You can be riding high one minute and knocked flat on your ass the next. That’s the nature of life; not just unpredictable, but often indifferent to your plans, years of loyalty, or even the carefully curated image you’ve projected to the world. I’ve seen it happen several times in the last year. A friendContinue reading “When Life Flips on a Dime And You’re Left Reeling”
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May Is The Month That Can’t Make Up Its Mind
As I wrote about last year, living near the Great Lakes brings all sorts of weather, sometimes all four seasons in one day. That said, one of the craziest months is not March, when the weather can be miserable but spring officially arrives; it is May. Living near the Great Lakes in May is likeContinue reading “May Is The Month That Can’t Make Up Its Mind”
Bar Stool Confessions and Why People Tell Their Life Story to the Bartender
It’s been said that you tell your bartender or taxi driver more of your life than you do to your shrink. After all, for the most part, they are a captive audience. And in the case of the bartender, it all starts with the first drink. During my busy travel days of yesteryear, when IContinue reading “Bar Stool Confessions and Why People Tell Their Life Story to the Bartender”
Let Go of What You Can’t Control And Take Action on What You Can
One of the great things about having a public forum like this blog is that it can sometimes be cathartic and sage advice for me, addressing my many flaws, as much as it (hopefully) is time well spent for the audience. So, without further delay, let’s get going. We all do it, even though weContinue reading “Let Go of What You Can’t Control And Take Action on What You Can”
The Digital Soapbox and Why Some Can’t Resist Commenting (and Arguing) Online
Do you want another avenue of insight, entertainment, and maybe even enjoy a few laughs? Do a deep (or shallow) dive into an online comment section where the forum ranges from insightful comments to a sparring match with more punches thrown between combatants than every Rocky movie combined. The digital landscape has irrevocably changed howContinue reading “The Digital Soapbox and Why Some Can’t Resist Commenting (and Arguing) Online”
Understanding Our Fear of Hope
Hope is a powerful force. It drives us to keep going when things feel impossible, offering a glimpse of a better future, even in our darkest moments. But paradoxically, hope can also be something we fear. For many of us, the idea of hoping for better things can trigger anxiety, disappointment, and vulnerability. What ifContinue reading “Understanding Our Fear of Hope”
Bleeding the Team Colors and the Psychology of the Rabid Sports Fan
It’s playoff season in the NBA and NHL, and the passion of those fans whose team qualified for the postseason has escalated into the stratosphere. The roar of the crowd, the sea of team colors, the elaborate costumes – for those outside the fervent world of die-hard sports fans, the intensity surrounding the major professionalContinue reading “Bleeding the Team Colors and the Psychology of the Rabid Sports Fan”
The First-Timer versus The Regular and Learning the Unspoken Rules
Every bar or restaurant has its rhythm, cast of characters, and unwritten rules. You won’t find the rules posted on the wall or printed on the menu, but break one, and you’ll feel it in the sudden silence or the cold glance from a regular who is perched at their sacred spot. Walk into aContinue reading “The First-Timer versus The Regular and Learning the Unspoken Rules”
How to Forgive Yourself and Let Go of Guilt
Forgiving yourself can feel like one of the hardest things to do, especially when you’re burdened by guilt or shame. Before we go further, it should be noted that regret, which we discussed a few weeks ago, and forgiveness are two different things. If you are like me, you may have moments when you dwellContinue reading “How to Forgive Yourself and Let Go of Guilt”
A Writer’s Guide to Taking Feedback Without Falling Apart
Professional writers are a sensitive and protective lot, and there’s nothing quite like the gut-punch of an email that says, “We made a few edits.” Even after decades of writing and editing, I still feel it sometimes—that little flutter of anxiety, the subtle sting to the ego. For most of us who take pride inContinue reading “A Writer’s Guide to Taking Feedback Without Falling Apart”
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