January is usually dominated by two things for me: stress-testing the routines I've developed to fall into better habits, and Further Confusion 2019. The convention this year was actually pretty fun: I enjoyed myself at my panels, met a lot of really awesome people, and rediscovered my love of selling books (I was a relief … Continue reading What I Learned This Month (January 2019)
Category: Buddhism
We Need To Talk
The season five finale of Steven Universe felt like a perfect encapsulation of what makes the show so great -- it made a case for its themes and worldview while acknowledging just how difficult it can be holding to those views. Steven, and the family of Crystal Gems he's built, have often struggled to navigate … Continue reading We Need To Talk
Depressional Confessional
I like to think I'm a pro at being depressed. Some of my earliest memories as a kid, looking back, suggest to me that I've had severe depressive episodes all the way back to elementary school. One particular experience I had in middle school, now that I think about it, had to have been an … Continue reading Depressional Confessional
Building A Better Buddhist in 2019
If there is one thing in 2019 we are sorely in need of, it's more compassion and empathy. I know this has been the rallying cry of many different corners of our society for a while now -- some have even weaponized the idea of civility as a means of shutting down dissent. But look … Continue reading Building A Better Buddhist in 2019
A Letter Of Intent
2018 was a challenging year for a whole lot of different reasons. The biggest, of course, is the challenge of watching our society continue to fracture and become more acidic under the "guiding hand" of the Trump Administration. The frequent attacks -- from all quarters -- against people of color, QUILTBAG individuals and allies, religious … Continue reading A Letter Of Intent
(Fundraising) Foxtrotting for Parkinson’s
Parkinson's Disease sucks. There's just no escaping it. Like most neurodegenerative diseases, it can strike anyone as they age and there is no cure for it -- just treatments that can help alleviate symptoms or slow the progression of the disease. While researchers have noticed a few differences in the brain scans of Parkinson's patients, … Continue reading (Fundraising) Foxtrotting for Parkinson’s
(Personal) Thoughts From a 38 Year Old
Today is my birthday. It is also the anniversary of the first time atomic weapons were ever used in war, when Hiroshima was bombed on this date in 1945. I'm fascinated by this face, and I like to tell people whenever I talk about my birthday. I used to think I did this because it … Continue reading (Personal) Thoughts From a 38 Year Old
(Politics) For The Culture
The culture wars have been raging for a little while now, on all kinds of different fronts in so many different ways. We're fighting about the idea of "white culture", the cultural appropriation of Native Americans and black Americans, how to clearly and succinctly define what's offensive about one thing while another thing is given … Continue reading (Politics) For The Culture
(Self-Improvement) In Praise of Mistakes
Mistakes are a fundamental part of the human condition -- almost as much as our fear of making them. Because of the way we're designed and the reality we live in, we're imperfect creatures limited by our experience, perspective and the momentum of habit. It's natural that these things would push us to do something … Continue reading (Self-Improvement) In Praise of Mistakes
(Politics) Your Light is All You Have
The world is on fire and nothing is okay. At a time when climate change is chugging along exactly as scientists said it would, when we're running out of fresh water and the crude, polluting oil we've built our entire society around, the world is caught up in a wave of xenophobia, authoritarianism and weaponized … Continue reading (Politics) Your Light is All You Have
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 