Some places one visits hum with energy and life. Others feel as though they breathe through memory alone. I had read about the town for years because of the tragic story of Emmett Till, but reading about history and standing inside it are two entirely different experiences. Driving toward Money several years ago felt lessContinue reading “A Visit To Money, Mississippi”
Author Archives: John Berkovich
Why Regulars Don’t Want to Be Your Music Consultant
There’s a certain unspoken contract when you’re a regular at a hangout. You show up. You’re polite, and you tip well. You don’t ask for favors but it’s nice when someone goes out of their way for you because you are a regular. You don’t make anyone’s job harder than it needs to be. YouContinue reading “Why Regulars Don’t Want to Be Your Music Consultant”
Where Does It Say I Have to Respond on Your Timetable?
Somewhere along the way, we quietly rewrote the rules of availability. I’m talking about outside of work, though, in a way, it can apply to work. Not in a meeting. Not in a handbook. Not even in a conversation anyone remembers agreeing to. It just sort of happened. If you have a phone, you’re reachable.Continue reading “Where Does It Say I Have to Respond on Your Timetable?”
Turning the Lights Back On
As noted in my previous entry, winter has a way of slowly dimming the room without telling you it touched the switch. It’s not enough to make you think something is wrong. Just enough that everything feels a little flatter, a little heavier, a little slower. You’re still functioning. You’re still getting things done. ButContinue reading “Turning the Lights Back On”
Not Depressed, Just Dimmed
January has a way of turning life’s dimmer switch down without asking permission. Not off. Not dark. Just… lower. That’s the best way I can describe winter when you live in quiet cottage country and work from home. The days aren’t dramatic enough to feel like a crisis, but they’re heavy enough to feel different.Continue reading “Not Depressed, Just Dimmed”
Two Weeks Isn’t Rest: Burnout, Screens, and the Forgotten Art of Unplugging
I used to think burnout meant you were overwhelmed or overworked or maybe just bad at managing your time. Now I understand it’s something quieter and more dangerous than that. Burnout is what happens when your nervous system never truly gets to stand down. When the mind is always slightly on alert. When even yourContinue reading “Two Weeks Isn’t Rest: Burnout, Screens, and the Forgotten Art of Unplugging”
Thinking about my old college housemates
I was thinking about my college days recently, harkening back to a time when I shared a house with two other people. One was awesome, while the other was, shall we say, a bit rough around the edges and prone to double standards, but overall a person I could tolerate. There is a special kindContinue reading “Thinking about my old college housemates”
The Morning Tug-of-War And Why Every Day Starts With a Quiet Battle
Since today is Monday (and this is likely my last post of 2025), I figured the timing of this was appropriate. There’s a moment every morning — usually before the alarm, before the coffee, before you’ve fully returned to yourself — when life feels heavier than it has any right to be. You lie thereContinue reading “The Morning Tug-of-War And Why Every Day Starts With a Quiet Battle”
Why You Should Start Your New Year’s Goals Now And Not January 1
Every December, millions of people make the same promise: January 1 is when everything changes. It’s a comforting idea: a fresh year, a fresh start, a fresh version of ourselves. “Yup, this is it. This year I will lose weight, start a business, write a book, save more money, cut the amount of time IContinue reading “Why You Should Start Your New Year’s Goals Now And Not January 1”
Café Disruption: The Loud Ladies Club Experience
You always think you’ve timed it perfectly. You find a quiet table in the corner of the coffee shop, settle in with your drink, open the laptop, and start knocking off your to-do list. Usually, you’d be at home working, but a temporary power outage has forced you to run your laptop on battery power,Continue reading “Café Disruption: The Loud Ladies Club Experience”
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