On Justice

“The cardinal virtue that most obviously deals with the social sphere, with our relationships, is ‘justice’ (dikaiosunê). The Stoics use this word to encompass both dealing fairly with others and acting with benevolence toward them, wishing for them to flourish in accord with virtue, Fate permitting.” — Donald Robertson, Stoicism and the Art of Happiness … Continue reading On Justice →

The Overlooked Side of Retirement: Mattering

“Many of us plan for our future wealth and health. Few prepare for an equally essential aspect of retirement: how to continue to feel seen and valued.” – Jennifer Breheny Wallace This quote opens a great article in the Wall Street Journal titled The Retirement Crisis: No One Warns You About: Mattering. Mattering is described … Continue reading The Overlooked Side of Retirement: Mattering →

Book Reviews: The Weight of Snow and Regret and Traveling Through History

Photo by Ed Ortiz - It’s still kind of cold, so the mug is trying to stay warm. 😀 I’ve mentioned in other posts that I don’t usually read much fiction, but I’m gradually adding more to my reading list. I’m discovering that biographical and historical fiction can be especially captivating. Following my instincts, I … Continue reading Book Reviews: The Weight of Snow and Regret and Traveling Through History →

Protecting Your Time and Safety in a Social Media World

Last week, I shared my thoughts on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, which examines the impact of social media and smartphones on children and teens. Building on that, today I want to explore two troubling trends tied to the uncontrolled use of social media: the way low-quality content quietly consumes vast amounts of our … Continue reading Protecting Your Time and Safety in a Social Media World →

Book Review: The Anxious Generation

Photo by Ed Ortiz The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt was a great read—slightly boring at times, but the subject is too important to let that stop you from reading it. Haidt doesn’t have the writing touch of Matthew Desmond, author of Evicted and Poverty, By America, but he lays out the facts about the … Continue reading Book Review: The Anxious Generation →

Reading to Grow: Nurturing the Self and Connecting with Others

A week or so ago, I read an essay titled "What self-help books tell us about ourselves” in The Economist. After reading the article a couple of times, highlighting parts, and writing notes, I realized that I wanted to share my thoughts—not only about self-help books, but about reading in general. The article presented the … Continue reading Reading to Grow: Nurturing the Self and Connecting with Others →

Book Review: On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft

"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”— Stephen King, On Writing Photo by Ed Ortiz I have seen many movie adaptations of Stephen King’s books over the years—The Shining, Carrie, IT, Pet Sematary, just to name a few—but the only … Continue reading Book Review: On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft →

How Labels Undermine Faith and Fracture Community

I was debating whether to write this post, but I’m going to follow my gut and share this commentary because it reflects what is happening in this country. If people are not discerning about what leaders are saying, their words can continue to lead us into dangerous territory. This is somewhat of a Christian commentary, … Continue reading How Labels Undermine Faith and Fracture Community →

Book Review: The Hardest Job in the World – The American Presidency

Photo by Ed Ortiz It’s interesting to learn how the office of the president of the United States came to be and how it has changed over time, mostly due to Congress’s neglect. I have been reading about the Founding Fathers and the important documents they produced that have guided this country. So when I … Continue reading Book Review: The Hardest Job in the World – The American Presidency →