A few weeks ago, some friends and I decided to do something really seasonal: We went out to the country (read: Jersey) to pick apples. Turns out, we’d missed apple picking season by two weeks. We could buy the ones that had been picked and stuffed into paper sacks. But what’s the fun in that. …
Blog
-
Did I Tell You I’m Moving?
READ MORE: Did I Tell You I’m Moving?What’s going on in your world? Two big things this week in mine: Wed (the 9th) is my birthday, and I’m also moving. Did I tell you that? Not far—about four blocks from where I currently live on the Upper West Side. My requirements were that I didn’t want to have to change dry cleaners,…
-
Why your work should belong to someone else
READ MORE: Why your work should belong to someone elseIf you had asked me last week if I’d be moved by a closing performance by Queen at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, I’d say, umm, probably not. But then on Thursday, I watched Bohemian Rhapsody, and that changed everything. Have you seen the movie? You kinda can’t take your eyes off Rami…
-
Mary Gauthier Wants You to Start Singing a NEW Song
READ MORE: Mary Gauthier Wants You to Start Singing a NEW SongThere’s a song by recording artist and folk singer Mary Gauthier that guts me, every time. It’s called “Mercy Now,” and the song moves, achingly, through concentric circles of forgiveness: Starting with her father, who could use some mercy now…and ending with her country, which could most definitely use some mercy now. (Lord have mercy,…
-
You Can’t Just Say “Hi” Forever (Even If You’re This Cute)
READ MORE: You Can’t Just Say “Hi” Forever (Even If You’re This Cute)I was in Whole Foods the other day, browsing the gluten-free cookie aisle, and I heard this little voice pipe up. “Hi!” And there, parked in a stroller by the almond milk, was an adorable baby girl, waving emphatically at me. “Hi! Hi!” “Well hello there,” I said, delighted, walking over. “What’s your name?” And…
-
Highlights from a hot church weekend, circa 1987
READ MORE: Highlights from a hot church weekend, circa 1987Ever go on a church retreat? I did. Antioch Weekend at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Roseland, New Jersey. In the 80s. You got to wear your Jordache jeans and sleep over at host houses and hang out with kids you didn’t know (read: boys you didn’t know) from public school. Hot. We…
-
Criticism Will Kill Your Talent
READ MORE: Criticism Will Kill Your TalentEver hear of a woman named Brenda Ueland? She was before your time, and mine. And she did not mince words. “I hate orthodox criticism,” she wrote, “…small niggling, fussy-mussy criticism, which thinks it can improve people by telling them where they are wrong, and results only in putting them in straitjackets of hesitancy and…
-
Lunch Trays Do Not Inspire Brilliance (So Stop Looking For Them)
READ MORE: Lunch Trays Do Not Inspire Brilliance (So Stop Looking For Them)OK here’s what happened: A woman emailed me recently and said she wanted help creating a TEDx talk. I said sure. In fact, I could do her one better—I invited her to join me for the Pop-Up Story Salon in Manhattan that week. This would give her the chance to roll up her sleeves and…
-
Stop Searching for Your Passion (Do This Instead)
READ MORE: Stop Searching for Your Passion (Do This Instead)Four years ago I gave a TEDx talk called “Stop searching for your passion.” This is not news. I memorized every word of that talk. I delivered it in a room of around 1500 people. And I walked out of there and thought, “Ok! that was fun. I hope someone outside of that theater ever…
-
The Key To Finding Your Quirk (And Trust Me, You Have One)
READ MORE: The Key To Finding Your Quirk (And Trust Me, You Have One)A few weeks ago, I told you to be wary of advice. Even mine. Why? Because it’s tempting to believe that if we just follow the right advice, we never have to make any mistakes. Ever. If your whole goal is to avoid mess, mistakes, and effort by stepping gingerly inside the footsteps of others,…
