Status symbols crush our souls
When we live “authentically” we live according to our innermost desires, our spirit and character. I could spend days trying to parse this idea. How can we distinguish between “innermost … Continue reading
Why We Love the Murderer
Justin St. Germain’s moody essay, “Murder Tourism in Middle America,” follows the thoughts of a brooding, pessimistic young professor on a quest to satisfy his obsession with Truman Capote’s nonfiction … Continue reading
A Cynic’s Guide to Honeymooning
This morning I read an essay by Charles Comey, “Against Honeymoons,” and I thought of our cultural swerving on the spectrum between total cynicism and diehard idealism. Let’s back up. … Continue reading
Big-Picture Time Management for the Hopelessly Ambitious
Be a badass, sure, but be a well-rounded badass and you’re really living your best life.
Mmm, that’s good camel: on the pursuit of happiness
I’m obsessed with stories about much older people. I want to empathize with the thoughts and concerns of old age, because there are important clues there. Clues about what really … Continue reading
Beyond Cynicism: the case for political engagement
Today I’m spending over four hours at the Davidson County Elections Commission for a refresher course on handling special voters: those who changed their address, failed to register, or didn’t … Continue reading
An education in suffering
In 2017 I traveled to Colombia to meet my biological family. One afternoon as I was standing in the courtyard of my paternal grandparents’ home, watching some local children assemble … Continue reading
