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A lot of people are frightened by spiders. We even have a nursery rhyme perpetuating this fear: “Little Miss Muffet, Sat on a tuffet, Eating her curds and whey; Along came a spider, and sat down beside her, and frightened little Miss Muffet away.” (Personally, I imagine it would have been the curds that would […]

Building Your Power of Expression Doppelgänger, n. Pronunciation: ˈdäpəlˌɡaNGər Meaning: Refers to an apparition or a double of a living person. It is usually a reference to a non-biologically related look-alike or double of a living person. The term comes from German, meaning “double walker.” In folklore and fiction, a doppelgänger is often considered a […]

There’s something almost sacred about the early hours of the day—the stillness, the fresh start, the open canvas. Yet for many, mornings are a mad dash: alarms snoozed one too many times, emails checked before eyes are fully open, coffee gulped down while multitasking. In our race to be productive, we often bypass one of […]

One thing is clear: There are two broad steams of thought in the United States of America today. These two streams of thought cannot be reconciled, which is ominous for that is what causes civil wars to occur. To put it simply, in the mid-19th Century, this country found itself home to two opposing streams […]

Birthdays are an opportunity to celebrate our individual humanity. Birthdays are also a chance to celebrate the individual humanness of others we care about. Birthdays give us an annual moment to look deeply into the heart of someone and say how we feel about that person. Birthdays summon our deepest wellsprings of camaraderie and enable […]

Building Your Power of Expression Imperious, adj. Pronunciation: ˌimˈpirēəs Meaning: Ever hear someone say to someone else, “Who died and made you king?” The person on the receiving end of that barb was probably assuming power and authority without justification. Any time a person displays an arrogant posture or a demanding persona is probably behaving […]

In an age of relentless notifications, pop-up messages, and the never-ending ping of group chats, the ability to focus has become a superpower. The modern professional world often rewards speed, adaptability, and the appearance of busyness. But in the pursuit of doing everything at once, we’ve slowly forgotten the deep, transformative value of doing one […]

One of the hallmarks of Civilization is its absence of chatter. Clark is a gracious historical guide, but he does not go in for small talk. He is genial but also serious. An abundance of glorious music often commandeers the audio. Clark says his piece and then lets the camera pan slowly over the art, architecture, and […]

Within the history and structures of Western academic thought emerge certain lines of demarcation. We cluster our collective learning and knowledge under the Arts and the Sciences. (I could add, were I inclined, the Letters, by which I mean literature and scholarly writing in the humanities — not just creative works, but the broader intellectual […]

Building Your Power of Expression Censorious, adj. Pronunciation: senˈsôrēəs Meaning: We hear this word used often in the media – especially conservative media (such as talk radio, one of the few mediums dominated by conservative thought). When used in such settings, it is usually in reference to accusations of censorship of conservatives by Leftists. While […]

I credit RM for reminding me of some important truths. He called me the other day seeking my advice on a matter he was struggling with. During the course of that conversation, wherein I gave him brilliant advice, the conversation turned to some things I was struggling with myself. I’m a deal-maker at heart. Very […]

In a 1973 essay, “Utopianism, Ancient and Modern,” commentator Irving Kristol touched upon the conservative indifference to the claims of culture. “For two centuries,” he wrote, the very important people who managed the affairs of this society could not believe in the importance of ideas—until one day they were shocked to discover that their children, […]

I have been a participant in many conversations over the last year about relationships. I’m talking about male-female romantic relationships. Many of these conversations have involved current or former college students of mind. Many others have involved peers of mine. Sometimes the conversation involves a person who wants to be in a relationship with a […]

Building Your Power of Expression Pied, adj. Pronunciation: Pīd Meaning: Refers to having two (or more) differing colors, especially in blotches or patches. It is often used to describe animals, horses in particular. Birds, cats, and dogs are often the recipients of the adjective, although the term is not exclusive to animals. It can also […]

We all carry invisible weights. Some were handed to us by well-meaning parents, teachers, or peers. Others we quietly forged ourselves through failure, fear, or comparison. They are our limiting beliefs — quiet, persistent ideas that whisper, “You can’t,” “You shouldn’t,” or “You’ll never be enough.” But what if these beliefs are not truths, only […]

