GRIN & BARE IT
Read (and subscribe to) Grin and Bare It, my daily blog on storytelling, productivity, current events, teaching, my family, and other musings.
I have been posting to this blog every day since 2005.
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A Christmas memory for the ages
As we prepare to make new Christmas memories this morning, I am reminded of one from 12 years ago, when Clara was three years old Read More
Matt’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
In the event you have some last-minute shopping to do for a loved one, allow me to offer my annual gift-giving guide to the four Read More
Love a real tree
I learned this week that only 14 percent of households purchased a “real” Christmas tree last year, while 80 percent of Americans have an artificial Read More
A book about me.
Someone wrote an “authorized biography” about me, except it’s not authorized. I didn’t even know it existed until yesterday. I found it by accident. Available Read More
You’re not getting old. You are just being dumb. Probably.
People are fond of saying they know they are getting old because they can’t remember people’s names like they once did. I hear this all Read More
Three leadership ideas I can get behind
Advice from Mike Lombardi regarding leadership: Consider in advance how we will respond, not react, to adversity. Assign an assistant or teammate to monitor our Read More
From the mouths of babes
We’re talking about the Seven Wonders of the World when one of my students asks, “Why doesn’t our country have more cool things?” I open Read More
Barry Manilow jingles
Barry Manilow jokingly refers to himself as the “jingle king” of the advertising world, with his early work in commercials serving as a stepping stone Read More
Religion makes nothing impossible
I was recently told by a woman that, given her age, it was impossible for her to get pregnant. Knowing she’s Catholic, I found this Read More
What am I not doing?
I’ve begun planning my goals for 2025. It’s a month-long process that includes many parts: I solicit ideas from friends, colleagues, and even readers. I Read More
Smarties are smarter than you think
Sometimes, a company benefits from diversification. Apple began selling computers but expanded into consumer electronics with the iPod, then the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Read More
Brilliant comeback
I’m writing a book of advice for kids. Included in the book are comebacks that are both withering and polite. My students love them. They Read More
I haven’t been bored in decades
I don’t understand boredom. How is it possible in a world filled with so much possibility, opportunity, content, and beauty for someone to ever be Read More
Potential friend list
Years ago, I created a Friendship Application — a means of identifying the quality of a potential friend. Looking at it now, it seems unnecessary Read More
Emily Calandrelli, 100th woman in space, refuses to bow to ‘small men on the internet’
Emily Calandrelli, an MIT engineer and TV host known as “Space Gal,” became the 100th woman in space last week. In a video released by Read More
Dissent reduces conformity
I’ve been described by many as a non-conformist. Also disagreeable, unconventional, critical, and obstructionist. I can’t disagree, even though I’m inclined to disagree. In fact, Read More
I live to fight another day
I told my students that due to weather and travel complications on a snow day, I had only slept for three hours the night before. Read More
Spiders are evil
A spider is living in the upstairs hallway. Clara has named him Frank after Frank Marshall, the director of the film “Arachniphobia.” She’s a ridiculous Read More
My favorite part in “Bambi”
A woman beside me on the plane looks at my phone. I’m watching an SNL parody of “Bambi.” She says, “Oh! You’re watching Bambi?” She Read More
Sunlight can only be pictured with shadows
Diary entry of James Webb Young, advertising executive and, two years after writing this entry, Advertising Man of the Year. Sunday, October 25, 1942 Every Read More
