To the Unknown Father

The world expects a man
to lead and protect.
After all, some say
he is the stronger of the two.A man is supposed to care, to love—
with the expectation
that he’ll one day start a family.People of all kinds
stress the importance of being a man,
grooming him to become
a provider, a teacher.And on the appointed day,he rose to the occasion:found … Continue reading To the Unknown Father →

The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 9

"Don’t think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.” – Voltaire About two months ago, I started this series based on the post The Questions We Don’t Ask by Dr. Stein. The questions he proposed in that post were interesting and should provoke self-examination if we take them … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 9 →

No Feedback, No Growth

During my career I learned the importance of the 11 Principles of Leadership: know yourself, seek self-improvement, be technically and tactically proficient, take responsibility, set the example, care for your people, keep them informed, ensure tasks are understood and accomplished, develop responsibility, build teamwork, make timely decisions, and employ your unit according to its capabilities. … Continue reading No Feedback, No Growth →

The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 8

According to the American Psychological Association, reciprocity is "the quality of an act, process, or relationship in which one person receives benefits from another and, in return, provides an equivalent benefit.”1 This week’s question is: Do you expect reciprocity in most relationships? This is definitely an interesting question posed by Dr. Stein in his post … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 8 →

Book Review: Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here

The book Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer is a well-written work that feels more like a history book rather than a work on social science or government policy. It describes in detail the horrendous situations forcing the people of Central America to leave their countries and embark on the difficult journey … Continue reading Book Review: Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here →

The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 7

To answer today’s question, I need to go back to 12 October 2022, the day I sat down with a doctor for my final medical exam before retirement. Until that point, I thought I was indestructible. Sure, there was always a pain here or there, but like we say in the Army, we just need … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 7 →

The Questions We Don’t Ask – And Why They Matter, Part 6

In her book Quiet, Susan Cain wrote the following in the introduction: “Extroverts are the people who will add life to your dinner party and laugh generously at your jokes. They tend to be assertive, dominant, and in great need of company. Extroverts think out loud and on their feet; they prefer talking to listening, … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask – And Why They Matter, Part 6 →

Printers Row Lit Fest 2025

As I was reviewing today’s post, I realized that today marks my 2nd year of blogging. I can’t believe it’s already been two years. I guess my trip to the Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday turned out to be my 2nd Blogniversary celebration. I didn’t plan it that way, but it … Continue reading Printers Row Lit Fest 2025 →

The Questions We Don’t Ask – And Why They Matter, Part 5

When Dr. Stein suggested the following question: Do you travel much? Why? Why not? I don’t think he was looking for a quick answer like, “Yes, I travel a lot because I love to visit new places,” or “No, I don’t travel much because I’m afraid of airplanes and I don’t have money.” Those are … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask – And Why They Matter, Part 5 →