Back in 2006 I was teaching English at David Lipscomb High School, and my juniors were spending time in a special circle of purgatory known as “Research.†At eight to ten pages, these papers were the longest that most of them had ever attempted. The smaller assignments and grades leading up to the paper and […]
The English program at David Lipscomb High School was rigorous, to say the least. Miss Smith and Miss Tracey, my favorite and most demanding English teachers, were legends. Miss Tracey also taught Latin, and when it came time to conjugate a verb, she always chose “neco,†which means “to kill.†This was exactly what a […]
Three Saturdays ago, Megan was on her way out of the house to do hair at a wedding. In the bottom left-hand corner of our front yard a patch of flowers had come into full bloom. One tall, canary yellow iris caught Megan’s attention. “Baby, come look at this flower!†It came up to my […]
Nate Creekmore is a gu.eber. One of my favorite memories from the year that we lived together at Royal Arms Apartments in Nashville happened while we were at Wild Oats buying some groceries. A soccer mom beamed up at Nate, who is 6’6†tall, and asked, “Do you play basketball?†Nate played in high school, […]
This is a long post—one of my longest ever. I’m warning you up front because I want you to commit to reading the whole thing. Why? Because I share two of the most important lessons that I have ever learned, not just about taking initiative but about leading a deeply meaningful life. I thought about […]
I’ve been reading Seth Godin’s book on taking initiative called Poke the Box. Godin’s thesis is straightforward: Depending on our stage of life, most of us learn to do just enough to avoid punishment, make the grade, or keep the job. We play by the rules. We wait in line. We respect authority. As long […]
I took a break from my most recent Worst Product Ever rant to write something more encouraging about moments of complete contentment. But now we’re back to jewelry made from the ashes of your beloved Shih Tzu, Buttons. If you drop the “zu,†then you know what’s really hanging around the necks of this woman’s […]
This morning, I read a blog post by Chris Guillebeau about moments while traveling when he felt perfectly content. I know what he means, and you probably do too. Traveling gives me that feeling of being suspended within myself and yet also being very much in the moment. I finally breach that territory on the […]
Comfort is a “spare tire.†That’s what my dad calls the cushion of fat that some middle-aged men carry around their middles. Most people tend to associate comfort with security. A comfortable job is one that provides enough income to pay the mortgage, life insurance, and other bills. A comfortable relationship is one that gives […]
I have a business doing what I love, and I hope to never work a day in my life. I know my true gift. I am in the light business. This insight has made all the difference. I’m living for a living.
