In 2000, Robert Putnam observed something peculiar. More Americans than ever were bowling. But fewer people were bowling in group leagues. It was a simple observation. Our desire to go bowling alone is a metaphor for the postmodern decline of human connection. The kind of connection that allows communities to thrive. Like any good social […]

Two men are stranded on a deserted island. They’ve got fresh water, shelter and just enough to food to survive. They play games like coconut bowling & bocce and tic-tac-toe to pass the time. Then one morning after a tremendous storm a small shipping container washes ashore. Perhaps it contains a boat or something else […]

We all have those moments in life where the path we thought we were following becomes the path less traveled. When the path veers off in some unthinkably horrible direction. We think “there is no way I will ever recover from this.” Blink twice if this has ever happened to you. Perhaps it was the […]

It’s almost hard to imagine life without it now. The iPhone didn’t just change things — it changed everything. Remember sitting on an airplane, totally disconnected from everything on the ground? Remember using the bathroom without looking at your phone? Remember the joy of talking to your spouse or partner without competition from a cat […]

Okay, this is gonna be kinda weird for both of us. I’m sending this letter back in time (25 years) to you because there’s some stuff happening here in the future that you just aren’t gonna believe. No, seriously, this stuff is nuts and I want you to start getting ready in 2000 for some […]

Visit any major metropolitan city and you’ll see them everywhere: Fully Self Driving (FSD) Waymo vehicles with nobody behind the wheel. Now imagine sitting in the backseat without knowing the destination. You have zero control of the speed or direction of travel. The “computer” makes turn after turn with no driver and no explanation. Hitting […]

Of the myriads of happy human emotions, from contentment to gratitude, there is one that is consistently underrated: hope. Considering some recent events, we could all use a little more hope in our lives. A new study from the University of Missouri is shaking up our understanding of hope. Far from being just wishful thinking, […]

I bet that at some point in your life you went through an existential crisis. A period where you pondered the question: Why am I here? Ancient philosophers from Socrates to Camus struggled with this question. Even Jesus tried to wrestle this one to the ground. American singer/songwriters from Johnny Cash to Bob Dylan often […]

We live in the safest moment in human history. We have mandatory seatbelts, side-curtain airbags, carbon monoxide detectors, bike helmets, and vaccinations against all forms of maladies. We’ve wrapped ourselves in bubble wrap. But are we really any safer today? What happened to the old-school jungle gym? And the round, metal spinner that was a […]

We curate everything today: our news, entertainment, and media choices, dates, ride sharing, and even our coffee.   At Starbucks, I watch people curate their coffee. A customer orders a “venti iced skinny vanilla latte with sugar-free syrup, extra shot, light ice, with oat milk.” Behind them, five more people wait with equally complex orders. […]

We are living longer. A lot longer. And, that longevity is throwing a monkey wrench in the system and creating a generation “sandwiched” between their children and their aging parents For those in the sandwich generation, life can often feel like a never-ending game of Whack-A-Mole. Just as you help one family member with a […]

In his 2005 commencement address at Kenyon College, David Foster Wallace delivered the following parable: “There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, ‘Morning, boys. How’s the water?’ And the two young fish swim on for a bit, […]

Everyone has their own opinion about The American Dream. And those opinions are as individual and unique as America itself. In general, the American Dream is our collective belief that anyone can be successful in the United States if you’re willing to work hard. A recent survey presents some fascinating insights. It asked respondents to […]

Imagine getting to celebrate your 100th birthday, surrounded by loads of grandkids. A cake sits nearby, littered with candles. A shout-out from the Today Show plays on the TV. It sounds pretty good, right? But here’s the million-dollar question: Do you really want to live to be age 100? It’s a fair question. In a […]

Tom Greene is a 55 year-old executive, husband and father. He’s the author of “Wit and Wisdom” and writes frequently on topics like happiness, family, spirituality and friendship. America is in a moral free fall. Some would even surmise that the end of this great country is near. But, is it true? Are we truly in a […]

Remember when Americans only argued about baseball or who had the best hot dogs—Chicago or New York? Those were the salad days. Photo by Tom Greene As we approach the 4th of July, an American holiday loaded with baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie, I’m mindful of the ties that bind us together as a […]

Despite living in one of the most optimistic times in history, younger Americans are more afraid of the world than previous generations. Some of this fear emanates from the near-constant stream of news and information. Younger folks tend to see that news as black or white, good or bad—while the rest of us understand that […]

A few years ago my wife’s best friend and mentor was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On her death bed she looked deep into my wife’s eyes and said, “I have some advice for you.” After a dramatic pause, she whispered, “eat the fried chicken.” My wife asked her why eating fried chicken was important. She […]

Anxiety in America is at an all-time high right now. It’s the time of year that US high school seniors are learning where they will (or won’t) spend their next four’ish years. Parents and kids know that their future success hinges on a single decision by a group of total strangers. But, getting in the […]

In today’s world, especially among young adults, it’s easy to believe that the institution of marriage is losing favor and popularity. According to columnist, Tom Greene, there are certainly statistics to support that theory. However, he believes there may be even more data that argues against it. One new factor reportedly hurting the marriage rate […]

Tom Greene is a 55 year-old executive, husband and father. He’s the author of “Wit and Wisdom” and writes frequently on topics like happiness, family, spirituality and friendship. In 2006, actress Reese Witherspoon was awarded the Oscar for her epic role in “Walk the Line.” In her acceptance speech, she summarized her thoughts on her […]