For ten years I’ve been a public school teacher. I’ve spent nine of them in the fourth grade and one teaching fifth grade science. I have spent roughly half of those years thinking about leaving the classroom. I wanted to be a teacher for roughly 20 years before I started…

I love Christmas — mostly. Yes, I wrote a book about Christmas magic and the little spark that makes things brighter — the trimmings and trappings that make us smile — but, for me, there is also no more melancholy time of year. This year, the pendulum swings hard in…

A wise man once said… Actually the origin of this quote is debatable, but a lot of wise men and women have said it or something similar for a long time. It wouldn’t surprise me if this adage–in one form or another–dated back to the earliest human civilizations. …

Christmas pops up the moment Halloween disappears. For many, that’s too soon. There’s all of November to get through first, and that includes Thanksgiving (in the US)–a holiday that deserves its own attention. But why is it too soon? What is so bothersome about small joys? I used to be…

There’s a discussion that takes place this time of year. You read it in teacher groups on social media, see it in the feeds of teachers who are wrapping up their school years, and might even hear people debating the topic-sometimes heatedly-at a family gathering, in a bar, at a…

A how-to for the socially active — Do you have too many friends? Too many birthday parties and barbecues to go to and not enough time to stare at the same four walls wondering what’s new on Netflix? If your phone is lighting up with text and private messages instead of spam, have I got the fix…

I’m quite passionate about mental health. I’ve lived the struggle first and second hand. I understand it in ways that someone who’ve never dealt with it-or been with a loved one who’s dealt with it-can. To understand where I’m coming from, we need to start at the beginning. It’s 1987…

Income Streams: A brief discussion For about a decade, I have looked at ways to make a few extra dollars. It may come as no surprise that’s also how long I’ve been in public education. I’m not saying they are strictly connected but… I haven’t committed to many, and those…

Help. I’m lost and I’m hungry. I hate eating vegetarian with every fiber of my being. I’ll keep doing it because I love my wife and respect her choices. She put us on this path over two years ago. I understand the ethics and the health benefits. So, I grocery…