Category: reflection
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Changing my Mind
Back in September while in Chicago for Laura’s wedding, an idea began to form in my mind, an idea viewed through rose-colored glasses and lacking any concrete definition. I thought about taking a week of my Winter Break and heading up to Chicago to test it out, give it a whirl in the winter to…
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Inspiration and Choice
As far back as I can remember, stories have captivated me. I wanted – and still want – to read all of them and write many more. When the fancy strikes me, I daydream of what it might be like to make a living as a writer of some kind. Putting pen or pencil to…
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A More Reasonable Bite
This post has nothing to do with the consumption of food, contrary to what the title may have you believe. Rather, I refer to the idiom concerning biting off more than one can chew, something to which I have a predisposition. As a Learner, I frequently search out new things to consume in an effort…
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Strength Enough
When this school year began, I had clues in abundance that I likely took on too much or at least enough to force me out of my comfort zone. Add in some important family functions and I reach yet another month where I hope that I will emerge from the “desperate dog paddle” mode. For…
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It’s Time
In late November 2001, Mom, Laura, and I moved from our tiny one bathroom house on the westside of Greenville to a two-story house in Taylors. As a high school junior, I had no idea that I would live more of my life in that house than any other so far. A few Fridays ago,…
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Summer Reflection
A couple weeks ago, Mom asked me if I was ready to go back to school. I shrugged and said, “sure.” Although a few things have cropped up that have sparked some temporary insanity, I stand by that. Unlike previous summers, I approach the start of school – yesterday for teachers – knowing that not…
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Thoughts from Working the Election
Every other year, and sometimes in between, citizens all across the United States have the opportunity to participate in a uniquely democratic process that has been copied to varying degrees of success across the world. These elections – primary, runoff and general – give citizens of all shapes, sizes and colors a voice in selecting…
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Reset and Check – In
Although, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, my brain functions with the school year as my primary mental calendar, I take every opportunity to set goals which the turnover of a new calendar year also provides. At the beginning of the year, I set three main intentions: writing deeper, running deeper, and teaching deeper.…
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Technology Fast – ish
I have long since forgotten what first gave me the idea to make the beach week a tech-free week for me. I knew that I had become too dependent and frequently found myself bemoaning lost time spent on the internet or an iPad game. I figure that a black-and-white fast would be the way to…
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Stepping Away from Pragmatism
A while ago, I discussed the series of pragmatic choices that led me to where I am today. Yet, I did not define what I meant by “pragmatic.” The dictionary defines “pragmatic” as “dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.” I have used it…