Archive for January 2024

I was recently listening to The Rewatchables, a podcast about films people love to watch again and again. They were discussing “When Harry Met Sally” and debating how realistic it would be for Harry and Sally to end up together after the film. Both women on the podcast argued that although it’s the happier, more…

One of my clients commented on my use of the word “Warmly” at the close of my letters and emails. A valediction, if you didn’t know. My client liked the use of the word but commented on how he had never seen it used before to close a letter. I explained that “Warmly” was the…

Author Patricia Highsmith, in her journal on December 31, 1947 2:30 A.M. My New Year’s Toast: To all the devils, lusts, passions, greeds, envies, loves, hates, strange desires, enemies ghostly and real, the army of memories, with which I do battle—may they never give me peace. I love this so much. Highsmith wasn’t exactly a…

Happy birthday to my beautiful wife, Elysha. It wasn’t exactly a spectacular birthday. I spent about eight hours in an Elk’s Lodge watching Charlie compete in his very first speed-cubing competition. Then, our dinner plans with friends were canceled because of the snow, leaving us home with the kids, eating take-out, and watching a movie.…

There’s been a lot of talk around Hollywood about nepo babies. Nepo baby, short for nepotism baby, are the children of celebrities who have succeeded in careers similar to those of their parents. The implication is that because their parents already had connections to an industry, the child could use those connections to build a…

A good rule of thumb: Whenever something is taken away from students – field trips, clubs, learning opportunities, athletic events, assemblies, technology, traditions, supplies, time for play, or anything else – it’s almost always because removing that thing made adults’ lives easier. Don’t allow anyone to tell you money became an issue. Don’t let anyone…

Someone fairly well-known said something remarkably complimentary about me sometime last month. It was one of the best things that could ever be said about me as a teacher or author or storyteller or consultant or parent or husband or human being. I’m not telling what was said or who said it. This is because…

I am terrible at identifying types of things. It’s probably my lack of attention to detail, but it’s also ridiculous. I honestly can’t identify so many specific types of things within so many different groups. Yesterday, I heard someone say, “I need a new pair of Doc Martens.” I knew they were talking about shoes,…

At the beginning of every year, I establish a list of goals (or New Year’s resolutions) for the coming calendar year. I post this list on my blog and social media to hold myself accountable. I recommend this to everyone. I’ve been engaged in this process since 2010, and I’m convinced it’s helped me be…

At the end of each month, and now at the end of the year, I report on the progress of my New Year’s resolutions (or lack thereof). Overall, I completed 33 of my 50 goals for a completion percentage of 66%. This is higher than my 14-year average of 55.5% and my third-highest success rate…