In a few days, the citizens of the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving, a holiday that encourages people to embrace optimism while taking stock.  So, with that in mind, what are you thankful for? Happy Thanksgiving, all! Troy Headrick’s personal blog can be found here. If you’d like to see some of Troy’s art, … More Question of the Day:  Number 547

When people ask me how old I am, I sometimes respond, “Old enough.”  There’s some snark in that answer but only a smidgin.  There’s a lot of truth in it too.  For example, I’m certainly old enough to remember when public school teachers used those old-fashioned video projectors to show educational films in school.  I’m … More The Turning Point

For a little more than a week now, I’ve been suffering from a strange malaise.  I’ve been tired, unfocused, and even stressed.  I almost never have writer’s block, but I’ve got it now.  I guess you could say I’ve slipped into a strange sort of funk.  What should I do? Troy Headrick’s personal blog can … More Question of the Day:  Number 546

Dear, readers, I recently had a chance to interview Troy Headrick, blogger here at Pointless Overthinking.  The transcript of our conversation follows. *** TLH:  While preparing for this interview, I read your brief autobiographical blurb on the PO “Our Team” page.  The accompanying photograph got my attention.  You seem to be grinning from ear to … More Troy Headrick Interviews…Troy Headrick

Hi, everyone.  I want to start by saying “thanks” to you, our readers.  Without you, there would be no Pointless Overthinking.  We are so grateful that you spend your precious time with us, and we are deeply inspired by your “likes” and comments to the pieces we publish here. If you’ve been a long-time reader … More Pointless Overthinking Seeks Your Advice and Feedback

By Troy Headrick If I had a dollar for every hour I’ve stood at the front of classrooms and talked to a room of college students, I’d be rich.  Unfortunately, I’m not wealthy.  If only I’d been paid by the hour, in the way I’ve just described! Most of those who know what I do … More Sunday Thoughts, Monday Mornings

By Troy Headrick NOTE:  The following is an excerpt from a book I’ve written on critical and creative thinking, problem solving, and self-actualization.  Each chapter is called a “Lesson” and ends with a journal writing assignment that gives the reader an opportunity to explore the concept(s) discussed in the lesson.  I would appreciate your feedback … More LESSON TWO:  A Book Excerpt

By Troy Headrick During this past week, I went back and reread the autobiographical blurb I have posted on Pointless Overthinking’s “Our Team” page.  It had been a long time since I’d looked at what I’d penned about myself.  I wanted to see if it still felt true. I’d forgotten that I’d written about myself … More You Won’t Be Sorry

By Troy Headrick I want to make a bold claim:  Good schools can save the world. I bet a whole bunch of thoughts come to mind when you hear the word “school.”  I mention this because I have some pretty unorthodox ideas about schools and what they really do—or should do.  My point is, I’m … More A Teacher Speaks Out

By Troy Headrick About two weeks ago, I physically returned to my workplace, a community college, Mondays through Thursdays.  On Fridays, we stay home and work remotely exactly as we’ve been doing since mid-March of 2020. Of course, there are health protocols in place now that we’ve gone back in person.  For example, each morning, … More A Funny Thing Happened when Things Returned to Normal

By Troy Headrick Hi, everyone.  I’m writing to tell you about a wonderful opportunity.  Pointless Overthinking (PO) is currently looking for about three new writers to join its team of bloggers.  If you’re interested in applying for such a position, please continue reading. Before submitting work, please spend some time looking carefully at the sorts of writing … More Join the Pointless Overthinking Team of Writers!

By Troy Headrick It’s Friday afternoon.  The clock tells me it’s 4:25 p.m.  I yawn.  I stretch.  I stare at the ceiling for at least two minutes. It’s the napping hour.  I’d love to close my eyes, but I can’t, at least not for the next thirty plus minutes.  I’m at home, yet I’m working—“remotely.”  … More I Didn’t Have a Plan

By Troy Headrick I’ve been writing about happiness recently.  This is the third (and final) installment in a series of pieces on this subject.  The first installment can be found here and second one, here. While prepping myself to write this, I began to think of analogies.  Can happiness be cultivated in the same way … More Can Happiness Be Cultivated?

By Troy Headrick A little more than a week ago, I published a piece about an extraordinary evening.  Last night, hoping to have a similar experience, I carried my chair outside again and sat.  The conditions were similar to what they had been a week earlier, so I had great expectations.  I sat for a … More Another Starry Night

By Troy Headrick Yesterday, on a hot day in South Texas, I spent a portion of the afternoon mowing the grass in my backyard.  While doing so, I witnessed something amazing.  In fact, what I saw made such an impression that it inspired the questions I’m about to put to you.  As soon I started … More Questions of the Day: No. 540

By Troy Headrick I hope you’re not expecting anything profound in this piece.  If those are your expectations, you’re likely to be disappointed.  Still, I encourage you to read on.  Some of you might find something of value in this blog. It’s summertime in Texas.  That means it’s hot.  Quite surprisingly, though, as I stepped … More I Felt Happy

By Troy Headrick I’ve been gone from this blog for about a month, and now I’m back. A lot has happened during my absence.  So much, in fact, that I found it hard to write. Back in mid-July, my wife and I traveled to Egypt, her home country, for exactly two weeks.  We had plans … More I’m Back

By Troy Headrick In just a few more days, I’ll be traveling to Egypt with my spouse.  We’ll do typical tourist stuff but also spend time visiting in-laws and hanging out at some of my old haunts.  I’m really looking forward to the trip. Azza, my wife, is from Cairo, but we’ll go to lots … More Question of the Day: No. 536

By Troy Headrick Last weekend, I was able to spend some time with my father.  My wife and I drove up to Georgetown, Texas, the town where he and my stepmother live.  We arrived on Saturday evening and stayed with them until Monday afternoon. I have written about my dad elsewhere in this blog.  He … More Getting Started Again

By Troy Headrick It occurred to me, about a week or so ago, that I had an anniversary coming up.  On July 3, 2015, I arrived back in Texas after living seven years in Cairo, Egypt.  That means I’ve been in the United States, my home country, exactly six years. Of course, I brought my … More Two Kinds of People