Living at the Edge of the World: Homeless

Living at the Edge of the World is a story about a young girl who lived underground (mostly) for five years, in New York City, from 1986 to 1990. In her own words (mostly) with the help of journalist, Jamie Pastor Bolnick. President Donald Trump recently said he wants to put a woman on the moon … Continue reading Living at the Edge of the World: Homeless →

Mental Health

Mental health, what is it? I define it here. Briefly, it's only one element of your overall health. There are five other components. In short, mental health is how your brain functions. Or, how is your brain at problem solving? Dr. Melfi (Tony Soprano's psychiatrist) in the scene above, says out loud to her own, … Continue reading Mental Health →

PROZAC diary

Lauren Slater has been on Prozac since it burst on the scene in 1988. PROZAC diary (1998) is her book recounting the first ten years of the drug and how it affected and saved her life. That's not an exaggeration. She was twenty-five and suffering debilitating OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). Slater had been hospitalized five times beginning … Continue reading PROZAC diary →

Lying

Lying is a thing people do. It has been a subject and action, central to my understanding of communication, between and within persons nearly all my life. Because of reasons not pertinent to this review. Lying (2000) is a memoir by Lauren Slater published twenty years ago, when she was 37. It's a beautiful, fascinating story. … Continue reading Lying →

The Territorial Imperative

The Territorial Imperative was a book I read back in the late 60's, as a freshman at Colorado State University. It has informed and influenced me ever since. Its "big ideas" predated Evolutionary Psychology, by some ten/twenty years. Sociobiology was a word coined by The Naturalist, E.O. Wilson, around 1975. Sociobiology, as defined by Wilson … Continue reading The Territorial Imperative →

The Pursuit Of Happiness

At a recent session with my psych-girl, she closed with three "suggestions": Lower your expectations Reduce your drinking Censor yourself Is there a better prescription for unhappiness? Or is it one for happiness? Christopher Hitchens once said: It's not true that you shouldn't drink alone; these can be the happiest glasses you ever drain. I … Continue reading The Pursuit Of Happiness →

The Magpie Cafe: Summer Update

I still haven't given names to my new friends - the magpie birds who I share this habitat with. There are at least a dozen nests, nestled in all manner of trees, that surround the apartment complex where I nest. The birds are more reliable and stable than my human neighbors. Friendlier, too. Despite having … Continue reading The Magpie Cafe: Summer Update →

Election 2020: The Campaign Begins

I am a lonely visitor, I came too late to cause a stir, but I campaigned all my life toward that goal. Neil Young, 1969. "Campaigner" The 2020 campaign for POTUS began yesterday, at the summer solstice, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. President Donald J. Trump held an indoor, public rally, against the wishes and guidance … Continue reading Election 2020: The Campaign Begins →

Talk Therapy

How do you know what it is? Do you know if you're getting it? Is it effective? Those questions illustrate the value of the Health & Well-being Inventory (HWBI). If you can accurately assess your score? Then maybe you can decide if you can/are benefiting from therapy? However, what kind? Because once you've determined you … Continue reading Talk Therapy →

Health & Well-Being Inventory

The Health & Well-Being Inventory is an assessment tool to quantify the health and well-being of an individual in comparison to their nation. I break down "health" into six categories: physical, mental, psychological, emotional, social, and economic. An individual, or nation, is scored using a typical five-letter grading system - A to F. An A … Continue reading Health & Well-Being Inventory →