One of my favorite books on writing is Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. This was one of the first books about writing that I ever read, probably in my early teens, and it was only when I re-read it in the last year or so that I realized how much the advice in this book has shaped not only my writing but also how I approach life. Lamott is not just a writer but also teaches writing professionally, and much…
Please note: I have intentionally decided not to include Amazon links (unless something is available exclusively on Amazon). Instead, if you are interested in reading any of the books I mention, I encourage you to check out your local library or independent bookstore. These places (and the communities around them) need your support, and they are generally quite willing to order any book if they don’t currently have it in stock. However, if Amazon is still the more practical choice…
Please note: I have intentionally decided not to include Amazon links (unless something is available exclusively on Amazon). Instead, if you are interested in reading any of the books I mention, I encourage you to check out your local library or independent bookstore. These places (and the communities around them) need your support, and they are generally quite willing to order any book if they don’t currently have it in stock. However, if Amazon is still the more practical choice…
It’s been about two and a half months since I deleted my Instagram and Snapchat accounts, and I’m coming up on a year since I permanently deleted Facebook. For those who are curious, here are some of my observations from the post-social media world. First, I will admit that it was very hard to let go. I still miss being able to share pictures easily with all of my friends, and I miss seeing the pictures that others share (especially…
Please note: I have intentionally decided not to include Amazon links (unless something is available exclusively on Amazon). Instead, if you are interested in reading any of the books I mention, I encourage you to check out your local library or independent bookstore. These places (and the communities around them) need your support, and they are generally quite willing to order any book if they don’t currently have it in stock. However, if Amazon is still the more practical choice…
it’s been just over a month since my trip to Europe, and already it feels not quite real. I feel like I have already lost so many of the emotions and experiences that were so vibrant and potent in the moment; all those lingering memories getting swallowed up as the return to routine life continues to plod forever forward, moving further and further away from what (at the time) seemed like it would never end. The problem after any big,…
I recently attended my very first Chesterton Conference, an event which is put on every year by the American Chesterton Society. If you have never heard of the writer G.K. Chesterton, it might strike you as odd that there could be an entire conference dedicated to his work, never mind an entire national organization. (Chesterton is actually celebrated world-wide, as there is also an Australian Chesterton Society, as well) Well, let me tell you, Chesterton is probably the greatest writer…
Please note: I have intentionally decided not to include Amazon links (unless something is available exclusively on Amazon). Instead, if you are interested in reading any of the books I mention, I encourage you to check out your local library or independent bookstore. These places (and the communities around them) need your support, and they are generally quite willing to order any book if they don’t currently have it in stock. However, if Amazon is still the more practical choice…
We have entered into graduation season, and many of us (if not graduating ourselves) will be attending the graduation ceremonies of others. Just as the Royal Wedding this past weekend prompted many to reflect on and share memories of their own weddings, I suppose it is natural that this season of academic achievement would also prompt moments of nostalgia and remembrance of wisdom shared in the past. Thanks to technology, you can watch on YouTube various commencement speeches by various celebrities,…
One of the things that I love about the MCU movies is that one could take the entire series and use it as a course in storytelling. Even though the basis of all the movies is superheroes, there are still multiple other sub-genres represented: war movies, spies and espionage, fantasy and mythology, heists, and, I would argue, the Iron Man movies are your basic modern action movies with some interesting character development thrown in. There are also quite a wide…