Antifragile
Antifragile is a term coined by Nicholas Taleb, a mathematical statistician whose work centers on problems of randomness, probability, complexity, and uncertainty (which sounds a lot like the circumstances of our lives). His book, Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder, is a little dry, so I’ll save you the trouble of reading it by summarizing…
How Should We Live This Life?
Is it just me, or does the year 2000 not seem that long ago to you, too? I’m not into the “New Year, New Me” gig; mostly, for practical reasons. I used to make New Year’s resolutions, but there are only so many times one can resolve to lose 30 pounds before just saying, “screw…
A Special Holiday Message: A Pull To Union
I feel that the fundamental force in the universe is a Pull To Union. In the physical world, energy is pulled together to form atoms, which assemble into molecules, which combine into everything we can see, taste, touch, or smell. On a larger scale, stars pull in planets, and galaxies pull in stars. Where does…
What Is God?
As the year winds down, I like to post subjects that are more thought-provoking and perhaps a bit more edgy. I begin this week with a rumination on a question my Granddaughter asked recently. Next week, I’ll tackle what I believe is the fundamental force of the Universe and how it impacts our lives. Finally,…
Treasure Chest 2025
Words make a difference. They influence our thoughts, which in turn become our actions. I’ve collected quotes for many years. It’s interesting to look back over those years and re-read quotes that were meaningful to me. Sometimes, I wince; other times, I asterisk them. I decided to extend that tradition to this blog. Each December,…
Once In a Lifetime
Coming up with topics for weekly posts can be challenging. (This is number 261) I try to stay a few weeks ahead to allow ideas to ripen. Nevertheless, every once in a while, I find myself behind the eight ball. Like now. So, rather than serving up green bananas, I’ll offer a poem. Next week,…
Special Thanksgiving Edition
I am moving this week’s post up a few days to commemorate a family tradition. I will return to my regular Sunday schedule on November 30. Happy Thanksgiving! ———————————————————— Grandma’s Yeast Rolls Do you have a Thanksgiving family tradition? I hope so, because that’s what makes the Holiday special. Once again, this year, my sister…
The Hubris of Modern Times
Evolution is a journey. We are the tip of the spear. Greater knowledge and intelligence have never existed! History, however, suggests our superiority will be short-lived. Taken-for-granted elements of modern life will be proven primitive and misinformed a century from now. How can I say that? Well, because it’s always been true. Ian Mortimer’s book,…
Going Through the Motions
What percent of your day is spent going through the motions? In my late teens, twenties, and thirties, it was almost none; everything was new. Each semester brought a new set of classes. After graduation, I changed jobs every three years. It seemed like just about the time that routine set in, a major change…
My Condolences
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Really? We mean well, but those words resonate with the timbre of wet dough dropped onto a countertop. Seriously, is there a more banal cliché? But what’s the alternative— buying an equally clichéd Hallmark card to affix our name to? I’ve always found condolences awkward. I mean, what…
The Gift of Sadness
Sadness walks hand in hand with loss, springing from something we’ve had, but no longer have, including our dreams. We don’t ever get over irreparable loss; instead, it becomes part of who we are. Have you ever tried to scrape peanut butter off a slice of bread? Letting go of sadness is similar. Everyone experiences…
The Whole of It
My mother used to watch a soap opera titled Days of Our Lives. A narrator introduced each episode with the line: “Like sands through an hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” I can still hear the theme song playing in my ear. That was nearly sixty years ago. Lately, I’ve been thinking about…
On Turning Five
Our eldest Granddaughter recently turned five. I only mention that because I vividly remember turning five, but not much before then. On my fifth birthday, my parents gave me a record player. It was robin’s egg blue, with a white hinged top closed with latches. The record player featured four playing speeds: 16, 33, 45,…
Integrity
Integrity was drilled into me as a child. My father was a serious man; universally respected, but not exactly the kind of guy you would throw back a few beers with. There was a distinct separation between parents and buddies in those days. Parents were respected, and perhaps even feared, in a healthy way. When…
Quality of Life
The quality of our awareness determines the quality of our lives. That may sound like a strange claim; after all, isn’t awareness innate? The trick (or practice) is to take our lives off autopilot. In other words, to tease apart the process of being aware from the result of that awareness. I like to think…
Seeking Balance In An Angry World
I tend to wake up early, like 4:30 AM. When this happens, I usually spend an hour catching up on the news. I’m beginning to rethink this habit. We’ve become polarized, angry, and dissatisfied. Something is making us sick. Maybe it’s media eco-sysystems that feed extremism, or perhaps economic frustrations. No doubt, the decay of…
We R 1
We R 1, whether we embrace it or not. We’re sequestered on a blue marble catapulting through space. No doubt there’s other intelligent life in the universe, but even if the closest star had an Earth-like planet, a round-trip visit would take eight and a half years, traveling at the speed of light. To put…
Be Here Now!
