by Dr. Kelly Flanagan | Jun 14, 2023 | Artisan Blog
My youngest son is a lot like me—he pretty much organizes his life around avoiding physical pain and discomfort. So, when he got pink eye, and the doctor ordered us to put antibiotic drops in his eye, I wondered if we could just lock him in his room for... read more
by Dr. Kelly Flanagan | May 31, 2023 | Artisan Blog
In February of this year, I wrote publicly about my recent depression. I’d been depressed before, but this time my approach to the depression had been different. I’d spent weeks in the darkness, but instead of fighting against it, I’d allowed it. I’d decided to learn from it. And... read more
by David Clinton | May 17, 2023 | Artisan Blog
I am sitting quietly, book in hand on a Sunday afternoon when my bride walks into the room and asks, “Will you put on a suit and come downstairs?” “Why?” “The kids want you to perform a wedding for the hermit crabs.” Needing further clarification, I ask, “Will there... read more
by Dr. Kelly Flanagan | May 3, 2023 | Artisan Blog
The night before my parents dropped me off at Penn State University for graduate school, my father tried to encourage me. Perhaps noticing my anxiety about starting from scratch socially, he told me I was likeable and people would want to be with me. I retorted, “You’re just saying... read more
by David Clinton | Apr 19, 2023 | Artisan Blog
The sun is coming up and the house is quiet. I make some coffee to wake me up, unaware that a woodland creature is about to wake me up in a different way. Someone (me) forgot to run the dishwasher last night, so I’m forced to use the only... read more
by Dr. Kelly Flanagan | Mar 29, 2023 | Artisan Blog
Dear Fellow Travelers, I’ll be the first to admit, writing a letter like this is unusual. We’re not supposed to talk in public about what we talk about in private. You’re supposed to hide your decision to see me, as if it means you’re more damaged or more fragile... read more
by David Clinton | Mar 15, 2023 | Artisan Blog
One Mississippi. It’s Tuesday night. Dinner is finished and the dishes are done. There is a little time before bed, so I ask the kids what they would like to do. “Hide and Seek!” Hide and Seek always ends with someone crying. I remind the kids of this fact... read more
by Dr. Kelly Flanagan | Feb 23, 2024 | Artisan Blog
What is the most important choice you’ll ever make? Is it your friends? Your college? Your job? Your spouse? Which home to buy or which church to go to? And what if it’s none of the above? What if the most important choice you’ll ever make is whether or... read more
by David Clinton | Feb 9, 2024 | Artisan Blog
My kids are in the blanket fort years. This is the stage of child development that follows the “floor is lava” crisis and overlaps with the “Did you feed your hermit crab?” phase. Last week I walked into my living room and was greeted by a massive spider web... read more
by Dr. Kelly Flanagan | Jan 19, 2024 | Artisan Blog
I’ve written at least one blog post every week for the last four years and I’m often asked, “How do you find something meaningful to write about week after week?” This is how I write. This is how blogging is like therapy. And this is how therapy makes meaning... read more
