Category: Opinion
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I’m Sorry, You Apologized for WHAT?? A Brief Look at Our Over-Apologizing Culture
Originally published 12/15/17. Updated 1/2/21. I can’t tell you how it started. I can tell you that once I noticed it, it was everywhere and impossible to ignore. The overuse of “I’m sorry.” I was formerly a power-user of the phrase, and I read an article a few years back exploring the folly of its…
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An Open Letter to Critics of #ThoughtsAndPrayers
Right after the tragic church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas in early November, social media was flooded with the usual chorus of people posting “sending thoughts and prayers” to the victims and their families. This is an entirely normal reaction to a tragedy, to acknowledge a sense of helplessness and beseech the Almighty to intervene…
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6 Qualities That Will Make You More Endearing to Others
We’ve all encountered people that rock our world for the better. When we meet such a person, we delight to be in their presence as much as possible. They inspire us to be better people ourselves by their example. While we all may have various ideas of what qualities we admire in people, here are…
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Embracing the Boring Life: A Short Chronicle of My Transition from (Mostly) Adventurer to (More of a) Homebody
Updated 8-20-21 It sometimes pains me to admit that my life is not as exciting as it was in the past. I look back fondly on my college years and my 20s when every weekend was full of adventure and a high percentage of weekdays were too. Being at home in the evening was boring,…
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You Can Be Passionate About Politics without Being a Jerk (And You Should – Here’s How)
I’m not sure about you, but in the months leading up to the last presidential election, and in the time since, I have been continually floored at how rude, tactless and malicious the state of political discussion in America has become. It was so bad during the election season that I chose to remain silent…
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My Personal Commitments for 2017 & Beyond
This post is instead of publishing New Year’s Resolutions. I’m not talking about over-achieving early resolutions for 2018. I’m talking about for the year that is now three-quarters over. Try not to laugh at me. OK, fine, go ahead. As a human, I wallow in the same problem that many of us do: not sticking…
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A Mother’s Day Tribute to My Mom (Vive)
For Mother’s Day this year, I decided to honor my dear mother with more than just a few words scratched onto a card, or a Facebook post that fades into oblivion after a few hours. Though I may do those things too. 🙂 Before I get too far, I should clarify that “Vive” is her…
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Why I Go To Church Every Sunday
Published: 2/12/17. Updated: 2/27/21. When it comes to church, I’ll admit: I’m a lifer. A lifer in the sense that I’ve gone my whole life, and also in that I plan to attend for the rest of my life. As long as I am physically able. As to the first part of that, I wasn’t…
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Understanding Introverts: A lesser known fact or two
Ever get frustrated with the people in your life who are slower to react verbally or seem to be less excited about being social? It is likely they are introverts, and their behavior comes naturally and honestly. Here is a look at what makes introverts tick.
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What is the Christmas Spirit Anyway?
Hint: It’s not about Bing Crosby or Barry Manilow. Although they can help. Yes, even Manilow. 🙂 Christmas is almost here, ready or not. Can I get a show of hands? Who else besides me is in the “not” ready category 99.2% of the time? Who am I kidding? It’s 100%. Christmas happens at the…
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Finding the Christmas Spirit
Is finding the Christmas spirit difficult for you like it can be for me? It is becoming a yearly struggle. Each year I slip further into adulthood, it seems harder and harder to get into or find, “the Christmas spirit” when the calendar hits December 1. I’m not even talking about the going-through-the-motions “Christmas spirit”;…
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Happy Independence Day! (A Bittersweet Fourth of July Greeting)
Happy Fourth of July! It is only appropriate to start an Independence Day post with those words, or something similar. The “wet blanket” portion of this post is what follows. While the wish is sincere (why wouldn’t I want you to have a great Fourth, after all?), it is a qualified greeting. That is because…
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Things I could do without
What are some things you could do without? Not to complain, just some things that make you think, “You know what? If those things didn’t exist, I wouldn’t mind!” There are many things I could do without, so I figured it was high time I made a partial list. A complete list would be nearly…