Recovering from recent emergency surgery to repair a torn retina, I am reminded once again of the fragility and contingency of our lives. I had been in New York City, having dinner with old friends. We were enjoying a restaurant […]
Freedom is a worthy goal: the slave-turned-philosopher Epictetus said it was in fact the highest virtue, and over the course of human history many millions have perished seeking it, attaining it, or defending it. But, if you’re lucky enough to […]
I recently returned from a three-week tour of Africa, visiting Rwanda, Uganda, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa. This was a deeply moving trip with family and friends, an opportunity for my wife to return to Rwanda (where she volunteered […]
Simplify, simplify, simplify – that’s what Thoreau urged in Walden. Over the past year, I’ve tried to take his words to heart as I’ve removed things, influences, people, and places from my life that made no positive contribution. I’ve also […]
Over the last few months, as my mother’s health worsened (she had been suffering from dementia and complications for roughly the last 5 years), I’ve been thinking a lot about what her legacy has been, what her life meant to […]
