Your anxious mind prevents you from living — They say that the top three stressors in life are death, divorce, and moving. We sold our home recently and bought another house a few miles away. It took many months and endless showings before our house finally sold. Before every house showing, we gathered the pets, tidied up and…

Slowly you are kind of counted out — Père Lachaise cemetery is the largest cemetery in Paris, France. Over one million bodies are buried there, including such artistic notables as Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Olivia de Havilland, Jim Morrison, and others. It is the most visited necropolis in the world. One of the benefits of fame…

When trouble thickens around us — I don’t remember how many times he stabbed her, but it was a lot. Homicides were rare in our little mountain town, but unfortunately, even the friendliest communities are not immune to the dark side of humanity. In those days, I was a young police lieutenant looking forward to the…

When their memory feels distant, recall the lessons — Sometimes I experience echoes of my father. A gesture. A tone of voice. A stranger’s mannerisms. And he is back with me but for a brief and wondrous moment. But then the moment passes, and my father recedes. Back into that mysterious place of dreams, memories, and benevolent ghosts who…

The most discriminating, transformative of all teachers — “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, John, but we’re not going to renew your contract next year.” The words stung. What made it worse was that the words came from Roger, who was not only my boss but my friend. Roger was the Residential Life Coordinator for the…

Homage to the homes we love and leave — The house echoes now, whenever I speak or the dogs bark. Of course, there was always a bit of an echo, due to the tile floors, large windows, and open rooms. But when you box everything up and empty a house, there’s nothing left to absorb the life and sounds. …

Reflections on the terrible beauty of fatherhood — What is your proudest accomplishment? The answer hinges on where you are in life. A ten-year-old might point to her latest Lego creation, whereas a fifty-year-old could wax poetic about the lucrative company he built. Stretch a little further down one’s lifespan, and pride for material accomplishments like money and…

Is there an antidote for the weariness and repetition? — There’s an old Charlie Rose interview with the late author and political commentator William F. Buckley that is utterly honest and immensely sad. Buckley is in his later years and ailing from diabetes, hearing loss, and other medical indignities. Rose asks Buckley, “Do you wish you were twenty?” “No, absolutely…

A story about life, loss, and the art of reinvention — Jimmy slipped off his sandals to bask his feet in the morning sunlight. “Dude, check out this video on my Insta feed,” Jimmy said, holding up his phone. “It’s some dude playing ping pong with his cat.” “No offense, Jimmy, but how about we just talk,” Mark said with a…