Confessions of a Brainwork Addict
brainwork – mental activity or effort, especially as opposed to physical labor. To this day, my brain constantly itches. Daily I suffer from the unbearable boredom of not being challenged enough. I imagine it’s the same sort of itch that plagued Sherlock Holmes whenever he wasn’t solving a murder or deciphering a cryptic note. As […]
Before You Become a Great Writer, You Must Write Badly
When I was growing up in the nineties, grunge was king, the internet made a noise like a dying robot when it connected, and people weren’t afraid to tell you the hard, sometimes brutal truth. I miss that brutal honesty the most. Back then, getting to the top of your class involved being really bad […]
Why I Will Never Be a Determinist Philosopher
There’s something about determinist philosophy that makes me want to bang my head against a wall. I’ve read plenty of things that make me pause and wonder, “Is it just me, or is this absolute nonsense?” Of course, I’ve never claimed to be infallible. But sometimes, I can’t help but feel like some ideas need […]
Why Failure Is Inevitable When You Let Your Guard Down
“Failure runs parallel to letting your guard down.” – Eric Longenhagen & Kiley McDaniel, Future Value No matter how hard you try to prevent it, failure will happen in your life. It’s an unavoidable part of being human, especially when you have your guard down. Sometimes you think it’s safe to relax and let your […]
Why Are We Here?
Why are we here? It’s one of those questions that people toss around at 2 AM when the silence is too loud. I imagine most people just settle for the answers they’re handed — religion, destiny, or some vague notion of karma. Otherwise, facing the absurdity of it all head-on is enough to make you […]
Midnight Muses and the Eternal Struggle of the Overactive Mind
There’s a particular kind of madness that strikes in the dead of night. When sleep eludes me, my mind, a restless tyrant, decides to throw a parade of fleeting thoughts. Sheer brilliance flashes in those moments but, by morning, rarely do I remember what any of it meant. My unconscious mind, in its infinite wisdom, […]
Butterflies and Rainbows
Life isn’t always butterflies and rainbows. For us mere mortals, life is often like trudging through a murky swamp. If there is an occasional butterfly flitting by, it’s only to remind us that not everything is pure misery. In our darkest moments, when we seek guidance from peers and loved ones, we’re insisted to do […]
Always Rooting for the Underdogs
Some people are drawn to luxury, and many others to power. Meanwhile, I have an inexplicable affection for losers. But I’m not talking about the tragic, Shakespearean kind; I’m talking about the kind of underdogs that have been so thoroughly trounced by life that even the most hardened pessimist would look at them and say, […]
True Art Comes Naturally
The elusive and mystifying world of art inspires awe and wonder in many of those who prefer the practical and concrete.However, the world of creative expression is often grossly misunderstood, especially when it comes to the creative process. We’ve all had the experience of staring at a stark white piece of paper or the haunting […]