They call them the terrible twos and threes.  It’s the earliest time in life when you choose to express whatever anger you have with the world.

Perhaps it is the first time that we start to realize the Sun doesn’t circle around us.  Either way, it is a tender time for toddlers with lots of outbursts, screaming and crying sessions.

When I was three, I went through somewhat of a green stage; yes that means I wore only green twenty-four-seven for at least a month (and some of you wonder where my fashion problems began).  My hair used to be a lot lighter too.

Try to picture me in my terrible threes: a tiny man with platinum blond hair, eyes of fire, lime green overalls and a fists-on-hips pose that could scare away most animals.

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I have an ego issue.  9 times out of 10 I believe that I am more talented, more right, and more capable than you are.  I am the king and you are the pawn.

Does this seem familiar to you? Are we all Kings?

A chess box has two kings and sixteen pawns.  Yet, if our egos had a say, there would be sixteen kings.  That’s way too many: there just isn’t enough space on the board for that!

Likewise, there isn’t enough space in the game of life for all of us to have regal egos.  Read more »

Yesterday the San Francisco 49ers scored a touchdown to beat the New Orleans Saints with 9 seconds left in the game.  Last week Mitt Romney didn’t win the Iowa primary until the last eight votes were counted.

Whether you’re playing sports, running for office or just living life, the game is never over until you can talk about it in past tense.

As humans we have a tendency to rationalize and manage expectations.  It never fails that when a long trip of mine is coming to a close, I start to feel homesick.  When we anticipate a certain result, we begin to emotionally prepare for it.  We even start to aim for it. Read more »

Yesterday my Mom declared, “Christmas is going away today!”  Getting rid of the tree, ornaments and decorations around the house is one of those annual traditions that usually goes unnoticed, but its significance is felt.

It’s as if the disappearance of Christmas marks the real kickoff to the new year.  Vacation is over, the garland is gone and we’re starting to wonder how long we can keep up with the resolutions.

Often in life the real tests begin after all the fanfare dies down. It’s easy to eat lots of tasty treats during the holidays if you’re planning to exercise more in the new year…but actually keeping up with the exercise plan can be trouble. Read more »

2012 is here! Our last year on this planet according the Mayans—and the economic analysts, apparently.   Perhaps this is the year to keep a new years resolution (or to at least make one).

Normally I don’t pay too much attention to the resolution thing.  I generally feel that if I want to make a change, I shouldn’t wait til New Years to do it.

On top of that, it’s been a long time since I felt genuinely compelled to make a commitment to a new way, particularly at this time of year.

Perhaps this New Years Eve is different because for me, all of 2011 has been different.  I spent the bulk of the last year in Pakistan or travelling.

I made new friends and met incredible people along the way, but it was the first time that I have ever been taken completely out of my life as I knew it—isolated if you will—and put into a different context for a whole year. Read more »

Sibling sleepover. Coffee. Stockings. Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. Presents. Brunch.  That’s the Farris Christmas morning schedule.  It’s an unwritten series of traditions that we enjoy together year after year.

My family is pretty close so we often spend a Sunday morning together, but what makes Christmas special is the ritual…the repetition of the same activities in such a way as to make sure everyone is very present in the moment (no pun intended).

Traditions bring life and meaning to ordinary circumstances.  They become something we all look forward to—not because the act of the tradition itself is so special, but because it represents something much larger. Read more »

I hate it when people say dont get your hopes up. In that statement there is an inherent fear of failure-or worse, a fear of the feeling of despair.

Sure, if what you are pining for doesn’t work out, then the fact that you had hopes makes the depression feeling more intense…but should that stop you? Seriously…are you that much worse off for having experienced a more thrilling roller coaster of emotions?

I know Im a glass half full kind of guy, but I cast my ballot for hope. If you dont get your hopes up, then you will completely miss the feeling, the joy that is hope. Read more »