“Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” This line, made famous by Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part II, provides a keen insight for improving our art and our lives. Too often we wage war with the parts of ourselves we do not like. We want to conquer these perceived weaknesses. Blow them to…

In what is now known as the House Divided Speech, Abraham Lincoln stated that, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Although he was referring to the conflict surrounding slavery in the United States at that time, I think his statement holds true today in our personal and creative lives. Think of yourself as a…

In my younger—and more flexible—teenage years, I enjoyed participating in the martial arts. One Saturday morning I found myself on the dojo floor awaiting my turn in the sparring circle. I sat mesmerized as I watched a scrappy, five-foot-tall, hundred pound, Hispanic, green belt named Jesse stand toe-to-toe with one of the senior black belts….

The greatest gift we can ever give to another person is a piece of our selves. This gift can take many forms, including our time, our talents, our ideas, or even our resources. As I grow older, I find myself concerned with my own affairs less and less. My urge for consumption—particularly material possessions—has decreased…