Sometimes, the simplest things in life are the hardest. Here’s an example: Be here now! If you are stressed, anxious, or emotionally triggered, it’s usually because of something you are thinking about. When we take a vacation from thought, we find ourselves at peace. Try it, right now! Set your phone or tablet down,…
The Power of Purpose
I’m back! Summer sabbatical 2025 was great. We enjoyed lots of cabin time with family guests, including our son, Bryan, along with his dogs, Rocky and Annabelle. Our son Daniel, who’s had a rough year, with four hospitalizations. Our daughter, Julia; son-in-law, Ryan; and granddaughters, Adalyn and Arlo, from Portland, Oregon. My sister, Janet, and…
Casting Stones
The first thing I do when I get to the cabin in the summer is cut the grass. In the early days, this took about two and a half hours, but a zero-turn riding mower cut that time in half. Our cabin is located in Sawyer County, WI, on a Canadian Shield lake. The 132…
Legacy
What is your legacy? Have you ever thought about it? We often refer to people by their titles, status, or wealth, as in “she’s a doctor” or “he’s a billionaire.” It works the other way, too: “he’s homeless” or “she’s a drug addict.” As we reach middle age, legacy begins to bear down on us,…
Lesson From Infinity, Part 2
In a recent post, “Lesson From Infinity,” I pondered the extent of our knowledge and tightly held certainties juxtaposed against the immensity of the universe. Stars outnumber the grains of sand on all the world’s beaches. What can we truly know about reality and the meaning of life from the vantage point of a…
Maybe So, Maybe Not
“I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round I really love to watch them roll No longer riding on the merry-go-round I just had to let it go” -John Lennon When I managed the Purchasing function for a large food company, a market adage we often quoted was, “The best cure for…
The Power of Praise
Praise is like rocket fuel! Not just any old praise, but sincere praise from someone we admire. Getting Personal I asked Claude about the best kinds of praise, and the answer rang true: -Specific and detailed -Authentic and sincere -Earned and deserved -Unexpected and unsolicited -From respected sources. Not a bad list, but it misses…
The Barricades of Heaven
Better bring your own redemptionWhen you come,To the barricades of heavenWhere I’m From. -Jackson Browne Song lyrics stick with me; sometimes providing inspiration, and other times, understanding. When I first heard the Jackson Browne lyric, it sounded blasphemous. Over the years, my thoughts changed. The song’s title provides a hint: The Barricades of Heaven. The…
Lesson From Infinity
In my elder years, I’ve developed the regrettable habit of waking up at 3:30 AM, not refreshed, but too awake to go back to sleep. Rather than doomscrolling, I lie in bed and think. On a recent morning, my thoughts returned to a solitary beach stroll. The location was Neskowin, OR, where we rented a…
Escape
Who doesn’t like to escape? During Spring break, traffic is noticeably lighter in Minneapolis as residents vacate the northland for a brief respite in warmer destinations. Escape takes many forms. I enjoy sitting down with a cocktail at the end of the day. It’s not the healthiest thing I could do, but it’s a nice…
Closer To Fine
A person I’ve known a long time asked me a serious question: “Joy seems to have gone missing from my life. I don’t fit in. How does one find joy, meaning, and belonging?” I told her she should follow my blog. “Yeah, right,” she said. “But I’m not looking for a 7-habits recipe, I’m looking…
Moments of Being*
I’m amazed whenever I look in the mirror and am confronted by an old man. What makes the child we were, and the person we are, feel the same inside? What creates the apparent solidity of our inner self? Some claim we are our own architects. That’s true, to an extent, but our identity has…
Future-Proof Investing
I don’t often write about economic matters because most people find them boring, at least until they don’t. This is probably one of those times. I’m fascinated by markets. In the short run, they are driven as much by psychology as economic fundamentals. When the stock market is making new highs, people rush in, fearful…
A House Built On Rock
When I was young, my father told me the parable of the house built on rock. The parable is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It draws upon the analogy of two builders: one builds his house on solid rock, while the other builds his house on sand. The house built on rock stands firm…
Act Your Age!
