Some things reward us immediately. A smile returned. A thank-you from a friend. A task completed before lunch. We naturally enjoy those moments because they reassure us that our effort mattered. But much of what gives life its deepest meaning doesn’t work that way. Planting a tree is an act of faith. The person who… Continue reading The Measure of Value
Tag: Practice in Ordinary Life
Thought Is Not the Same as Attention
Some people spend their lives thinking. Others spend their lives paying attention. At first glance, those sound like the same thing. They are not. It is possible to think all day without noticing very much. Our minds are remarkably good at replaying old conversations, rehearsing future ones, defending our opinions, and solving problems that have… Continue reading Thought Is Not the Same as Attention
What a Pencil Can Do That a Phone Cannot
Most people do not think much about a pencil. It is too ordinary, too simple, too old, too slow. It does not light up. It does not connect to anything. It does not save your passwords, count your steps, send your messages, store your photographs, show you the weather, play your music, or tell you… Continue reading What a Pencil Can Do That a Phone Cannot
When the Day Refuses to Follow the Plan
Some days begin with a plan. Not necessarily a dramatic plan. Just a reasonable one. A few things to finish. A few errands to run. A call to make. A page to write. A repair to handle. A room to clean. A task that has waited too long and finally needs attention. The plan may… Continue reading When the Day Refuses to Follow the Plan
The Frustration Was Not About WordPress
Sometimes the ordinary thing is not the thing. Sometimes the frustration sitting in front of us is only the doorway. A website will not behave. A button is missing. A menu appears twice. A page title will not change. A footer insists on saying something we do not want it to say. The screen seems… Continue reading The Frustration Was Not About WordPress
The Pencil-Driven Life 