I wake up each morning with a tiny referee and panel of judges at my bedside. Their job: file the day into one of two categories.On a Good day, life flows out of me. I drown in ideas and responsibilities, revel in the distraction of friends, and find satisfaction in a cup of coffee. The …
God v. Beast
I read in an old book from an old world that humanity is ‘the intersection of god and beast’. It confirmed what Christianity had taught me; there is a born duality, an ambition’s burden, an inherited juxtaposition within each of us. To bring out the god and deny the beast was to live well.The god …
…on Redemption
My high school was a great place to grow up. The new buildings differed from the old in brick color and smell. Every creed, race, and religion grew up together - the strong defended the weak rather than abused them. We had almost every academic opportunity presented to us, as well as extracurriculars. I managed …
Ivy Drip
Fifteen in thirty - my new commitment to writing again. Life has come back toward a new normal - this year has explored a new kind of exhaustion. Because of it, the fire that supported all my previous writings dimmed. A sense of invalidation had washed over it; essays became rants never to see the …
Floating
I visited an American Bavaria this past weekend. After a post-hike feast, some friends and I shuffled satisfied toward the restaurant's double door. At the table beside the door was a woman with her husband. She had a matcha-green fishing hat fitted as if about to slide down the back of her head. Greyish-blonde hair …
…on Seeing the US
I covered my ears between bites of pancakes, bacon, and drip coffee. Understanding everything, from the TV in the background to the Ray Ramano impression four tables away, was overwhelming. Background noise brings funny moments though. The barista who has "totally got [me] if you're hungry, bro" or the jock telling his airport pickup "just …
On Fate
One of my favorite students is a dreamer, an artist. He began last class by telling a story about something that recently changed his life. The story ended with him finding a new community of friends, shifting his outlook on life, and a newfound sense of spirituality. He believes the entire experience was fated to …
My Degree
Most life long decisions seem to happen in coffee shops. The first tattoo I got took me 15 minutes after an Americano, moving to Peru took an hour. The largest shift in my life happened because of a chance encounter with an ASU alum at a Starbucks. Someone who, if sitting right in front of …
Learning Tiers
Quickly, this idea has been gestating for a week now! Some people have cocaine and hookers, others horse racing and poker. For me, my vice lies in a single, lame, oddly capitalized word: YouTube. My excuse for watching is consistent no matter the situation. I'm learning something new, being exposed to new ideas, using my …
The Long Haul
I'm starting to think that Peace is a mental runner's high. When you run, there's a point of maximum resistance. Your mind is yelling, "FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, STOP AND CATCH YOUR BREATH." Something has to overwhelm that desire, be it determination or a bear chasing you. Then, the endorphins hit. …
A Fresh Sip 