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
Tag: life
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
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
The Questions We Don’t Ask—And Why They Matter, Part 2
Today, I’m tackling the second question from the many suggested by Dr. Gerald Stein in his post titled “The Questions We Don’t Ask.” I knew the answer right away as soon as I read it. But then I thought, “What is the relationship between this question and the content of his post?” His post, as … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask—And Why They Matter, Part 2
The Questions We Don’t Ask—And Why They Matter
Last Thursday, I mentioned a little project I’ve taken on, inspired by a post from Dr. Gerald Stein titled “The Questions We Don’t Ask.” Sometimes we’re quick to judge others, or place expectations on them that we don’t even meet ourselves. Dr. Stein’s questions are uncomfortable, but I believe taking the time to reflect on … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask—And Why They Matter
It’s Not Complicated—Unless You Make It: My Thoughts on Male-Female Friendships Part 2
Last week, I mentioned an article titled Can Men and Women Just Be Friends? that I was planning to read, and I gave my answer to the question without having read the article. I said that my perspective is: No, if you see women as objects. But Yes, if you see them as equals. Well, … Continue reading It’s Not Complicated—Unless You Make It: My Thoughts on Male-Female Friendships Part 2
It’s Not Complicated—Unless You Make It: My Thoughts on Male-Female Friendships
Can Men and Women Just Be Friends? What a great question, and perfect for a WordPress prompt. It’s the title of an article I haven’t read yet, but I’m going to answer it anyway. Later this week, I’ll read the article and see if my response aligns with its content. I took a quick peek, … Continue reading It’s Not Complicated—Unless You Make It: My Thoughts on Male-Female Friendships
I Just Want a Normal Life
I was reading a news article about politics in Germany this weekend, and something a 20-year-old said caught my attention. This young man said, "… but we just want a normal life.” All politics aside, this declaration took me back to when I was 20—yes, a little over 31 years ago for those who want … Continue reading I Just Want a Normal Life
Finding Your Flow
Happy New Year, my friends! We spent a wonderful week with family and said goodbye to 2024 in a low-key but meaningful way. As the year turned, I spent some time reflecting on the past and the future, and the word “flow” came to mind. In the book Quiet by Susan Cain, I read that … Continue reading Finding Your Flow
Balancing Assertiveness with Social Acceptance
Today, I received Susan Cain’s newsletter called The Kindred Letters, where she wrote about the disapproval of others. She started the newsletter with these three questions: Do you experience an acute sting when other people disapprove of you? Do you care deeply about (pardon the oncoming cliché) living authentically? Does it sometimes seem that these … Continue reading Balancing Assertiveness with Social Acceptance