Hopeful and Hopeless, at the Same Time. I’ve been staring at this page not knowing what to say. Yet I know no one’s telling me I have to. I stopped for a month, but without writing the hours feel like a weight, a burden. “What do I do now?” It’s gnawing at my insides. When I don’t feel there’s anything else out there to do, and start doom scrolling, or falling asleep at my desk, I feel resigned to it; “I’d better write.” But wait, why write if the investment of 20 hours per post isn’t getting...

What the Restoration of a ’56 Chevy Taught Me About Friendship My dream was to restore an old Chevy. What technical skill I lacked, Ivan had as a mechanic and bodyman. We hunted for vintage cars and found our ‘56 Chevy 4-door on a farm east of Edmonton. We rented a garage with heaters so we could work through the Edmonton winter. It felt like it was going to be an interesting and profitable 50/50 partnership. Under the careful instruction of Ivan, in the early days we made good progress in...

That's not a Feeling “How do you feel?” my friend asked. “Normal, I guess.” “But that’s not a feeling.” “Yeah, OK. I’m good, fine. Whatever. Why’s it matter how I feel?” “Grayson, not naming your feelings makes it harder to connect; with others and even with yourself.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked. “If you have a limited vocabulary for your emotions you’ll have difficulty in keeping up with yourself; before you’re overwhelmed, stressed or even depressed.” “Haha. Yeah. OK.” “No...