you happy? When you wake up, are you eager for the day? Or, instead, are you filled with thoughts like: “I can’t wait for that vacation in the Bahamas this December.” “Man, going to see my favorite band next month is gonna be the best. The sooner the better.” “I think I need a pizza, toni...

#philosophy#motivation

Good Thing You're Absolutely Perfect!

“Ugh, look at this complete…” finish the sentence with your choice 4-letter name. You’re driving in a parking lot, looking for a spot.  There’s a nice gap a few spots ahead… …but when you arrive, the car is parked 50/50 across the line into the spot facing it. You keep mumbling under your breat...

#philosophy#kindness

Gratitude Meditation XI

100,000+. That’s approximately how many words in these daily meditations I’ve written over our last 300 days together. Back in 2012 I wrote a full fantasy novel of around 100,000. It was fun, but by the end it did begin to feel like work in many ways. But not this. This has been a joyous affai...

#philosophy#motivation

Your "Acceptable" is Unacceptable

This goes for all of us — myself included. We tell ourselves every day we are Beautiful the way we are. Smart enough. Hardworking. Attractive enough. Fit enough. Financially sound enough… And so on. But, are you? Are you really? So, if your weight is acceptable to you, but someone gave you...

#philosophy#motivation#fitness#finance

I Will Not Encourage You

My only job in relating to others is to love them . How simple is that? I may complain here or there about some of you some of the time, but… Know I love you all. Obese. Lazy. Ignorant. Or addicted. It doesn’t matter. However. I will not encourage behaviors any of us (myself included) pa...

#philosophy#motivation

You're Strong(…er than you think)

“What a long ass day,” you grumble as you get home from work.  You had to wake up early to snowblow out your garage. The snowblower didn’t want to start right away. Your supervisor was absent so your grandboss had to give your monthly performance — and butchered you. And now you almost didn’...

#philosophy#motivation#discipline