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One Good Seam
We all dream of having a chunk of uninterrupted time to work on creative projects: “If I could turn off my phone for just one day, I could work on my book.” * “If I could get a whole morning without interruptions, I could launch my website.”* Distractions and obligations, though, seem to get in…
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The Tree, the Soil, and the Fruit
I love looking for connections between the books I read. When I see common themes in otherwise unrelated books, my ears perk up. To see unconnected authors’ paths cross seems to validate what both are saying. As I look back on the books I read over the past year — which varied in theme from…
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Life Is Not a Marathon
You’ve heard people say, “life’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon”. Ok, it may not be a sprint, but “marathon” isn’t the best metaphor either. A marathon is long, but it has an end. Even while battling the 26.2 miles of a marathon, you can push yourself knowing that in a few hours the race…
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Christmas Bells
On Christmas Day of 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was feeling melancholic. The famous poet who had penned his depiction of Paul Revere’s Ride a few years earlier was feeling less than triumphant. This Christmas, for Longfellow, there was no peace on earth. As an abolitionist he felt the full burden of the civil country was…
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If This Works: Book Update
A few short months ago I first released my book, Pay Attention. The project was an experiment, first in gathering and writing a batch of ideas, then producing a digital book, then a printed book. Each step of the process was a new experience for me in various ways, each really enjoyable as well. Seth…
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Ordinary Moments and Light
Ever seen such joy? A child’s imagination In one inch of snow I took our oldest girls for a walk this evening. Well, I walked, pulling them behind on our wooden toboggan as they took it all in. There’s a magic about winter nights. It’s dark out, but with the ambient light of the city,…
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Loaves and Fish
Five loaves and two fish Will not satisfy those who Expect steak dinner
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Two Goddesses
I’m thoroughly enjoying Christopher McDougall’s book Born to Run, about the hidden ultrarunners of Mexico’s Copper Canyon: the Tarahumara people. I had the privilege of hearing stories from some Tarahumara runners last week who had participated in the annual Polar Bear Marathon in Churchhill, MB, and wanted to learn more about them. McDougall’s book reads…
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Lift With Your Legs, Think With Your Hands
We all learned years ago that lifting heavy objects was a job for our entire body, not just our hands. Turns out that thinking is the same. It’s not just a job for our brains, we need our whole body to think. “Mrs. Lynne, Gillian isn’t sick; she’s a dancer.” In his landmark TED talk…
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Draw, Shoot, Write to See
Lately I’ve been realizing the importance of creative practices to develop the skill of seeing. Often we think of art as a means of self-expression, a gift we can offer to adoring fans. But art – the process of making it – is important for the maker of it as well. It’s through drawing, shooting…
