

The Ruins of All We Avoid
What happens when the stories we tell ourselves fall apart? There are moments in life that force us to look at ourselves more deeply than we were ever prepared to. This year my divorce will be finalized. An eighteen-year relationship is reaching a new milestone. When a marriage ends, it's not only the relationship that changes. Sometimes the stories we've been telling ourselves for decades fall apart. Over the last few years I've been questioning a lot of assumptions about my
23 hours ago3 min read


Memento Mori: The Music Survived
I was taught a month ago To bide my time and take it slow But then I learned just yesterday To rush and never waste the day. — "Character Zero" Tom Marshall & Trey Anastasio (Phish) Human nature and mortality have a complicated relationship. Death is always there, waiting in the background. And it's not always clear what direction it will take us. Sometimes the awareness of mortality inspires me to create from a deep place inside myself. Recently, I ventured out to an abandon
May 303 min read


The Beginner's Resolve
Sometimes we get tested, and it's more than we can bear. Our head gets heavy as expectations and responsibilities grow. We become stretched in ways where the answers aren't clear. Maybe it's a life event, a chaotic transition, or just a tipping point of stress that hurls us into unfamiliar territory. As guys, it can be uncomfortable to face that we do not have an answer, or admit we need help. We are supposed to know what to do. Maybe we even pretend — both to ourselves and o
Apr 33 min read


The Moments That Shape Us
Every once in a while we have a moment. Sometimes it’s dramatic and loud, hitting us like a ton of bricks. Other times it’s subtle and quiet, and its impact seeps into our lives over the days, months, and years that follow. But something changes in us. Recently one morning I was playing guitar. I was deep into an idea, working through different parts of an arrangement, completely absorbed in the process. Time was an afterthought. It was just me and the notes, the sounds, the
Mar 163 min read


