Being true to yourself sometimes means letting others down — Zeke has a friend coming for a sleepover. This is a common occurrence, no big deal. However, when I mentioned that this sleepover would be a screen-free evening, doom and gloom filled the air. It surprised me. Recently we’ve cut way back on screen time, and it’s been lovely. Initially…

Most of us never do — I like to wake up early. Before 5:00 is best, when the air is a smudge away from nighttime. It feels sacred, undiscovered. I go outside, yawning and stumbling on leftover dreams. The dog glows with happiness at being alive and moving. All the edges are soft. I walk down…

Anger is energy with a message, and it’s talking to you — For years, I was known in my friend group as “the calm one.” I took this label as a compliment because it meant I was stable. I could handle stress well. I could use a well-modulated voice and carefully chosen words in a conflict. I could articulate rather than emote. …

Our world isn’t perfect. Our work won’t be perfect. — There is a difference between striving for excellence and striving for perfection. The first is attainable, gratifying, and healthy. The second is unattainable, frustrating, and neurotic. It is also a terrible waste of time. – Edwin Bliss Imperfect progress realized is better than perfection imagined. A perfectly imagined work of…

I didn’t become this fierce to make your life easier. — I know you do your best. I’m not writing this to blame you, disparage you, or judge you. We are all in different places. I have no issue with that. I have a big issue with this: you think I should use my strength to pull you up to this…

An illustrated guide to getting your art into the world — We have three distinct roles as creative beings: consumer, curator, and creator. (These roles apply to areas other than creativity, of course. But let’s focus.) Each is important. …

These are my rules for being a prolific writer even if life is crazy, time is limited, and nothing’s simple. — A few years ago, when my four children were all under the age of 7, I did some crazy stuff for writing time. I woke up early. Like, before dawn early. Then I would sit at my desk and try to write intelligent things. I did write, but it wasn’t…