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Doubts arise from an absence of surrender. —Ramana Maharshi There is more to life than increasing its speed. —Gandhi Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the oftener and the more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above and the moral law within. —Immanuel Kant The repercussions […]

I’d call his performance lackluster, but *lackluster* is too high quality a word to describe such poor performance. *Meh* is the right sized word, but it fails to encapsulate the horrible job he did setting the table. He put out no silverware. No beverages. Just three glasses, three plates, and two napkins. “Dad, I did

CLICK FOR NOTICES ABOUT THE BOOK’S AVAILABILITY It’s the first newsletter of the month.   And, as I have been doing, I’m making this, the first one of the month, a diary entry.   (Next week will be a “regular” one. It’s going to be a story about parenting—and yes the dishwasher gets mentioned—and it

CLICK FOR NOTICES ABOUT THE BOOK’S AVAILABILITY CLICK FOR NOTICES ABOUT THE BOOK’S AVAILABILITY Rabbi Brian’s Highly Unorthodox Gospel   A Modern Guide to  Compassion, Kindness, and Love  for others (and self)     It’s done.  The book. It’s done.  And in it is a whole section in it about patience. Which is good—ironic, maybe?—because

Filling the Time: Thawing the Rush for Efficiency As I put ice cubes from the freezer down the narrow neck of my favorite insulated water bottle, I consider that I could have saved time had I started this task differently. While the structure of my waterbottle is not  a dry subject about which to write

This is the first newsletter of February, 2024. Hi. It’s me. rB. Rabbi Brian. Brian. The author of this newsletter. I’m addressing you directly, beloved reader. As though we are having a conversation. You and me. This is because I didn’t want to do a regular newsletter, where I start with an engaging hook, set

The art classroomLos Angeles Leadership Academy2012 “Alrighty then!” the petite woman at the front of the room bubbles out of her mouth with more than a touch too much enthusiasm.  Roger, the school’s founder, has just finished introducing her with “Give Carol your LA Leadership Academy best.” A half-day professional development.  Oh, joy! (Sarcasm.) ***

I’m biking back from an errand to the bank and drugstore. It’s damp. Winter grey. And, I’m really mad.So very, very mad. I lost my f*cking mittens. The new ones.The ones I splurged on only a month ago. “I don’t want to buy a new pair,” I whine to myself. Aiaiaiaiai. I’m nearly furious. Then,

Ten years ago, Damen and I met while he and my friend James were both housed at High Desert State Prison near Susanville, California.   Damen currently lives in Kern Valley State Prison near Bakersfield, California. James is in Pelican Bay State Prison, Crescent City.   I’ve not visited either since that initial meeting.  

Beloved, I am writing these very words you are currently reading in the past, with regard to time, from when you are reading them. It’s like time-travel. Kinda. Where I am, it’s December 22.   (You can actually see these words on the screen in the photo, above.) I’m sitting in my living room, in the