FIRST, SOME HISTORY AND CONTEXT: I first published this essay in 2012, and every year…
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Adventures In Radical Incrementalism
Near the end of each year, I have a ritual I like to do: I…
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We Interrupt Your Expectations To Bring You Your Actual Marathon
The day before the New York City Marathon, walking in Central Park up to the…
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Maybe I’m Not “Having Trouble Sleeping”
The first time I had trouble sleeping at night was one Christmas Eve when I…
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AC/DC, Life
I. 1994 There were two CDs that sat next to the stereo in the weight…
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One Of The Smartest Things Anyone Has Ever Said To Me
A long time ago, I used to think it was a good idea to confront…
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A Pessimist Plants A Tree
[papercut art by Anna Brones] To listen to this essay on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/95ibA5Lo6aM…
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He Was Just A Dog
My dog died Tuesday. He had been battling lymphoma since early May, doing well with…
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I Have Been Frying Eggs Wrong My Entire Life, Probably
One of my greatest sources of wonder in life: At every breakfast joint I’ve ever…
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Unearned Confidence Vs. Humility
My friend Ace and I were hiking somewhere in the Utah desert several years ago…
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There’s No Way I Could Have Seen This Totally Predictable Injury Coming
“I don’t know if it’s luck or just taking it kind of easy, but I’ve…
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Nostalgia: A Hobby, A Habit, A Survival Tactic
At some point during the second or third episode of Once Upon a Time In…
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Shoveling Season Is Upon Us
Yooooooo we got a foot of fresh powder around here the other day, and you…
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Make 2022 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm
Note: I first wrote and published this post on December 29, 2011, calling it “Make…
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My Friend Says It’s The Greatest Race In The World
Just after the crest of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the longest and highest climb of the…
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I Recommend Wikipedia
Have you ever pulled your phone out of your pocket to do something useful, like…
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Taking A Break
—Brendan
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Because You Never Know
When it comes to my dog’s favorite humans, I will never be Number One. In…
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The Old Bike-In-A-Bag Trick
If you’re trying to sneak stuff onto public transportation, there are certainly many ways to…
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Surely These Notebooks Will Help Me Create Amazing Things
Perhaps you know someone like me, a person who cannot resist buying notebooks of all…
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Getting Up Early: An Ode, A Lament
Some mornings, after I have been jarred out of a deep sleep far too early…
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The Joy Of Planning Trips I’ll Never Take
I was opening a fifth browser tab when I caught myself. Researching an 600+-mile bike…
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Going Fast, Going Far
Even when I was just taping off my steps before the race started, I was…
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I Hate Running
[NOTE: To mark the publication of my new book, I Hate Running and You Can…
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Make 2021 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm
Note: I first wrote and published this post on December 29, 2011, calling it “Make…
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The Life-Changing Magic Of Ignoring The Ratings
Several years ago, I had an idea to collect some bad Yelp reviews of U.S.…
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The Dog’s Guide To Being Present
My dog, probably like many dogs you know, lives inside, but lives for any opportunity…
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