Author: admin
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What is Worth Documenting?
I think life is meant to be lived. At the same time, I treasure certain memories from my life. Sometimes a picture takes me back to a great vacation experience. When I re-read a journal entry, I get to re-experience a specific time in my life. And sometimes, I can relate my experiences to others…
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Focus
We live in a distracting age, with countless forces vying for our attention. The rise of cell phones and social media has only exacerbated the situation. I struggle to deal with distractions now more than ever. This is partly due to a fairly recent change in my daily job responsibilities. It’s also due to factors…
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Creative Work
It’s not a question of talent. It’s a question of timing. Some stories resonate more or less at different times. I wasn’t there for the Catcher in the Rye craze. But somehow, J.D. Salinger was there in the right place at the right time. He nailed it. Lots of people could relate to Holden Caulfield…
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Alone Time
I’m a bit more of an introvert than an extrovert. While I love working on fun projects with a lot of people, I also enjoy having time alone to recharge. Being around others sparks my creativity and engages me in a way that I crave. Being alone tends to be more relaxing. I like having…
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Humans are Lazy
As I get older, I seem to be more inclined to embrace my own laziness. I could take my daughter swimming, but that’s a lot of work. Even though she still enjoys it, I don’t make the effort to take her swimming as often as I did when we were both younger. There is no…
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Fooling Kids
Sometimes parents think they’re so smart. But kids of smart parents also tend to be smart. There are times when both kids and parents try to fool each other. It usually doesn’t work so well. Parents may think they have an advantage in this game. While experience matters, the advantage isn’t nearly so great as…
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Working with People
One of my talents is leading others. It’s also something I enjoy. I like getting a group of people together to do something amazing. There are two specific contexts that immediately come to mind. I’ve led students in a classroom (mostly teaching physics), and I’ve directed actors in the process of making movies. I LOVE…
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Mira Nair
Mira Nair is another one of my heroes. As a director, she’s made several great movies, unlike any that I’ve seen previously. Here are my favorites. She’s worked with many impressive actors. Denzel Washington gave a rich and tender performance in Mississippi Masala. Marisa Tomei gave a delightful performance in The Perez Family. I look…
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Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton has been one of my heroes since high school. She is an extraordinary writer who captures what it means to be human, especially for women in the society of her time. I read Ethan Frome for a class, and it haunts me still. “…and the way they are now, I don’t see’s there’s…
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Boredom
It’s interesting to me that we can simultaneously be busy and bored. Many important tasks don’t engage me creatively or intellectually. This doesn’t diminish their value. Therefore, it’s good to be bored. We’re all going to be bored occasionally, so we might as well learn to enjoy it. Sometimes, we can trick our minds into…