"You only have what you give. It's by spending yourself that you become rich.” - Isabel Allende This Thursday we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, and I know that other countries celebrate a day of thanksgiving at various times throughout the year. Thanksgiving Day in the United States is a day to be thankful … Continue reading A Thanksgiving Reminder: Give, Be Present, Love Deeply
Author: Edward Ortiz
The Dark Chocolate Myth
Most of you who read my "About Me” page know that I have a degree in Chemistry. I didn’t pursue Chemistry as a profession in the Army because they don’t do the kind of Chemistry I was used to—laboratory work, scientific experimentation, etc. Later in my career, I thought about transferring to an area of … Continue reading The Dark Chocolate Myth
When a Story Finally Finds Its Moment
I read an article this weekend in The Wall Street Journal and immediately thought about all my writer friends in my WordPress community. It’s a story of never giving up and of writing without worrying where your words will land. Maybe one day your book will be discovered and become a hit—but the writing journey … Continue reading When a Story Finally Finds Its Moment
The Romance of Leadership
You probably read the title and thought, “What is going on with Edward? Is he a romantic now?” I am a romantic, but I promise this post isn’t about that. Still, one of the definitions of romantic is: “having an inclination for romance: responsive to the appeal of what is idealized, heroic, or adventurous,”1 and … Continue reading The Romance of Leadership
Book Review: Jade’s Broken Bridge
Jade’s Broken Bridge, my notes, and a steaming cup of coffee. I’ve been following Michele Lee Sefton for a while, and her writing has always captivated me. There is depth behind her words, and her growth as a writer shines through in every blog post. Reading her poems and novellas, Her Coastal Cottage and Honeysuckle … Continue reading Book Review: Jade’s Broken Bridge
An Hour with Surviving Sue
Early this year, I read a wonderful book written by Dr. Vicki Atkinson titled Surviving Sue, and you can read what I wrote about her book here. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend an event sponsored by the Cultural and Performing Arts Department of Harper College in Chicago’s northwest area. I spent a little … Continue reading An Hour with Surviving Sue
Faster, Higher, Richer—But at What Cost?
A while ago, I wrote about the fascination with chasing immortality. People are spending fortunes on an unwinnable battle because our end date is set, and there’s not much we can do about it. In that post, I mentioned the Enhanced Games — a competition where athletes can win $1 million for breaking world records … Continue reading Faster, Higher, Richer—But at What Cost?
Book Review: Tyranny of the Minority
Photo by Edward Ortiz The Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt was an interesting read. It is a close examination of what they perceive as structural flaws in the U.S. Constitution that have allowed minority rule to undermine, in their opinion, democratic norms. Most … Continue reading Book Review: Tyranny of the Minority
Reforming American Democracy
Last night, I finished reading the book Tyranny of the Minority by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. It’s an excellent book that provides not just good background information about what is currently going on politically in the United States, but also a list of actions the authors propose to improve our Constitution and strengthen our … Continue reading Reforming American Democracy
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 12
When I first read Dr. Stein’s post and scanned all the questions he laid out for us, I thought about how great of an exercise answering them would be. One question, in particular, caught my attention right away—one that invited deep personal reflection. That question was: What have you learned about life that you didn’t … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 12
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 