We’re taught to chase the gold medal, but no one gives us a roadmap for the "near-misses." 🥈 This week, I’m reflecting on a recent retail rejection and how it reminded me that every corporate “no” is a “yes” to the freedom I spent years earning. If you’ve ever felt like a “first-place loser,” this one is for you.

I’m wrapping up my "Greek Mythology Era" with the story of Prometheus. If Medusa was about narrative injustice, and Arachne was about the comparison trap, Prometheus is about the courage it takes to do the right thing. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing the "liver-eating" daily grind for a cause you believe in, this one is for you.

I’m a Clevelander who loves football and clothes dryers, but my soul is still rooted in the rural community my parents and I left behind. My latest essay explores the pride and the pain of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano–Cortina.

Becoming a stay-at-home barista is not as easy as one would think.