Throughout his presidential campaign, Donald Trump declared that he and his supporters were “the party of common sense.” In his Inaugural Address on January 20, Trump returned to this theme. With his flurry of executive orders, he said, “We will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It’s all about […]

Many of us, myself included, have found that uncertainty is one of life’s great stressors. Few things make me more anxious than not knowing what comes next — whether it’s a relationship teetering on the edge, a career opportunity hanging in limbo, or the gnawing question of financial security. I, like so many others, crave […]

Building Your Power of Expression Reticent, adj. Pronunciation: ˈredəsənt Meaning: This word conveys a sense of hesitancy, of caution, or of being guarded in one’s expressions. To be reticent is to be reserved, or quiet, or reluctant to express oneself. A reticent person tends to avoid speaking freely or to reveal much about themselves. Such […]

In a culture that glamorizes hustle and grand achievements, it’s easy to feel like meaningful change has to be dramatic. We set lofty goals—“lose 30 pounds,” “write a book,” “meditate every morning”—only to burn out after the initial surge of motivation fades. But what if the real key to transformation isn’t in going big, but […]

Continuing with some things we do know about January 6th: In addition, we know that on the morning of January 6, 2021, tens of thousands of Trump supporters gathered for a rally on The Ellipse, a park south of the White House, to show support for the President and protest what they believed were irregularities […]

Let’s consider a serious subject: laughter. Laughter is one of those uniquely human quirks we often take for granted. But peel back the layers, and you’ll find that laughter is a fascinating window into the social and psychological wiring of the human brain. At its core, laughter isn’t just about jokes or humor—it’s a deep-rooted […]

Building Your Power of Expression Sentient, adj. Pronunciation: ˈsen(t)SH(ē)ənt Meaning: Coming from the Latin word sentire, which means “to feel,” this word refers to the ability to perceive or feel things. People who are conscious and aware could be said to be sentient. Further, a sentient being could be said to be one that can […]

We all have comfort zones—those familiar routines and habits that keep us feeling safe. While they provide security, they can also become invisible walls that limit personal growth. The problem? Staying in a comfort zone too long leads to stagnation. We stop learning, avoid challenges, and miss out on new opportunities. If you’ve ever felt […]

On January 22nd of this year, John Daniel Davidson, Senior Editor at The Federalist, delivered a talk on the topic of January 6th – the so-called insurrection that the media and the Left are still very much worked up about. Even Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who wasn’t even inside the main Capital building where the breach took […]

Several years ago I got hooked on the wisdom of a writer named Neil Postman. He was a college professor at New York University. A dear friend of mine, Ross Baron, who is brilliant in his own right, had alerted me to the value of Postman’s writings. That same summer, I read seven of Postman’s […]

Building Your Power of Expression Reciprocity, n. Pronunciation: ˌresəˈpräsədē Meaning: Reciprocity is the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit. Tit for tat. I scratch your back, you scratch mine. But it’s not a word that exclusively deals with things of a positive benefit. Think an eye for an eye. It could also […]

I was enrolled to begin my masters degree at Claremont Graduate School (now Claremont Graduate University) in June 1996. Although I was very excited about the prospects of studying with the legendary Peter Drucker, I have to admit I was quite nervous. I was nervous because during my undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University, I […]

People who know me know that I do not belong to a political party. I am not a Democrat. And I am not a Republican. My view of political parties is that while they can, in theory, do some good, they inevitably do more harm than good. Political parties go through different phases at different […]

There are two voices within each of us. One of the voices beckons us towards stillness, calm, rest, repose, quietude. This voice accepts current reality. This voice is content. The other voice lights a fire within and spurs us on to reject current circumstances and to strive for something more. This voice represents ill-content. The […]

Building Your Power of Expression Racy, adj. Pronunciation: ˈrāsē Meaning: This word can be used in several ways. If the context has to do with speech, or writing, or behavior, the word refers to qualities such as liveliness, entertaining, and even mildly provocative or titillating in a sort of sexual manner. Conversely, if the context […]