• humility, shame and reaching for a hand

    humility, shame and reaching for a hand

    Hubris isn’t an artificial construct or modern invention – it’s woven into our essential nature, our fundamental operating system. We aren’t living in an unprecedented age of narcissism; we’re simply expressing our species’ inherent arrogance. Read more

  • Lithuania Unveiled: What Makes the Youth Happier Than the Rest?

    Lithuania Unveiled: What Makes the Youth Happier Than the Rest?

    On my first morning in Kaunas, a monk accidentally blessed me—a sign that this trip would be something special. As someone who attracts eccentric moments, I took it in stride. But the real surprise came just fifteen minutes later. Strolling through the old town, I spotted kids as young as two or three playing freely,… Read more

  • non-emergent adulthood

    non-emergent adulthood

    While more comfort may sound appealing on paper, it often comes at the cost of liberty. The more we trade freedom for comfort, the more we regress. And like life, regression also has one ultimate destination: childhood. As wary as we are of authoritarian leaders, we should be just as wary of the nanny state.… Read more

  • Return of the Third Place

    Return of the Third Place

    Commercial centers are vital for the economy but offer additional benefits, particularly for socialization, exposure to differences, and cultural enrichment. Commercial activities nurture culture, with each part of town taking on a distinct character based on its predominant businesses. Read more

  • Big Things Are Over

    Big Things Are Over

    We now have an outdated, bizarre group (class, if you will), whom I call the dotcom millennials—well-traveled bilinguals who feel globally integrated yet locally isolated. While their time is long gone, the core idea lingers. Read more

  • Ascent of the Sidekick

    Ascent of the Sidekick

    The Hero’s Journey starts with a call, whether a desire or a conflict—a call for transformation. One of my favorites is Homer’s absolute epic banger, ‘The Odyssey.’ The story follows the King of Ithaca, Odysseus, on his journey back home. Convincing gods, fighting monsters, and still arriving on time before someone else weds your wife… Read more