Belonging
It started with a firepit, a half-smoked cigarillo, and an ugly comment thread about AI. It ended somewhere closer to the truth about belonging.
Journal
A blog, a journal, a lab notebook, whatever comes to mind and sticks, you’ll find here. Find written ruminations from the quiet margins of life….
The Real Price of a Hobby Is Never Just the Money
I’m older (again), and on this quiet afternoon, I’ve been thinking about a few operating guidelines for how I spend my time and money. There’s only so much you can do, think, and buy. I’m also learning to let go of how I did things in the past. Who doesn’t have this tendency—to keep trying
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Miniature Painting and the Art of Human Relationships
All of the world is connected. Some connections form easily. Others are strained, broken, or misaligned—and we emerge changed as a result. As I paint—building a finished miniature step by step, layer by layer—I’ve come to realize that the practice of miniature painting closely mirrors the art of finding, maintaining, and nurturing human relationships. In
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Anxiety is the Future, and It is Bright
“The other shoe is about to drop,” they say—and I often feel. As you get older, it seems that life’s burdens accumulate, building up toward a critical mass, crossing a threshold into a state-of-being that becomes your everyday. Is this you? Here, I explain how anxiety operates in my own life, shaped largely by uncertainty
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Why I Enjoy Tabletop Miniature Wargaming (Editorial)
Do you enjoy playing tabletop wargames? I have a personal take on why I love playing these miniature battles. One of the goals of this site is to help the community grow. A challenge, of course, is that not everyone understands why people like playing tabletop wargames. So, in the following article, I’ll attempt to
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Feeling Exhausted by Your Hobbies? Rekindle the Mission
In the quiet of the night, when the world seems to slow down, I often find myself reflecting on the day’s rush, the unending tasks, and the pervasive feeling of tiredness that seems to cloud my mind. It’s not the physical exhaustion that weighs heavily upon me; it’s a more profound sense of weariness, a
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A Morning Walk Through The Landscapes of Human Resilience
Every weekday morning, my walk from the parking lot to my lab takes me past the entrance of a military hospital. On the surface, it’s an ordinary stroll, but the people I pass every day are far from ordinary. They are injured veterans, men and women whose scars—visible or invisible—tell stories of battlefields stretching from
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It’s Okay to Be Like a Child
I got lost for a while back there. Not lost in the sense of not knowing where I am, but lost in the sense of feeling disoriented and confused. And, it is often “stopping” to smell the roses that helped me find my way again. Here, it was a road trip. At these moments which
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The Benefits of Low Expectations (10 Creative Tips)
Ever have a problem with getting started with a project? I find that as I get better at doing something, the harder it is to continue. After a bit of introspection, I realized that this is a key symptom of “aspiration paralysis”. As I get better and more confident, my natural inclination is to expect
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How to Build Emotional Resilience Against Judgement (Editorial)
I work in a job that requires high emotional resilience against judgement. And, I also engage in a creative hobby that often requires that I share my work in the public domain, open to harsh criticism. I wish I could say that I’ve unlocked a secret to enduring the emotional rollercoaster. But I wrestle between
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Hobby Writing and Intrusive Thoughts (Editorial)
I often get asked why I write so much about hobbies, thoughts, and insights. The simple answer is that it’s something I’m passionate about. But there’s more to it than that. It’s kind of an identity. I think it’s important to have a hobby or creative outlet that is entirely your own. Something that you
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What Painting Miniatures Teaches You About Blood and Failure
Do you ever feel like you’re just not good enough? That no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to achieve your goals? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, this is a feeling that nearly everyone experiences at some point in their lives. The key to overcoming this feeling is to learn from
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The Case for Blogging (Mindful Proliferation)
Unmotivated? Lost the mojo for writing or creating whatever you usually enjoy doing? I have a few thoughts on this issue. But, I’ve also got a problem. Hah! Here I am sitting in front of my computer, gnawing on a pen (bad habit). And, I do want to write! But, I don’t know why I
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How to Photograph Miniatures with a Black Background (Guide)
A true infinity black background is a great way to create a dramatic atmosphere in your miniature photos. But, many people don’t realize how difficult it is to create a true black background, until they take their first few pictures. A black backdrop in your photos of painted miniatures is hard to achieve! Sometimes the
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Chaos and Purpose in Nature: A Photography Walkabout
Ever walk through nature and stumble upon the unexpected thoughts? Discovery is a thrill I need. Although I’m all grown up, the childlike sense of wonder continues to put a smile on my face. During this tough time across the globe, I decided to visit a local State Park. Of course, the cold blustery weather
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