Among my fond childhood memories are successful attempts at making my siblings laugh at inappropriate moments. Church services provided a perfect opportunity. We never missed church on Sunday, and when the minister began his sermon, a hush fell over the congregation. If I could make a funny face and catch my brother’s eye at the…
Your Last CD
“Without knowing it, one day you burned your last CD.” -Internet Meme It’s true! I don’t remember the last one. Come to think of it, I have other examples like this: like dialing my last number on a rotary phone or opening that last car door with a key. It’s strange how commonplace features of…
Bad Influences
MJ and I have been married for nearly fifty years and until recently, never voted for the same candidate in National Elections. I bring this up because rising numbers of young people are reportedly divorcing due to political differences. Political ideology wasn’t a deal breaker when I was young. I don’t remember ever discussing politics…
A World of Possibilities
No one likes being vulnerable. I love music but feel anxious when the DJ starts at a wedding celebration. My wife, MJ, enjoys dancing, but I feel like a fool on the dance floor. I know that no one expects an old white guy to bust a move, but that doesn’t help. The fear of…
Values, Beliefs, and Listening To Grandma
For the past 5 months, I’ve posted draft chapters of my forthcoming book, The Secret Within. I’m probably about half-finished, which is a good time to pause and review. While doing that, weekly posts will cover some broader topics. ———————————————————— Values, Beliefs and Listening To Grandma This week, I’m thinking about my Grandmother, whom I…
Chapter 20: The Importance of Questions
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the 20th installment. Previous installments can be found here. ——————————————————— Chapter 20: The Importance of Questions What if the quality of your life depended not on the answers you find but on the questions…
The Secret Within: Chapter 19, Practicing Joy In Difficult Times
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the nineteenth installment. Previous installments can be found here. ———————————————————— Joy can vanish under the weight of life, like a friend you never see anymore. Finding joy amidst personal struggles seems futile. Perhaps…
The Secret Within: Chapter 18, Balancing Personal Energy
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the Eighteenth installment. Previous installments can be found here. ————————————————————— 18. Balancing Personal Energy I’ve always been fascinated by the inner life. Even as a small child, I was awestruck by the mysterious realization…
The Secret Within: Chapter 17, Grand Ecology
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the 17th installment. Previous installments can be found here. ————————————————————— 17: Grand Ecology My artist brother is always looking for new subjects. Recently, a friend’s ’56 Chevy caught his attention. It’s a magnificent car,…
The Secret Within: Chapter 16, Perspective
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the sixteenth installment. Previous installments can be found here. ————————————————————— 16. Perspective After buckling the seat belt, I slowly backed the car out of the driveway and waved goodbye to Mom. She looked worried. …
The Secret Within: Chapter 15, Silent Fitness: A Personal Perspective
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the 15th installment. Previous installments can be found here. ——————————————————— Chapter 15, Silent Fitness: A Personal Perspective I have always been wary of standing against the current of a river. One never knows what…
The Secret Within: Chapter 14, Practicing Silent Fitness
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the 14th installment. Previous installments can be found here. ——————————————————— 14. Practicing Silent Fitness In an axiom of Western philosophy, Descartes famously wrote, “I think, therefore I am.” Our true essence, however, runs deeper…
The Secret Within: Chapter 13, Silent Fitness
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the 13th installment. Previous installments can be found here. ——————————————————— 13. Silent Fitness Regardless of circumstances, we are blessed to have this moment. That’s easy to forget when ruminating about something we’ve done or…
Talkin’ About A Revolution
Sometimes, we fail to notice changes under our noses, like when we burned our last CD. This is not one of those times. The year ahead is going to bring epochal change. We live in two Americas. Borrowing terms from Chris Arnade’s Dignity: Seeking Respect In Back Row America, there is front-row America consisting of…
Holiday Reflections
I love the holiday season. Sure, it has its craziness—putting up decorations, buying gifts, arranging holiday meals—you know the drill. Yet, having been raised in a Christian family, the traditions of Christmas are deeply rooted in my soul. My elder years invite reflection at Christmas time—another year is coming to a close, and a new…
The Secret Within: Chapter 12, Nourishing the Soul
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the 12th installment. Previous installments can be found here. ———————————————————— 12. Nourishing the Soul Our lives are made of matter and meaning. Modern life emphasizes matter, which is objective, independent, and impersonal. Matter is…
Mental Treasure Chest 2024
Words make a difference. They influence our thoughts, which in turn become our actions. I’ve saved meaningful quotes as a personal practice for many years. It’s interesting to look back over those years and re-read quotes that were meaningful to me at the time. Sometimes, I wince; other times, I asterisk them. I decided to…
The Secret Within: Chapter 11, The Tree That Lives Forever
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the eleventh installment. Previous installments can be found here. ————————————————————— 11. The Tree That Lives Forever I used to date a girl in high school who believed trees lived forever. This drove me crazy.…
The Secret Within: Chapter 10, Seeking Union
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the 10th installment. Previous installments can be found here. ————————————————————— 10: Seeking Union Nothing in the universe exists in isolation. Every element in nature is intricately woven into a larger whole, a framework, an…
The Secret Within: Chapter 9, The Walk of Life
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the 9th installment. Previous installments can be found here. Holiday Note: Are you looking for gift ideas for a special friend or family member? Why not get them a copy of my first book?…
The Secret Within: Chapter 8, A Recipe For A Happy Life
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the eighth installment. Previous installments can be found here. ———————————————————— 8: A Recipe For a Happy Life. I hate following recipes. Following recipes requires discipline, which takes the joy out of cooking. The best…
Intermission
This week, I’m pausing the presentation of installments of my new book to comment on leadership and the U.S. Presidential Election. ————————————————————— Leadership and the U.S. Presidential Election America has lost grasp of the meaning of leadership. This concerns me more than the ideologies of the right or left. What does political leadership look like?…
The Secret Within: Chapter 7, Here and Now
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the Seventh installment. Previous installments can be found here. ————————————————————— 7. Here and Now The 13th-century Dominican theologian and mystic Meister Eckhart wrote: ‘Time is what keeps the light from reaching us.” What did…
The Secret Within: Chapter 6, Being Curious
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the Sixth installment. Previous installments can be found here. ————————————————————— 6. Being Curious A persistent theme in this book is Self-transcendence. We become who we think we are. We like to follow a…
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Towards A Life Well-Lived 