We have become more connected than any generation in history, yet I sometimes wonder whether we have never been lonelier. I know I am part of the problem. Like so many people, I reach for my phone without thinking. It fills quiet moments, answers every question almost instantly, and places the knowledge of the world in the palm of my hand. It is an extraordinary invention, but it is also incredibly addictive. I am trying to do better. Everywhere we look, the signs are there.

Many people today seem to define leadership as toughness without compromise. In this view, a leader is someone who never admits uncertainty, never changes course, dismisses criticism, and projects strength at any cost. As a result, qualities such as negotiation, strategic thinking, intellectual ability, and empathy are pushed aside. Leadership is too often judged by who can shout the loudest, deliver the harshest insults, and gain the most personal advantage from a situation.

Dogs. I have always loved them. Especially dachshunds. My wife and I have had four of them since we got married in 1992. Each one different in their own way but all of them the same in the ways that matter. They don’t overthink anything. They don’t worry about what might happen tomorrow. They don’t question whether they’re doing life the right way. They just show up. They’re there when you walk through the door. They’re there when you’re having a good day. They’re there when

This may be one of the most difficult pieces I have ever written. Those closest to me—only a handful of people—know about my lifelong struggle between faith and doubt. I suspect many others experience the same tension but rarely speak about it. When I meet people, whose faith seems unwavering, I often find myself unable to fully understand it. At other times, I quietly envy it. I suppose I consider myself a Catholic agnostic. Raised and educated in the Catholic faith from chi

I understand why many people would rather avoid politics right now. The arguments are exhausting, the labels feel limiting, and it can seem easier to step away from the noise. I have felt that temptation myself. But politics is about far more than campaigns, personalities, or political parties. It shapes the government that writes our laws, protects our rights, funds our schools, determines our healthcare, and influences nearly every aspect of public life. Choosing not to eng

This week I listened to an outstanding interview on NPR's Fresh Air, where Terri Gross spoke with journalist Helen Lewis about the rise of what Lewis calls "masculinism." The conversation was based on Lewis's Atlantic article, The Men Who Want Women To Be Quiet, and explored a movement that argues men should once again occupy a dominant position in society. As always, Gross conducted a thoughtful and probing interview. She would be my dream interviewer. But the subject itself

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." - Friedrich Nietzsche Suffering is an unavoidable part of the human experience. In Buddhism, this truth is expressed in the first of the Four Noble Truths: life includes suffering. Recognizing this reality does not remove pain, but it can help us face life with greater honesty, acceptance, and resilience. Life often tests us through uncertainty, hardship, and questions that have no easy answers. Yet these challenges beco