When life builds up and you find yourself caught in an emotional loop, sometimes the best fix is a simple alignment. Here is the 9-step emotional cheat sheet my boss handed me years ago that still helps me beat burnout, anxiety, and frustration today.
Early Bird or Poky Puppy? A Missed School Bus And Being Late
I check my phone for the millionth time. I'm two hours early for my flight, but that’s nothing new. How a single missed school bus shaped a lifetime of chronic punctuality—and why I'll always be the guy waiting at the gate.
Grace Under Fire: Be Kind Anyway
I had been saving up my last two pieces of candy. I was going to enjoy them. When recess came, though, I gave one to a kid in my class. He was supposed to be my friend, and sharing seemed like the nice thing to do. Later that afternoon, I stuttered while reading aloud. I... Continue Reading →
The Quiet Power of Truth
A casual summer trip to a craft shop took an unexpected turn when a simple quote stopped me in my tracks—and delivered a timeless reminder about the enduring power of truth.
An Angel When I Needed It Most
(A version of this story appeared on The Heart of The Matter in November 2023.) The thing I noticed first was his calmness. He wasn’t like the other teachers, coaches, or family friends in my life. He had a soft voice that you sometimes had to strain to hear and he rarely seemed to yell... Continue Reading →
Real Wealth? The True Luxuries of Life
We talk a lot about billionaires and the 1%, but a memory from an old college classroom makes me wonder: Are the world's greatest luxuries already within our grasp?
How a curious little monkey changed the world
(A version of this story appeared on September 7, 2023 on The Heart of The Matter. ) When I was very young, I would crawl into my mother's lap wearing my onesie pajamas and beg for a glass of milk and for her to read to me. I had a series of favorite books, everything... Continue Reading →
Creating on the Fly
(A version of this story first appeared on April 5, 2023 on The Heart of The Matter.) I would sit at the small desk, my back hunched over the best I could manage, and I would write out a sentence or two onto the page. I would stop, look at what I had written, and... Continue Reading →
Grit, Grace, and the 250th
In the weeks leading up to America's 250th Anniversary, politicians on the right and left, glory hounds, and attention seekers have all had their say. They've bathed themselves in the U.S. flag. Heck, the big apparel companies have gotten into the game too. They've plastered the stars and stripes on everything imaginable — shirts with... Continue Reading →

You must be logged in to post a comment.