Writing from the Heart with Brian
Think, Laugh, & Cry Each Day
One Christmas many years ago, my wife and I struggled on what to get her parents. We wanted to give them something that showed our appreciation for being so kind to us throughout a busy year. We were starting to run out of time. I would ask my wife if she thought of something, she... Continue Reading →
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Peace be with you.
(I first ran a version of this piece on Dec. 25, 2015) The song “Mary, Did You Know” ranks as one of my favorite songs of the season. When I heard the song years ago, it inspired me to imagine in my own words what it must have been like to walk in her shoes.... Continue Reading →
My mom never had the chance to go to college. She never took a Psychology class and she never had a chance to sit in on a seminar on “how to win friends and influence others.” She grew up on an Amish farm and was forced to quit school after the eighth grade. Despite her... Continue Reading →
(A version of this story ran in December 2023) My wife asked me to go with her to a craft store to look at some Christmas decorations. For a lot of guys, this could've been torture. I try to take a longer view. My wife gets to shop and get decorating ideas, while I get... Continue Reading →
After a long day of work, my dad would set his wallet on our kitchen table. I was amazed by both what was in it and how thick it was. The wallet was worn and sweat stained and looked the size of a small brick. He wasn't the only one. My baseball coach would come... Continue Reading →
Today is Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season in the U.S. and beyond. Management Consulting Firm Bain & Company estimates that retail sales in the U.S. from Black Friday to Cyber Monday could increase by 5%, reaching a record-breaking $75 billion It's natural to think about gift-giving this time of the... Continue Reading →
I clicked off the conference call and got up from the desk. I was beat. It was one of those days when it was one meeting after another. I opened the office door and was surprised to see my newfound friend waiting for me in the hall. My daughter's cat greeted me with a meow... Continue Reading →
In 1991, Gatorade ran an ad featuring Michael Jordan that showed game film of him in midair moving the basketball from his right hand to left to score a difficult layup. The commercial shows him dunking and being, well, classic MJ and then cuts to young men and kids playing on a playground court. They... Continue Reading →
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
You must be logged in to post a comment.