April - 2018

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Tragedy of a Cheatin' Heart

Tragedy of a Cheatin' Heart

With the current news of a murder-suicide in Pennsylvania, involving two women in a love triangle (one was involved with the other’s husband), one of the most obvious questions is: Why do men who say they love their wives have extramarital affairs? According to Radnor Township Police, Jennair Gerardot, 48, ambushed Meredith Chapman, 33, in Chapman’s home, and shot her in the head, before turning the gun on herself. Chapman (who was separated from her husband at the time) was

Synchronicity: A Profound Coincidence

Synchronicity: A Profound Coincidence

I miss my buddy, Bobby. He was a like a brother to me. In 2008, Bobby was 49-years-old, and suffering from extreme clinical depression. I quickly learned that those afflicted with major depression go on an emotional rollercoaster ride, and they often take family and friends with them; and it’s not as if anyone can tell them to snap out of it. They can’t. It’s a disease, and depression requires professional help. The only thing that calmed him down was cigarettes, and he smoke

The Pleasure Principle

The Pleasure Principle

I was in England several years ago during late October, and being a US American, I recognized the English don’t fully embrace Halloween the way we do back across the BIG pond. But I was just a visitor and who was I to change their culture? Back in the US, everything was decorated with oranges, black, blood red, and eggplant purple, and most everyone had their costumes ready to confuse diabolical spirits, who travel to the physical world on All Hollow’s Eve to seek out humans

Clarity

Clarity

I was reading a book written by my friend, Amy Elizabeth Garcia, titled, Real Steps to Enlightenment and I readily related to one chapter: Clarity. While reading, I could empathize with sitting at a desk, typing, working at a county-contracted facility, when I was in my very early 20’s, way before the era of smart phones, PCs, Apple computers, thinking, I know I’m only 21, but there’s got to be more to life than this. Like Amy, I too worked in a stressful and (emotionally and

The Magical Kingdom of Archetypes

The Magical Kingdom of Archetypes

When Walter Disney developed Disneyland, I wonder if his real intent was not just to provide family entertainment, but to build a place where archetypes could be celebrated. Jung calls archetypes a primordial, structural elements of the human soul, which are embedded into the cultural unconscious psyche (also known as the collective unconscious), consisting of pre-existent forms, which are universal, and inherited. Why are archetypes so important? Because we all have stories

Something Old, Something New

Something Old, Something New

I was watching an episode of The Waltons the other night. A show set in depression era 1930’s Virginia. This certain episode featured Cora Beth getting married to Isaac Godsey. What impressed me about the episode was not its grandeur, but its simplicity. Cora Beth wore her finest Sunday dress, not an elaborate white gown. Her bridesmaids did not wear matching ensembles. Just their Sunday best also. John Walton, Sr. walked her down the aisle and when the couple said their vows

Alzheimer's Disease: How to Reduce Your Risk

Alzheimer's Disease: How to Reduce Your Risk

One of my first jobs, as a psychologist in training, was working with the elderly population who had Alzheimer's Disease (AD). My grandmother, who was my twin soul, also suffered from AD and I saw first-hand, professionally and personally, how devastating Alzheimer's Disease is. It’s like dying a slow death. So, I wanted to know, why it happens and what we can do to reduce the risk. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is an age related degenerative, irreversible brain disorder and is th

Starting an Empire

Starting an Empire

As I sit here in the cafe of the car care center, waiting for the alternator of my car to be repaired, I think about what I can possibly do to pass the time (since they tell me it will take all day). So, of course a light bulb went off inside my mind, and I say to myself, I'll start an empire. It's time to create a realm! More than one patient told me that they don't like the word EMPOWER. They think it sounds too aggressive. One thing I realized is different words mean diffe

Don't Be a Writer...Be Writing

Don't Be a Writer...Be Writing

I lost that sense of being fantasmical along the way to being a grown-up. I first became a published writer, without even having a journalism or media writing class, via a feature article I wrote for a magazine in the 80's. Then I studied journalism in college and quickly learned I had to write within the lines (actually it was more like write within the inverted pyramid to be exact). There were rules to follow now. One example of these rules was: Do not use 50 cent words! Wh

Sustainable Fashion and Design

Sustainable Fashion and Design

I am obsessed with upcycling and repurposing. I try to reimagine something discarded in another incarnation. I've upcycled many things: elaborate floral head wreaths from silk florals I've found at thrift stores; pillow cases from used sweaters; and even gift wrap from newspaper. Now, we have a Nespresso machine, which uses pods. We don't drink often, because we're not big coffee drinkers in our home, but I know many others drink coffee, which uses pods, daily. That means, un

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