Every time. Every time I go to the airport, I have a minor panic. I don’t have my wallet! (It’s in my pocket.) My flight’s tomorrow! (Nope—it’s today.) The rental car company is going to charge me for gas because I didn’t get a receipt. (They didn’t.) I panic.Before every trip. Every time.It’s just what […]
I knew you were going to do that Read More »
A few weeks ago, I asked you to compare responses from two friends, Georgia and Clarence. Let’s revisit: One day, Georgia and Clarence invite me to go jogging with them. At the meeting spot, Georgia beams with excitement and says, “Come on, let’s go!” Clarence, on the other hand, scolds: “Those shoes are all wrong.
Getting More of What We Want Read More »
Beloved, I’m sitting in my office, writing these very words that you are reading. As I don’t have a particular topic in mind, I’m just starting by writing these words. It gets the juices flowing. If the past is any guide, chances are you won’t read what I’m typing in right now. Writers refer to
I want to get away, but it feels rude—that whole workplace decorum thing. Still, I can’t shake the urge to leave. I want to go up to my first-floor classroom and leave her talking to her stupid self in the stairwell. “Everything has a silver lining,” she says, “You have to realize that, Brian.” “Please,
Shove Your Silver Lining Down the Stairs Read More »
Imagine that I have two friends, Georgia and Clarence. One day, they invite me to go jogging with them. At the meeting spot, Georgia beams, “Come on, let’s go!” Clarence, however, scolds: “Those shoes are all wrong. You need real jogging shorts. And your socks? No support at all.” I’ll let you guess which one
More Georgia. Less Clarence. Read More »
“dad” “please” “sign me out” “for 4th period” The above series of texts pop onto my phone in immediate succession late Thursday afternoon as I sit in my basement home office. They are from my youngest—the one who changed her contact name in my phone to “Annie, favorite child.” She wants me to sign her
Download PDF (free) Rabbi Brian’s Notes About Mourning* – Simple Definitions – * Grief is the final stage of love. It is love with no place left to go. * – Idiosyncratic – *Don’t worry about what you think you ought to be doing. Grief is idiosyncratic—it shows up in its own way, on its
Beloved reader, Today, I’d like to reintroduce myself—because some of you are new, and for many of you, it’s been a while. And sometimes, it’s good to review. — A little over 3,000 people read this—The 77% Weekly—my 40/52 weeks-per-year spiritualigious newsletter. All but two readers receive it electronically, like you are. Two readers—James and
Beloved, In the past few weeks, some things—things that usually don’t bother me—irked me. Like the line at the grocery store. It pissed me off yesterday. I usually don’t mind. I coined the phrase “spiritual barometer” to refer to a thing that sometimes annoys and sometimes doesn’t. My favorite example is
Barometer: Crispy. Read More »
Most nights, for the last few months, at 7pm—the time we once banged pots and pans in appreciation of healthcare workers during COVID—I stand on my front porch and play “We Shall Overcome” on my French horn for the neighborhood to hear. I do it to remind me about hope. Because I know