Welcome to tanfrancis (formerly Heart Matters).

This is where I write about the inner work of living well.

It started a couple of years ago as a blog where I wrote about whatever caught my attention: history, food stories, Zen-Catholicism, and personal reflections. It was what I needed after years of working solo in a kitchen.

I needed to vent.

In late 2023, I accidentally stumbled into retirement. After closing the family restaurant and our boys (my only 2 employees) moving out, I found myself watching YouTube alone most days. I also found myself asking, “What’s next?”

The answer was metanoia. A change of heart. A quiet reorientation of the way I see and live life. I realise that unless I am open to that kind of turning now and then, I will be stuck in circles.

This “blog” is where I explore that turning.

I write about the psychology of better living, the practices of mental wellness, and the wisdom I’ve discovered in philosophy, spirituality, and the mess of everyday life. I draw on my own experiences, as a husband, father, former Jesuit and ex-Catholic, Zen dabbler, entrepreneur, and someone who has changed careers and job-hopped more times than is probably sensible. I also lean on the voices of philosophers, thinkers, and fools who have said it better than I ever could.

This is a conversation; the kind you have over a glass of wine, late at night, when the second bottle is just taking its effect, and you talk about what matters. God, mental exhaustion, soup dumplings, or the longing for purpose and freedom.

I hope these reflections help you pause, recalibrate, and maybe even have a good, hearty laugh at yourself.

What else am I working on?

The Intelligent Playbook — A separate publication for people who want to use AI but aren’t tech experts. The Intelligent Playbook was written because I want to learn about A.I. and write about it. I think it is a very useful and practical toolkit. You can find it at The Intelligent Playbook.

Our Second Act — This is a work-in-progress fortnightly journal for everyone whose career is over but whose life isn’t. It is about designing our second act. This one is close to my heart because I’m living it now. Coming soon at Our Second Act.

Supporting my work

Most of what I write here is free, and I intend to keep it that way. Occasional posts will be for paid subscribers, and I’ll always make sure the free ones are worth your time.

Either way, thank you for being here.

Yours,

Francis