When it's harder than ever to choose joy, we risk accepting its absence. That can become a self-fulfilling prophecy of joyless days. We may fuel a vicious cycle dragging us further and further away from joy. But, when we make the effort to look for joy, we increase our chances of breaking our self-inflicted prisons… Continue reading Choosing joy, when looking for joy is harder
Category: Husband
Admiration for amateurs
Sometimes we'll see a next-door-neighbor type everyman doing something -- for their job, as a hobby, in an instructional video -- and think, "That's easy, I could do that." Or even, "They're screwing that up; I'd be much better." Entire TV series and YouTube channels, from gameshows to reality shows, are partially based on this… Continue reading Admiration for amateurs
Leaving the birds in the nest
There's an important joy corollary (joy-ollary?) to baby birds peeking out of the nest and then them coming back into the nest to snuggle. It's being able to leave them in the nest. When our kids are young and first mobile, we spend most of our time keeping an eye on them, because they don't… Continue reading Leaving the birds in the nest
Baby bird peeking out of the nest
The first sleepover. The first sleep-away camp. The second. The third. As a parent, one can't deny the fear and dread that comes with seeing your child taking on some measures of independence. There's something about them walking away for that bus ride, for that camp registration desk, for that assigned cabin, that makes ever… Continue reading Baby bird peeking out of the nest
Family laughter around the TV
It's surprising these days how much active fun can be had by getting the family together in front of the television. Growing up, we'd gather around the TV to watch favorite weekly sitcoms together. Even though some of the jokes went over the heads of us kids, enough landed for us all to share the… Continue reading Family laughter around the TV
