Before the next one hits… — The pandemic caused most of us to step back and reflect on the fragility of our society. It isn’t hard to imagine a virus just as contagious as COVID-19 with a slightly higher fatality rate — just high enough that essential workers decide coming…

Lessons from philosophy, physics, and Bob Ross — The word “decide” stems from the Latin “decidere.” “Decidere” is comprised of the prefix “de,” meaning “of” or “from” and “caedo,” meaning “cut” or “fell.” In an important sense, then, to decide is to cut something away from your life. It’s a kind of pruning. No wonder it can be…

A terrestrial adventure — A space is a means to an end. A place is an end in itself. When, in human history, did we create the first space? Was it the first fence being built? Was it the first road? Was it the moment the first farmer pleaded with the sky? Humans have…

A Buddhist reflection on Stephen Jenkinson’s philosophy of death — In the summer of 2009, I was in Bamako, Mali, learning Bambara as a Peace Corps volunteer. It was my fourth day of class. I hadn’t slept well the night before and was struggling to pay attention. Just as I was about to nod off, a man called my name…

How this one metaphor makes all the difference — In his timeless essay, “A Native Hill,” the farmer-philosopher Wendell Berry distinguishes a path from a road: A path is little more than a habit that comes with knowledge of a place. It is a sort of ritual of familiarity. As a form, it is a form of contact with…

How you can help in this critical moment — “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” — Mahatma Gandhi On July 15th, 2021, Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced the Farm System Reform Act, legislation that would put a moratorium on building new factory farms, prevent existing ones…

How elevation broadens our horizons — Near my house in Southwest Washington, there’s a trail that climbs a ridge overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. Emerging from a tunnel of fir and pine, you walk out onto a cliff. The view hits you all at once. You feel the bigness of sky. Eagles, falcons, hawks, and other…

How floor sitting keeps you healthy as you age — As a home health occupational therapist, I saw patients every day whose bodies bore the marks of prolonged sitting. Retired truck drivers, secretaries and other office workers were especially prone to postural disorders. For them, chronic back and neck pain was just a part of life. And yet, for my…

How a woman with multiple sclerosis embodies the teachings of Taoism — Six years ago, Susan painted a watercolor portrait of her pug. It hung on the wall in a bright yellow frame, welcoming all who enter her magical craft room. She proceeded to give me the full tour: Christmas ornaments and puff paint sweatshirts, quilts and birthday cards, bird houses and…