Updated with a new Afterword. To be nobody but myself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make me somebody else — means to fight the hardest battle any human can fight, and never stop fighting. E. E. Cummings Actor Elliot Page did an interview last spring with Oprah … Continue reading To Be Transgender is to Be Human
Month: November 2021
Courting Tragedy: Reflecting on the Rittenhouse & Arbery Trials
I've spent a awful lot of time watching Court TV this month with the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Wisconsin and the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial in Georgia. I can't immediately recall two trials of this magnitude coming back to back like this, nor situations touching simultaneously on so many social, legal and political issues — … Continue reading Courting Tragedy: Reflecting on the Rittenhouse & Arbery Trials
What’s Happened to Concerts?
As of this writing, nine people are dead from the November 5th "Houston Stampede" with many more injured including a 9-year-old boy now in a medically-induced coma.9-year-old Ezra Blount died on Sunday, November 14, 2021, becoming the 10th victim. This isn't a total surprise. Rapper Travis Scott has a reputation and past convictions for encouraging … Continue reading What’s Happened to Concerts?
Mindfulness, Happiness & ‘RAIN’
"Don't fret. Everything's going to be OK." That's a helpful advice for someone, isn't it? Yeah, sometimes. But sometimes not. I read a commentary last week in the Wall Street Journal about "toxic positivity." Elizabeth Bernstein wrote that "forcing ourselves or others to always be positive can be harmful to our well-being and our relationships." … Continue reading Mindfulness, Happiness & ‘RAIN’
Escaping the Emotional Rabbit Hole
I came across this excellent post today at ‘Pointless Overthinking,’ a great blog at WordPress where this blog also resides. I believe the article here speaks to a lot people's experience. It certainly speaks to me! I hope you'll find it helpful. "The Parable of the Second Arrow According to the Buddha, any time we suffer misfortune, two arrows fly … Continue reading Escaping the Emotional Rabbit Hole
Beautiful Holden Arboretum
Two years ago David and I spent a truly delightful day at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, east of Cleveland. It was a beautiful, clear and crisp Sunday afternoon in October. I wasn't retired yet and was swamped in work, so I never compiled and posted this blog entry. Better late than never! Apple Maps … Continue reading Beautiful Holden Arboretum