Ten years ago, Kim and I enjoyed a date night at a restaurant on Portland’s south waterfront. I don’t remember the restaurant and I don’t remember the meal. What I do remember is this. My therapist at the time had just recommended that I begin meditating. She wanted me to emphasize mindfulness in my daily …
Yesterday, I shared George Washington’s farewell address from 19 September 1796. In it, he warned Americans against devolving into political parties and he encouraged them to remain neutral when it comes to international politics. I really, really like his speech, and I wish more people would read it. But it’s long (6000 words) and while …
Several years ago, our book group read American Nations by Colin Woodard. The book has a fascinating premise: While the United States is nominally a single unified country, it’s actually a conglomerate of eleven smaller “nations”, each with its own unique history, culture, and attitudes. The U.S. is more like the E.U. than we think. …
“I’m going to be honest with you,” Kim said the other day. “I’m tired. I love our life on the road, but I’m ready to take a break. I want to pick a place and stay put for a while.” I could tell she was reluctant to say this. Our year-long RV trip is a …
As Kim and I slowly make our way across the United States, we’re learning a lot, both about ourselves (individually and as a couple) and about others. We’re spending extended time with family and friends, and we’re meeting strangers in the places we stay. Through this constant exposure to a diverse population of people, we’ve …
Note: This update comes from Kimberly, the fairer of half of the Rothwards. I’m having a moment. Sitting outside enjoying my wine while dinner is cooking, I realize that I’ve entered my “country self”. When you’re camping every day, you have to reach a place of acceptance. With the weather and your surroundings — and …
Lately I’ve been doing a lot of reading and thinking about folks who get late starts in life. Some people, like my ex-wife, have a clear vision of their future from a young age. That’s great. I’m glad they’re able to steer a course (and stick to it) from the time they get out college …
I’m not a fan of the Law of Attraction, the idea that people bring into their lives the things they think about. In fact, I think it’s bullshit. In The Secret, Rhonda Byrne explains how this “law” is purported to work: Thoughts are magnetic, and thoughts have a frequency. As you think, those thoughts are …
Last night, I met with my friend Faith. Faith is eighteen, and she’s just getting started in life. Her parents are two of my best friends, but they’re still parents. You know what I mean. Faith wanted to meet with me one-on-one to talk about family stuff and to talk about boys. I’m not the …
You can improve the quality of your daily life by learning to focus your attention and choosing to filter your experiences through a lens of positivity. But while it might be simple to find happiness in a single day, it can be much more difficult to link a series of days into a meaningful whole. …