Writing from the Heart with Brian
Think, Laugh, & Cry Each Day
When I get to Heaven, everyone else will be asking about the secrets of the cosmos—I’ll be in line asking why wasps exist, where lost laundry goes, and for the ultimate divine ruling on Five Guys versus In-N-Out. Priorities, people.
Watching my father turn rough wood into detailed sculptures with a pocketknife taught me the art of patience. I never mastered his sharp tools, but I found my own chisel in the pen—carving out words to find my voice and build my world.
A brief warning from a state park attendant kicked off a flood of creative inspiration. From jellyfish apocalypses to mob bosses in flip-flops, here is what happens when your mind wanders on dry land.
We talk in clichés. We love phrases that once were striking, but over time have lost their impact and power. Their overuse has caused the words to lose meaning for the listener. It's like a piece of bubble gum that's full of sugary flavor when you first start chewing it, but over time becomes bland... Continue Reading →
A simple request from my wife to borrow a flannel shirt sent me down a hallway of memory. Flannel was my father's uniform through every high and low of his life. Looking at his old shirt hanging in my closet reminds me that people are complicated, messy, and full of grace if we choose to see it.
When I worked as a newspaper reporter, we used to keep a running list of 'rackets' that bugged us. I left the newsroom, but I'm still keeping score. From the guilt-trip of an iPad tip screen to the power of AI, here are the everyday institutions that drive me up a wall.
I wasn't looking for hope, but I found it. I was thinking a couple weekends ago about a new adventure that I've found myself on. I was thinking about both rapid and calm waters. Of course, I was in my own head analyzing every action and inaction a million times over. An AI image of... Continue Reading →
(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 →
A childhood memory of seeing Star Wars in 1977 serves as a reminder of what the movie theater experience used to be—and why great storytelling will always beat empty Hollywood explosions.
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
You must be logged in to post a comment.