I recently picked up a book to read just for enjoyment but, even with this piece of escapist fiction, I found myself reflecting on the story and some of the lessons contained therein. The book has a medieval setting and there is a strong class structure in place with the nobles regularly looking down upon... Continue Reading →
I admit it. I like being told that I'm right. It's reaffirming, feeds my ego a bit while building up my confidence. It's external validation and it feels good. Plus, we don't spend time discussing anything further as my point of view has been declared the winner. Clean. Simple. Efficient. Still, with that said, I... Continue Reading →
FIRST, A LITTLE BACKGROUND: I've been absent from the blog for a couple of months because of a health-scare. I won't go into a ton of detail but am happy to share that, while I'm certainly not emerging from this unscathed, I am in good health and have resumed leading a pretty normal life. That... Continue Reading →
I recently read three words that sent a chill up my back. And sadly no, they weren't something you want to hear like "I love you" or "you're the winner". Instead, I came across these words in an article that used the phrase of a "right-thinking person." On the surface, those words don't seem all... Continue Reading →
I've turned to Fr. Mike Schmitz as an inspiration in a few of my posts now and, sure enough, he recently had some great insights around fear - including this post's title - that really got my mental gears turning. Let's start with a couple of generally-accepted truths about fear. First, how being afraid can... Continue Reading →
I'm going to consider this a "bonus post" as it was not something I'd planned to write, much less publish, but it's timely and - I hope - a bit amusing. Moreover, I was struck about how something that happened last night wove through several of the themes from past posts that I've done and... Continue Reading →
Which is also known as "one of life's most important, and most forgotten, lessons." It's funny how my own life offers regular reminders that I need to do a better job with my own communicating. You'd think that having learned - and re-learned - this same lesson many times over, I'd have it down by... Continue Reading →
What If... 