Living Deliberately

Watching games together...

2017-04-01T09:35:00.001-07:00

It just hit me. I wondered when it would. The runway is slowly drifting by through the windows. I have spent the past 6 days waiting for it to take hold. Actually, to be more honest, the span is probably closer to 19 years. And to be honest to the extent of vulnerability, the time has really been 1 year and 12 days. Over the past 6 days, I have read articles, watched video clips,

Traditions

2013-12-25T11:20:00.000-08:00

The other day I was reminded of an old story… There once was a man that lived by the river. He heard a radio report that the river was going to rush up and flood the town. And that all the residents should evacuate their homes. But the man said, 'I'm religious. I pray. God loves me. God will save me.'   The waters rose up. A guy in a row boat came along and he

Answers

2012-08-04T16:00:00.002-07:00

“So you are at the end of the journey?” “Yeah. This part anyway.” ”You have seen a whole lot of places now huh?” “Yeah. I sure have.” “Do you have a favorite?” “I do.” “So...which is it?” “It’s the same as yours.” “I’ve never told you mine.” “I know.” “So...where is it?” “You wouldn’t know it,” I said with a smile and a subtle shake of my head. So here I

Peace

2012-07-30T16:01:00.001-07:00

In life we have moments of confusion and moments clarity. And if we have the maturity and courage to recognize the challenge and possibility of these moments, sometimes they blend together to become the greatest we can experience. They become turning points and moments of growth. So I would like to tell a story very personal to me. It doesn’t involve a tragedy, though it was tragic to me,

Take What You Need

2012-06-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

Why do we hurt others? I have been troubled by the recent Seattle shootings. Shootings happen daily and each is tragic, but this one has been difficult for me to come to terms with. I kept thinking about it throughout the days following. I found that I was diverting conversations to it with anyone who would listen. No doubt, a lot of it is because it was in Seattle

To My Teacher. To My Friend.

2012-03-08T10:37:00.008-08:00

My middle school had one hall. A single corridor lined with classrooms on each side. Each year you moved down a little further in the hall until you one day reached the door at the opposite end...and you graduated. I began the journey with the first door on the left--Miss Gotzian’s. Over the course of 4 years, I made it from one end to the next. And each year I grew a little taller and a little

The Last Generation

2012-02-27T07:00:00.003-08:00

I was nostalgically referring to the old days with my class recently. No doubt using what has become one of my signature lines, “Back in the day...” (My students recognize the irony of their 27 year old teacher saying this on such a regular basis, which leads to a chuckle each time I utter it.) And during one of these rants, I was asked,“What was so great about the era that you grew up in?”It was

My Best Self (Being alone in a crowded room)

2012-02-03T15:48:00.000-08:00

I recommend listening to this song while reading this post. A good friend of mine recently brought up the idea of being your ‘best self’. I’ve sort of been hooked on that concept in the days since. What is our best self? The idea inherently suggests that we have a self that we do not consider our best. A self that perhaps we are not proud of, or maybe one that we are not as

It is. I am.

2012-01-24T08:37:00.000-08:00

I was heading home from an aimless jaunt into the city center around an hour after sunset when I met two men. They introduced themselves, and we began to talk. We probably talked for a couple hours. I’m not really sure. It was one of those conversations I have come to treasure--the ones that fade the relevancy of time. When I got home, I just couldn’t shake two of the questions I’d been asked. “

With a rake in my hand...

2011-12-07T10:18:00.001-08:00

The other day I was at a local pub grabbing something to eat and getting some work done. As I was leaving, I was drawn into a conversation about music with a gentleman as I walked by the bar. I had overheard him from my table, and couldn’t help but put in my two cents worth on the way out. After a few minutes, he asked me to pull up a stool, which I took to mean that I had proven myself to be a

Lessons I Learned From Grandma

2011-10-07T07:45:00.000-07:00

I just got a call from my dad. He told me that Grandma is about to die. My grandma told me the same thing last night.I have been pacing around my flat for about a half hour. I’m wide awake, and I keep walking like I have something to do, but I don’t know what that is. So I decided to sit down and write. And here I am.My grandma was one of the strongest people to ever live. I say that with no

I'm a Sucker (The Story of My Bracelet)

2011-05-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

It’s not a pretty bracelet. It’s made of colors I would never choose myself. It’s certainly not ‘cool’, as braded bracelets haven’t been for at least a decade now. It’s so poorly made that its weave has nearly completely come undone, leaving it bunched up on one side while three single strings struggle to keep the whole thing from falling off. It's too big for my wrist, which causes it to slide

France-Part Two

2011-04-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

For someone who has spent 18 years in Catholic schools as a student and taught in one for 3, I really don’t talk about religion all that often. Well, I suppose that’s not true. I do talk about it. I talk about it a lot in fact. But I talk about religions—not about my own faith and the constant embattled journey that it is. It’s a topic that we can avoid talking about quite easily. It requires a

France-Part One

2011-03-18T15:30:00.000-07:00

I recently set out on a journey…It was a significant moment in my life. Something happened along the way that changed me. I decided to break my account of this into multiple parts. Here is the first.A few weeks ago I made a trip to France. I was able to see buildings and structures that have become iconic over generations of time. I was able to interact with people of a foreign culture. I was

Wrinkled Posters

2011-03-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

Before you begin reading this post. Please do not continue unless you are in a quiet place and you have at least 20 minutes to devote to it. Headphones are also recommended.I also warn you that the part of me that has always wanted to be a hippie shines through in this post. Bear with me. On Sunday, I was cleaning my kitchen after sleeping in unjustifiably through the morning. I decided to put on

Guidance

2011-01-31T12:13:00.001-08:00

I have a story I’d like to share with you about my hair and a crazy old lady who helped remind me who I am. To fully appreciate this story you will need to know that spent the first 22 years of my life in Spokane, Washington. When I first moved over here, I went through a short period of time in which I second-guessed my decision. I was told ahead of time by some close friends, who travelled

Due Respect

2011-01-26T12:45:00.000-08:00

I have seen a fair amount of memorials and monuments in my life. As a history teacher this is something we do. Some of these structures will accomplish the artist’s desired effect. They will cause you to stop and reflect. They may even inspire you to learn about those for whom the memorial was constructed. Some, however, will not. Their failure is usually due to two factors above all: a lack of

The Beginning...

2011-01-16T06:49:00.001-08:00

A year ago this Friday, I awoke abruptly at 5 AM, which is far from my normal wake-up time. This would normally not bother me. As those close to me know, I can fall asleep again before I ever really comprehend what time it is. I consider it one of my most beneficial talents. However, this morning was different than most. I was met with the anxious energy that is usually associated with moments