Mia, Shirley & Goodbye: Losing A Pet
July 1, 2022
Our beloved dog, Mia, was near death. She knew it, and used her final moments to say goodbye to those she loved. … More Mia, Shirley & Goodbye: Losing A Pet
Caveman Wisdom
June 30, 2022
Two cavemen, Gronk and Thogg, were sitting on a rock ledge, overlooking the expanse of land that stretched before them. The afternoon sun was full and bright; not a cloud was in the sky. In the near distance, wildlife grazed or darted playfully to and fro. The warbled songs and stabbing calls of various birds … More Caveman Wisdom
Creating Eyes That See
June 29, 2022
The other day, my 6-year-old daughter and her best friend asked me what an optical illusion is. I didn’t have the Merriam-Webster definition, “something that deceives the eye by appearing to be other than it is” at the tip of my tongue so we talked about examples of when you think you see something but … More Creating Eyes That See
Mid Summer Night
June 28, 2022
Last Friday, June 24, St. John the Baptist, in Northern Europe they celebrated the Mid Summer Night. When I was living in Estonia, I found out that it is a strong tradition also there and once I went with some friends to see what happened during that long weekend, as it is a public holiday! … More Mid Summer Night
Conscientiousness: The Ruthless Pursuit of Order
June 27, 2022
The Benefits of Conscientiousness Conscientiousness can be broken down into the following two aspects: Industriousness and Orderliness. Those who score high in Industriousness are driven, focused and determined. They finish what they start. I’m sure you’ve all heard of the buzzword known as Grit? Well, it’s the same thing. Those high is Orderliness want everything … More Conscientiousness: The Ruthless Pursuit of Order
The Mysteries of Nature
June 25, 2022
A poem on the search for peace … More The Mysteries of Nature
June 24th, 2022
June 25, 2022
I confess to not ever being comfortable with having pride in the country you were born in. Conceptually, I think it’s a flawed idea from the get go. A recipe for provincialism and a potent catalyst for intolerance and violence. Having said that, I admit there have been moments I’ve allowed myself to warm my … More June 24th, 2022
Lessons From A Month Long Vacation
June 24, 2022
How to take your vacation home with you and keep it year-round. … More Lessons From A Month Long Vacation
Understanding The Law of Attraction
June 24, 2022
The key point regarding a deeper understanding of the law of attraction involves an apparent major shift in our identity. I added the word “apparent” for good reason. Although we can only be what we actually are, it is possible, however, to hold erroneous beliefs regarding our essential nature. This is, in fact, the predominant situation for the majority … More Understanding The Law of Attraction
All that Jazz
June 23, 2022
Many Americans are convinced that the COVID pandemic is over. Thinking this way would be a mistake. I know because my wife contracted the virus at some point recently and tested positive on Friday of last week. Despite being fully vaccinated, she’s feeling quite unwell. As a result, I’ve moved into the front bedroom—the one … More All that Jazz
The Change Exercise
June 22, 2022
On my personal blog, I wrote a post about learning to stem a strawberry with a straw. It was a hack that my young daughter taught me and even though I’m quite habituated to using a knife to core a strawberry, I attempted this new method for the fun of it. In the process, I … More The Change Exercise
How to Overcome Difficulties with the Ganbatte
June 21, 2022
Japanese people have an incredible ability to recover from catastrophes of any kind. After World War II that left the country in ruins, in just thirty years Japan became the second largest economy in the world, becoming leaders in the electronics sector in the eighties and nineties. How could the Japanese economic miracle happen? The … More How to Overcome Difficulties with the Ganbatte
The Pitfall of Reliance on Providentialism
June 21, 2022
In a previous post, I mentioned that reliance on “providentialistic” views was one potential difficulty for present-day Stoics. Today I’ll explain this a bit. When I say “providentialistic” or “providentialism,” I’m referring to what theoretical discourses term “divine providence,” or perhaps more accurately, a belief in divine providence. In short, belief in divine providence is … More The Pitfall of Reliance on Providentialism
Neuroticism: The Cost of Consciousness
June 20, 2022
The Cost of Consciousness Neuroticism is the trait associated with negative emotions. It can be broken down into the following two aspects: Volatility and Withdrawal. Those high in withdrawal may be described as anxious, self-conscious, depressive and easily overwhelmed. Whereas those high in volatility may be described as touchy, irritable and unstable. In contrast, those … More Neuroticism: The Cost of Consciousness
Quitting: Should I walk away?
June 20, 2022
Have you ever felt like quitting? Whether it’s a martial art, a marriage, or a job, we’ve all felt like giving up the fight at some point in our lives. So what do we do when we face the temptation to walk away? Why people quit. Some do it because of the stress involved in … More Quitting: Should I walk away?
The speed of life
June 19, 2022
Hello! I hope everyone is having a great time this weekend! I am having a lot of thoughts about the conditions that allows us to discover our true nature. I have been a believer that we can truly ‘go with the flow’ if we actually can flow, meaning that we can understand and align with … More The speed of life
Redefining Success: Beyond Your Job Title
June 18, 2022
In the modern world, our job titles tend to be the centerpiece of our identities. When you meet someone new at a social gathering, the first piece of information that they will likely disclose to the question ‘what do you do?’ is the details of your chosen profession. Your answer to this question will dictate … More Redefining Success: Beyond Your Job Title
Seeking: Life Balance & “June Bombs”
June 17, 2022
June Bombs are what I call the schedule changing impacts of summer vacation. They remind us to maintain balance in our lives. … More Seeking: Life Balance & “June Bombs”
The Heart Always Wins
June 17, 2022
This post is going to appear like a major detour from my usual topics related to consciousness and enlightenment, but it does contain a little information related to the law of attraction. The law, which many persons may find questionable, or outright unbelievable, is that we bring about what we think about. This can also … More The Heart Always Wins
Happy Bloomsday!!
June 16, 2022
Why James Joyce’s seminal novel is worth the considerable frustration it may sometimes induce
… More Happy Bloomsday!!