My father passed away this past June at the age of ninety. When I think of him, I begin with his life, not with the way it ended. He was born in a small village in Kashmir in British India, the sixth of eight children in a family of modest means. He was the only […]

We live in a world that quietly nudges us toward more. Take something as mundane as toothpaste. Dentists tell us a pea-sized amount is enough for brushing, yet most of us squeeze out a thick ribbon every morning. More toothpaste doesn’t clean better; it just creates more foam, tricks us into feeling extra-clean, and empties […]

My wife and I, both instructors at the same college, retired this month. In this post, I will talk about our decision and its potential impact. Choosing to Retire—Together Unlike some professionals, American college instructors don’t have to retire at a specific age. That made the retirement decision more personal and, in some ways, more […]