Several years ago, my wife and I sold the farm where we raised fruit, vegetables, chickens, pets, our two sons, and more than a few eyebrows. Our boys, now grown and gone, we moved to town.
Days later, I came within a few inches of being hit by a car on my daily run.
Humans are complicated. Can we agree on that? What other creature is capable of holding two diametrically opposed ideas in their head at the same time and simultaneously hold each to be true and still function?
Some people believe the earth is actually flat and still go onround the  world cruises. ...
Gratitude is baked into many of the reflections Marcus Aurelius wrote in his journal. What I love about this quote, is that it reminds me that art is any work that matters. Acts done with intention and done to enhance the lives of others. Art is music, painting, and fiction for sure. But art is al...
Of all the lessons I’ve learned (and continue to learn), the biggest have intersected with my struggle with understanding and employing empathy. A struggle I only began coming to terms with when I added a chapter on it to The Stoic Creative Handbook.
The punchline, or rather the truth as I see it, ...
Marianne Williamson's quote is a compelling call for us to tap into our curiosity and courage and live bigger and in service to others. It lets us know that we are enough as we are while reminding us that we have unfulfilled promise to develop and deliver.
I earned a living playing music on stages large and small for 30 years. Sometimes for festival audiences of thousands, sometimes to the sound of one fan clapping in a small club. Along the way, I learned a few lessons that inspire and inform other life endeavors. Here are my top 10 lessons learned f...
Marcus Aurelius was the last of the “good emperors” of the Roman Empire. A man who stood above questioning who questioned himself daily. Marcus’ reminders to himself about the importance of virtue and justice inspire me and many others to this day.
“To live the good life. We have the potential fo...
The world is full of mystery and wonder, and I am surrounded by people dedicated to developing themselves and doing good in the world. It’s all so fascinating and inspiring.
And of course, there’s plenty of suffering and cause for concern out there too. It can be quite ...
I ask this question often since the arrival of spring. It's really powerful for "pruning" unnecessary clutter from my life and helping me be more "present" for the work and people in my life that matter.
"We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act, b...
Although the words emotions and feelings are often used interchangeably, they are very different beasts. Feelings and emotions should not be confused. Emotions precede feelings, both in evolutionary development and in your daily life. However, while emotional responses are instinctual, normal, and h...
“Let’s start with a quick poll. Raise your hand if you’re a Creative. Great! If your hand is raised, put it back down. Now, raise your hand if you’re not a Creative. That's interesting. Keep your hand raised. Alright, if your hand is raised, keep it raised if you know y...
I had the great privilege of speaking with Seth Godin for a second time on the Creative On Purpose Broadcast recently. He packed our short time together with a ton of knowledge and insight. But one of the most profound moments was what Seth said about the perils of attachment for creatives (people l...
