“I wonder sometimes if seeing behind the curtain makes you respect me or my writing less,” I say to a friend. “You get to see what it actually looks like in practice. You get to see how I apply — or don’t — what I put out there into the wider world. How it sometimes matches exactly and other times might have to look a little different. » Read more
When They Tell You to Be the Change You Want to See, They Leave Out All the Awkward Parts
“Be the change you want to see in the world,” they tell you — and attribute the quote to Gandhi. Did Gandhi actually say that? The quick answer is no, other people did later, but he said some similar things. (Incidentally, Quote Investigator is such a great resource for researching those inspirational meme quote attributions. » Read more
I Miss Good Sportsmanship & I Miss Thinking Adults Were Mature
“Good game,” we’d all say as we slapped hands together. Every little league game. Every soccer match. Usually not after an impromptu scrimmage in gym class. But basically, every time we played a formal match — one in which we all had uniforms with the team name emblazoned on them — we’d line up afterward, » Read more
You Can’t Force People to Be Happy for You By Being Happy for Them
I had a friend once upon a time. When I met her, she had a couple of strong business endeavors going on. I looked up to her. In my mind, she was a force. And I supported her businesses. Whenever I could, I bought items from her. I recommended her work to other people. I commissioned gifts from her for people in my life — » Read more
What Happened When My Phone Unplugged Me
The battery on my phone stopped working a while back. The first troubling sign came the day we drove up to the Red River — to get out of the house. The crossing was eerily beautiful — like something from an alien planet. Naturally, I tried to use my phone to snap a picture. And even though I had greater than 80% battery life, » Read more
“This Is Your Final Notice,” My Body Said.
I thought I was doing fine. I really did.
Okay, yes, everything’s gone to hell. A lot of things are not okay right now in the world. Especially where I live — in the United States.
But I’d been doing a good job keeping my thoughts centered. There’s a lot to worry about, » Read more
This Is a Long Time for Something Temporary
I was thrilled when I heard that vaccines were on the way. Yes, it’s going to be several months before it’s my turn (I’m non-essential). And yes, the two-shot series requires some time in between and some time after before you get the effects.
And yes, greater than 90% protection isn’t the same thing as 100%. » Read more
I Took So Much for Granted Before the Pandemic. I Won’t Again.
“You have a lot of time to think when you can’t go anywhere,” she says.
“I know what you mean,” I tell her. “There are always things you have to do. Work and chores. Responsibilities. That sort of thing. They don’t go away just because there’s a pandemic raging. But the distractions… well, » Read more
We All Have Different Ways of Surviving the Nightmares the Pandemic Brings
We’ve both been having weird dreams while staying at home, riding out the pandemic.
In yours, you’re usually somewhere, and no one is wearing masks. Everyone’s packed in. You’re so frustrated with them and worried.
Sometimes your dreams get a little more metaphorical but no less stressful. I think you said something about one with a vampire gangster syndicate. » Read more
I’m Glad I Didn’t Know This Pain Was Coming
You know, I never would have asked for you to hurt me this way. And if I’d had any choice in the matter, it would have been no choice at all.
If I knew how much you were going to hurt me one day, I would have spent more time creating distance between us. » Read more