The Postcard and the Thing Itself (On Falling in Love with Ideas)
My meditation teacher said something that stopped me cold: "We fall in love with the idea of a person, and then we fight so hard to keep it alive."
InterconnectednessMeaning and Purpose
The search for significance in existence, creation of personal and collective meaning, and the drive for self-actualization. Key thought: "Do what you'd regret not having done."
Consumerism: The First Universal Religion Humans Actually Practice
From Apple's glass cathedrals to unboxing rituals and tech prophets, we replaced religious behavioral patterns with product worship without acknowledging it--creating perhaps the first truly global faith.
Meaning and PurposeThe Antiportfolio: Counter-advice for Aspiring Artists
Why ten years ago I quit my passion as a job to follow my passions as just passions.
Freedom and ConstraintYour Teenage Self is Not a Bug, It's a Feature
Between middle-class stability and creative resistance, there's a teenage part of us keeping watch. Maybe it's right.
Meaning and PurposeThe Attention Wars: Why Creative Time Is Now Contraband
In a world of endless pings, every creative act becomes rebellion. This isn't about time management--it's about protecting your spark in a system designed to extinguish it.
Freedom and ConstraintAI 'Street Photography' Isn't Photography: What We Lose by Simulating Experience
When we pretend AI generation is street photography, we're not just misusing terms--we're surrendering authentic engagement with reality.
Meaning and PurposeBeyond Borgmann: Single-Task Tools and the Future of Meaningful Technology
Single-task tools complement modern devices by combining technological capability with intentional constraints. From offline cameras to e-ink readers, these tools preserve human agency while embracing progress. How thoughtful friction and focused design create more meaningful engagement.
Freedom and ConstraintThe Tapestry of Influence: The Inspirations That Shape Us
Discover how your unique combination of influences--from art and philosophy to pop culture and personal experiences--shapes your creative perspective. Explore how connecting seemingly unrelated passions and memories creates unexpected insights and original expression.
Meaning and PurposeSeeking Purpose and Connection in Disconnected Times
Many of us feel a sense of disconnection and unease in the post-pandemic world. Where do we find everyday guidance?
Meaning and PurposeThe Unwisdom Cheat Sheet
As an adult, it becomes even more important to focus on what you unlearn rather than what you learn.
Meaning and Purpose