Further
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From the October 5, 2022 issue of Further As people of a certain age, our search for meaning and purpose can feel at once essential and overwhelming. Making sense of our existence — the big WHY of who we are and how we can find happiness on this whirling planet in an infinite, ever-expanding universe (yes, …
From the October 5, 2022 issue of Further My spouse just returned from nine days on business, plus a golf trip. After 25 years together, we both enjoyed the space. After all, to paraphrase Rilke, protecting each other’s solitude is the counterintuitive key to staying together. Any second now, though, things will go back to …
Energy is everything. That’s a literal statement — we’re comprised of atoms, and quantum physics says if you take a deep dive into the inner workings of an atom, all you’ll find are energy waves. Energy, as we know, is constantly in flux. But in midlife, energy drainage often seems to be the norm. Some of …
From the September 28, 2022 issue of Further The concept of “midlife crisis” is back in the news, with new research from behavioral scientists stating that middle-aged folks are more prone to physiological and psychological woes. This isn’t news-news — at Further, we often discuss the U-shaped curve, aka the “happiness curve,” where well-being droops in …
From the September 21, 2022 issue of Further Our generation sucks at asking for help. After all, it’s part of the latchkey kid credo that we take care of ourselves without complaint. But we’re not bitter… just ask Kurt Cobain: If you ever need anything please don’t hesitate to ask someone else first. That sums …
Considering we’re card-carrying members of the “Just Say No” generation, you’d think we’d be easily able to laugh in the face of temptation. And that we could quickly size up a given situation and respectfully decline. But the truth is saying no isn’t always so simple. In fact, it seldom is. I know I have …
From the September 14, 2022 issue of Further Queen Elizabeth II’s passing is significant for many reasons — not least of all, her impressive longevity. As the Wall Street Journal pointed out, 90% of the world’s population has only ever known her as Britain’s monarch. While her mum lived to 101, genetics alone doesn’t explain Elizabeth …
From the September 7, 2022 issue of Further Challenges are hard, amirite? You’ve got to be bold and courageous to accomplish a goal, which takes grit and resilience. Sounds exhausting when it’s put that way. Might as well give up before you even start. And that’s the challenging thing about a challenge: your brain wants …
From the August 31, 2022 issue of Further Earlier this month was the first anniversary of my mom’s death. Ironically, that same day Brian passed along a new book by psychologist Sherry Walling, Touching Two Worlds: A Guide for Finding Hope in the Landscape of Loss. I thought I knew everything about mourning. My mom …
From the August 24, 2022 issue of Further As a Further reader, you know that Brian’s signature slogan is: Keep going. After a few years of change and loss, I’ve taken to an adjacent midlife motto: Move on. While the pandemic accelerated some of the shifts, the truth is that this is a poignant time …
From the August 10, 2022 issue of Further Remember the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer? Yeah, me neither. Giving ourselves time to do nothing seems like a distant memory, reserved for childhood or some far-off notion of retirement. Relaxation is good in theory and potentially torturous for many of us in reality. Even when …
It’s perhaps ironic writing about cheerfulness for a predominately Gen X readership. But please put any cynicism aside because history shows choosing to be upbeat can be a power move. Now, I don’t mean that in a gross way, how a cheesy salesperson, pushy social media influencer, or surface-skimming colleague might fake joviality to get …