Hopeful in spite of the facts
I am not a vain man, at least when it comes to clothes. I wear a uniform of sorts most days it s jean-cut chino pants and a t-shirt in the summer, and a sweat shirt or hoodie in the winter. There is a dress version of the uniform, where I wear the same pants Continue reading "The search for the perfect pair of pants."
In August of 2010, I spent a week at a silent retreat at Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist Monastery in South Carolina. I was in the midst of a time of discernment. I was so broke and scared and newly married. I would pray with the monks 7 times a day and eat with them in Continue reading "Mepkin Abbey"
As many of you know, I have written a weekly newsletter since the spring of 2015. It s a small act of love, an act of care, I put out into the world. The premise is simple: The world is filled with both ugliness and goodness, but ugliness knocks on your door, while goodness often requires Continue reading "Newsletter news"
There are people out there who like my writing. Who love it, actually. I have more than 200 folks who actually send me money every month just so I have time to write more. My open rates for my emails hover around 60%. I ve sold dozens of 5 packs of my book to folks who Continue reading "What I don t know how to do."
As a self-employed solo operator, one of the best things I do is keep a daily log. It began so I would remember when I did what, or what I committed to, but I quickly learned a side benefit was that as a solo operator, it is easy to have worked all damn day and Continue reading "The Daily Log"
This whole essay is beautiful, but I love the concept of borrowing free energy. I am a big believer in using free energy whether it’s the energy generated round religious holidays, like Christmas time, or the energy we can feel from the changing of the seasons. Every day is not the same. Our personal Continue reading "Spring Equinox Jeanette Winterson: Mind Over Matter"
We can’t take care of the planet in the long term unless we take care of each other now. And we can’t take care of each other in the long term unless we take care of the planet now. I believe in human rights, and I welcome the other citizens of this earth with open Continue reading "Native Plants and Depoliticizing the Wildlife Garden Humane Gardener"
When I was a little boy, both of my parents worked a lot, and I spent a lot of time at my neighbor’s house. They were retired farmers, and as my surviving grandfather lived far away, they filled that role in my life. They were very much a product of their time. They didn’t follow Continue reading "Watching the clouds"
Today is Mike s birthday. Facebook reminded me this morning, which felt like a punch in the gut. So, I thought it was fitting to tell you about Mike s Bible. The Bible itself is nothing to look at. If you were looking for a generic idea of what a Bible should look like, it would look Continue reading "Mike s Bible"
It was pouring rain outside, but inside the bar, it was warm and dry. It was also dark, and the task lighting here and there behind the bar made pools that illuminated the area around them. The murmur of conversation played off the piped-in piano jazz, and the overall effect was that you were lucky Continue reading "The Bar"