Time to Fly

It's sunny and warm in Dayton, Ohio, this morning. A few lazy groups of clouds play poker and tell jokes in the sky. I'm cold in my hotel suite, but that's because I'm literally a slab of skin and bones. I'm alright, though. Cool indoor temps aren't enough to slay the beast today. It's the …

What I Tell My Fear

When I was younger, I used to always wish time would speed up. I had this to do or wanted to do that and it all took place in this magical, intangible place called The Future. I'd circle the calendar and set alarms and ready myself for whatever it was I wanted. I look back …

I’m My Best Cheerleader

It's grey and rainy in Cleveland this morning. Dark clouds fill the atmosphere. I'm sitting at my dining room table with a mug of coffee to warm me up and the undeniable energy of the Space Jam theme motivating me to do anything but sleep. This is a change of pace for me. Ever since …

Cosmic Turn of Events

They say Pluto is supposed to bring destructive returns. Well, to me, Pluto is a just a dwarf planet (still unbelievable) and one that lies in our furthest reaches. What does it mean to chase what you can barely see? I think about that all the time as my friend Andy and I hike before …

Thirty-Six Trips

It’s easy to imagine thirty-five Legos or thirty-five Skittle. Hold them in your hands. Count them one by one. From this vantage point, you can tell which are choice and which are not-so-choice. But you can tell them all the same because you can see them, you can feel them. Year aren’t like that. You …

On the Up

There's only one way to go when you're down, right? No surprise twists. No unexpected turns. A person can't stay down forever, can they? I believe in hope. I believe in the power of perseverance. I believe in discipline and consistency. I believe in punctuality. I believe in showing up. I've been down but hanging …

Coach

I stand in front of a sink and wash wash dishes, while I think think think about running, having writ writ written any number of words in the morning. That's my ritual. An hour or two of writing in the morning before work and then running in the afternoon once the shackles are loose. I …

Humbled but Hungry Under the Low October Sun

The leaves are rustling and the sun is just about to set on another day in The Land. The forecast says there's only a 10% chance of rain, but the air feels more foreboding than 10%. It feels like 50%. The dark clouds smothering the sunset lend to this suspicion. Either way, I'm going to …

Peaks and Valleys

Five years ago, it was a different story. I was thirty, working a desk job, and running marathons competitively. I'd take weekend trips to anywhere I could, including a fateful trek up Pikes Peak, which happened five years ago this weekend. View of Pikes Peak from the famous Barr Trail (Lutz/2016) Today, thirty-five and working …

Dreaming Awake

I stand in front of a sink and spray water at things all day. When I'm done spraying the things with water, I place them on a rack and push them into a giant machine. The machine washes the things, while I spray water on other things. I do this over and over and over, …