by Melissa Owens | Dec 18, 2024 | Uncategorized
Mr. Pearl sat by the fire on a cold December morning. A cup of coffee in his hand, his favorite album on vinyl, his phone switched off, and (for now) no one interrupting. In other words, perfection. It had been a busy, almost overwhelming week, between the end of year...
by Melissa Owens | Nov 13, 2024 | Uncategorized
What are you known for? Are you the life of the party? The thoughtful listener? The adventurous eater? All of us are known for something(s). And it’s usually a mixed bag. You’ve probably noticed patterns in how the people around you describe you. And you probably have...
by Melissa Owens | Oct 16, 2024 | Uncategorized
Everyone’s a critic. If you’ve spent any amount of time on this earth, you’ve likely been on the receiving end of it. As the writer Elbert Hubbard put it, “Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” We often...
by Melissa Owens | Sep 18, 2024 | Uncategorized
Yes, we’re going there. One of the reasons we are bad about talking about politics or religion is that we don’t talk about them. We’ve convinced ourselves nothing good will come of it. Conversations like these will only end in hurt feelings, reinforced beliefs,...
by Melissa Owens | Aug 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
What was your first major award? Was it a sport, a scholastic achievement, a professional accomplishment? Were you aiming for it, or did it come as a surprise? There’s something undeniably satisfying about being recognized and singled out. Watching the Olympics every...