The practice of love offers no place of safety.We risk loss, hurt, pain. We risk being actedupon by forces outside our control.
Category: The Spirit
“We can only change what is in our reach….” (quote)
From Call of the Bone Ships by R.J. Barker She looked down at the white boards of the deck. “Maybe that is the true nature of prophecy – we can only change what is within our reach. So do not worry about the gullaime, do not worry about their prophecy. Hold close those you care…
I Don’t Follow the News Anymore
Full Disclosure: I work for a news organization and I don’t actively follow the news. I am a media literacy educator at the local public media station KQED. I love my job and I’m proud of our hard working journalists covering the stories that matter for the Bay Area and beyond. But when I’m not…
“Of the Terrible Doubt of Appearances” (poem)
Of the Terrible Doubt of Appearances by Walt Whitman Of the terrible doubt of appearances,Of the uncertainty after all—that we may be deluded,That may-be reliance and hope are but speculations after all,That may-be identity beyond the grave is a beautiful fable only,May-be the things I perceive—the animals, plants, men, hills, shining and flowing waters,The skies…
The Voice (poem)
There is a voice inside of youthat whispers all day long,“I feel that this is right for me,I know that this is wrong.”No teacher, preacher, parent, friendor wise man can decidewhat’s right for you – just listen tothe voice that speaks inside. ― Shel Silverstein
A Balanced Diet for My Media “Feed”
How healthy is your social media diet? I’ve been trying to be more intentional about what I put into my media “feed” as it’s called. About what I decide to spend my precious attention on. Since I (1) work for a news organization and (2) teach media literacy, this feels particularly important to try and…
Self-knowledge and the Thrilling Unknown
I’m not sure where this insight or thought experiment came from. Possibly a professor in undergrad or a weird book I happened to pick up. It pertains to the continual quest for self-knowledge. It goes like this: Imagine everything that is true about you as a box full of facts, beliefs, ideals, fears, and other…
“This is the true joy in life…” George Bernard Shaw
This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life…
2024 Round Up: Skate Travels and Teaching, Hiking SF, Challah for Papa
As I wrote in the previous post, lots of 2024 was spent dealing with external events that impacted my life. Which was a lot. But I also accomplished quite a bit. Published the Definitive History of Yehoodi.com I began 2024 with the release of a 39-page history of the online community Yehoodi.com, a labor of…
2024 Year in Review: Bad Knees, Bullies, Death and Unexpected Joy
At its face, 2024 was not the best year ever. Let’s run down the awfulness: But honestly, despite all of these events – and in some ways because of them – 2024 was still a pretty great year. Let’s break it down. Problems Money Can Solve Someone said “You are fortunate if you have problems…