Optimism and Restaurants

But occasionally the world also brings a dose of joy and optimism in the most unexpected places. These moments serve as a reminder of the joy we ought to carry. Today, I re-encountered Marilyn Hagerty, the 86-year-old writer for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Ms. Hagerty gained fame in 2012 for her delightful review of the local Oliver Garden.

Body, Soul, and Basketball

Our games offer an entertaining alternative to running the treadmill and a great competitive outlet—the somewhat-civilized fight club. The games are often a highlight of my week. I say that without any complaint about my job, which encompasses many responsibilities that I love, from writing and teaching to counseling and traveling. Despite my job satisfaction, my wife often chides me as to how often my response to “how was your day” includes references to our game.

Will You Be My Friend?

Just over one year ago, I joined Facebook and began a novice social experiment. After I joined, I decided not to add anyone as my Facebook friend to see how quickly my network would grow by only accepting friend requests from others. (I will excuse the poor grammar of using “friend” as the verb instead of “befriend” since this seems to be appropriate language on Facebook.)