“There is no such thing as peace of mind.” – David Carse, ‘Perfect, Brilliant, Stillness’ The impetus behind this blog has always been to share, as honestly as possible, my search to understand and overcome this thing called suffering – a subject that can take on a particular poignancy at this time of year. I [...]

I spend a lot of time on this site talking about the meaning of life (or its non-meaning), why we're here, who am I, etc. Of late, however, there's been a shift to dive into life rather than reflect so much on it. Lots of new recipes being explored in the kitchen, showing my 10-year-old [...]

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived" - Henry David Thoreau When I was 14 or so, my [...]

When my daughter was 18 months old a never-ending series of ear infections prompted her pediatrician to recommend temporarily implanting tubes in her ears. As the date of the procedure neared I grew increasingly frustrated with that prescription, particularly after hearing of so many other parents battling the same problem with their own children. What [...]

Over the past few years I have somewhat regularly been asked for help or guidance from someone struggling through divorce, depression, or loss of some kind. This is an uncomfortable proposition for anyone but especially for someone like me who, quite candidly, is wholly unqualified for the role. What I can offer is the following [...]

Suffering. Google says it’s the number one search term people use to find this blog. Next up are ayahuasca and vision quest, suggesting – appropriately enough – that this website is a destination for people seeking a way out of their pain. If you’re one of them let me save you some time. Looking back [...]

For those not in the know the world is supposed to end – or at least start the process of ending – on May 21. This is the belief promulgated by a number of Christian groups, who claim the Rapture is to begin with the fiery destruction of the world and the ascendance of a [...]

Chatting not so long ago with a friend who is struggling to overcome the twin addictions of self-loathing and alcoholism, she announced that she had resigned herself to never being able to fully recover. To which I blurted, “But why would you wish to recover in the first place? What is it that you want [...]

A mystic has informed you that across a vast ocean of water eternal happiness awaits. You gaze at the water from the beach, painfully aware that every attempt you’ve made to find happiness on this side of the water has failed, so why not? You immediately set out to lay claim to this everlasting reward [...]

The motorist in front of me driving 10mph under the speed limit. An angst-ridden friend on the phone wondering how to increase his company’s sales. The blog post of a young woman bemoaning the absence of a man in her life on Valentine’s Day. A child’s psychosomatic illness because he has again forgotten his homework. [...]