Gary Varner

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Latest — Jun 8, 2023

Uniqueness

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. - Margaret Mead Intellectually, we all know we’re unique and no else is like us, from the physical to our mental and learning capabilities, and much more. It’s all good, and it’s all unique. Yet external

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Mortality's Shadow

During their lives, humans come to dread their mortality. Fear paints over the truth that death, like our journey through life, is an inevitable, natural progression. And we spend too much of our precious time dwelling on our demise instead of living. Death is never a matter of if, but

Faith

Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof. - Kahlil Gibran This is not a post about religious faith or prayer by the faithful directed to a higher being in hopes they’ll intercede on our behalf. It is about inner confidence and belief in one’

Plans, Schedules, and Self-Inflicted Chaos

Let’s face it: some like to plan, some don't, and plans don't always work out. Not me! I’m an experienced planner, process-oriented and obedient to the plan. Ha! Well, most of the time. Okay, SOME of the time. Sigh. I love the sounds deadlines make, as they go

Plan Z

Whenever there’s a process with external influences, or involving two or more parties, the wise planner has a primary plan with objectives and goals… and a hip-pocket Plan B, just in case. Always best to have at least one pre-thought-out alternate plan to keep moving forward should something burp

Productively Obsessing

Over the years, therapists decided that “obsessive” is a bad word. Like many hijacked words or phrases, obsessive usage shifted... this time to the negative and used to label a person's serious problem. Websters, obsession: the domination of one’s thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, feelings,

Live 5 x 3

Live Balanced * Do frequent media black-out days and analogue days away from digitals. * Pursue dreams and passions fervently. * Spend time with friends and loved ones. Live Generously * Give and expect nothing in return. * Like and love without barriers. * Share your time and attention. Live Harmoniously * Compromise openly and avoid “I”

Are You The Noun, Or The Verb?

When someone asks, “What do you do?” how do you answer? Most day-job people answer with their job title. Creatives also tend to respond with a noun: “I’m a writer,” “I’m a painter,” “I’m a gardener,” etc. We’re conditioned to crave labels, rather than focus on

The Joy of Small

Marketers of consumer goods pretend to care about making us happier, yet clearly they have an ulterior motive as a higher goal. We yearn to take big bites out of the happiness pie. The instant gratification, the "If I buy this it will make me happy" are alluring solutions. Those

Doors & Paths

A life lived long and well (or short or not-so-well) is a continual series of choices, appearing metaphorically as doors or paths. Open a door, and the universe’s equivalent of Monty Hall (Let's Make a Deal TV game show host) will either celebrate with you on what’s behind