Mid-Year Reflection

July 4, 2022.Reading time 9 minutes.

“Freedom is the prize we are working for,” Seneca wrote, “not being a slave to anything—not to compulsion, not to chance events….show me a man who isn’t a slave.” Indeed, we have many masters.

2022: The Year of Balance

January 1, 2022.Reading time 11 minutes.

January 1, 2022 It’s a new year and everyone is making their new resolutions! I typically use my birthday as my “new year” of making new goals and challenges, but I didn’t take the time to reflect during my birthday weekend this year due to other events. So, I took advantage of this week to […]

Another 10 Year Milestone!

September 26, 2021.Reading time 15 minutes.

It’s my 10 year anniversary at NCDOC today. Here are some reflections on what I’ve learned.

Listen to Your Calling

June 6, 2021.Reading time 7 minutes.

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.” ~Rumi

An Ode to Friendship

May 3, 2021.Reading time 3 minutes.

“Associate with those who will make a better man out of you. Welcome those whom you yourself can improve.” ~Seneca I may not always know (or remember) how I came to know most of the people in my life, but I do know why or how some acquaintances evolved into friendships. While reevaluating my social […]

Flat-Ass Rules

March 28, 2021.Reading time 4 minutes.

“You’ve wandered all over and finally realized that you never found what you were after: how to live. Not in syllogisms, not in money, or fame, or self-indulgence. Nowhere. Then where is it to be found? In doing what human nature requires. How? Through first principles. Which should govern your intentions and your actions.” —Marcus Aurelius, Meditations.

Alive Time

March 21, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

“In many circumstances, we do not deal with our affairs in accordance with correct assumptions, but rather we follow thoughtless habit.” — Musonius Rufus One of the things I have learned over this past year is that I have way more control over how I spend my time, with whom I spend my time, and the […]

A Reason to be Good

March 14, 2021.Reading time 3 minutes.

This week’s thoughts are taken from The Daily Stoic Meditations (2019): The funny thing about egotistical people is that – despite any power or wealth they might have – they are really easy to manipulate. All you have to do is tell them what they want to hear; make everything seem like it was their […]

The Need For Grace and Forgiveness

March 7, 2021.Reading time 3 minutes.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Create Your Modus Operandi

February 28, 2021.Reading time 2 minutes.

For several years, I have been working on a purposeful modus operandi – my every day mode of operations – based on clear principles and values from which my every action descends. In short, bringing the practice of philosophy and ethics to all facets of everyday life; becoming a stickler for truth and honesty; and […]