Frank Brennan
Bio
Speaker | Writer | Storyteller
I write about film, fatherhood, and faith.
Stories (5)
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Self-Care and the Death of Intimacy
Modern society tells us to take care of ourselves. Self-care is everywhere, from fashion magazines to Instagram feeds. There are endless ideas for DIY self-care kits aimed at helping us drink more tea, journal each day, and take long relaxing baths accompanied with all the accouterments on a hand-carved wooden tray. There are many meditation and mindfulness apps and new books each week about the power of Self. In 2020, “self-care” peaked as a Google Trend, doubling in interest since 2014. All of this, of course, is guided to help us through anxiety, depression, and unending stress.
By Frank Brennan4 years ago in Humans
The Book Hound
This was how he liked to spend his birthday, a fresh brew of his favorite coffee and an adventure book in his hands. There was nothing different today than any other Saturday morning for the past twelve years. He came to Hound's Books and Café every week, and the associates knew him by name and mood. Based on how he dressed himself that week, they were in tune with his feelings. Today was a loafer and white pocket polo day, that's how he celebrated, and that's what Horace liked about this place, the friendly staff and the peaceful ability to get lost in a book. One book a week for twelve years.
By Frank Brennan4 years ago in Fiction
Erasure
Sara ran for what felt like an hour. Pure adrenaline. No thinking. She had to catch her breath. She slowed down and stumbled around for a little until the screaming in her head came back. She ran again, her naked body breaking branches, scraping her skin away in microcosms. Her frail body pin-balled from tree to tree in the moonlight with swollen eyes and blurred vision. It was just wooded, a forest, maybe? Her heart was giving out. She could sense it—warmth evading quickly from chest to limbs. The screams grew louder, more distinct. She couldn’t feel her legs. She collapsed on the ground, her mind swelling with the excruciating wails.
By Frank Brennan4 years ago in Fiction
Do You Matter?
Like many, I instantly fell in love with the musical “Dear Evan Hansen.” I passively listened to the music for about a month, just enjoying the melody, guitar riffs, and lyrics. I started to piece the story together, but I ignored the theme until I binged on the show “13 Reasons Why” on Netflix, which hit me hard as a father, as a male, and as an overall human being. I jumped back into the music of Evan Hansen, and the pain took root.
By Frank Brennan4 years ago in Psyche
5 Coaching Lessons from Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso is a man with more optimism than his body can handle. On my best days, I find myself emulating only a fraction of his “can-do” attitude. He takes on interpersonal conflict with high emotional intelligence, battling egos, negative mindsets, and panic-stricken depression.
By Frank Brennan4 years ago in Families
