How Talking About Mental Health for a Day Can Hopefully Last a Lot Longer
You cannot control whether someone chooses to share their struggles, but you can quietly try to alleviate your own. The process is so slow, I know. Years, perhaps. If ever I come close, I’ll write about it. Until then, I’ll keep reading books, and attending therapy, and stealing advice. And, on January 31st 2018, I’ll…
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Truthbook Rather than Facebook Could Alleviate Holiday Depression
Online does not tolerate “Can’t handle it.” Social media doesn’t retweet “I wish I had more time.” Facebook doesn’t like “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.” Your exhibition has become fake news.
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Alzheimer’s and the Sandwich Generation
As with addiction, when reaching out to someone with dementia one can only prod, and suggest, and hope. Often, however, there must be a bottoming out—a physical or psychological cellar, a darkness through which the ill cannot see without guidance and advocacy. My mother fell into that cellar this past April.
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Mysogyny and Harrasment Won’t Disappear for at Least a Generation
Even in 2017, a twenty-four year old intern is not going to ask his fifty-year-old boss to scrub the office of offending materials. An intern won’t tell his boss his jokes aren’t funny. An intern won’t tell his boss that, perhaps, the waitress doesn’t appreciate being whistled at.
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I’m In Talk Therapy. Now I’m Talking About it.
As a writer, after years of wondering whether I should address any given topic, I finally have come to enough terms with one subject in particular that it was time to ask, “Why am I not writing about this one?” Why am I not writing about my mental health?
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Studies Desperately Try To Relate Household Labor with Happy Relationships (…without much success)
If you REALLY read the report, the division of domestic labor may have NOTHING to do with divorce rates. This could be because of snoring, drinking, infidelity, or a hatred of cats. We…just…don’t…really…know.
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About Me (and a little bit of blog history)
A collection of essays and interviews covering topics such as bullying, the peer pressures facing children (and their parents), and shifting gender roles in the workplace and at home. Where parenting is concerned, there is no false labour. (The ‘u’ isn’t a typo, I’m Canadian.)
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How Can I Change for the Better?
We struggle to teach our children open-mindedness and the advantages of critical thinking; while we stodgy parents gradually seem to become convinced we have found the easiest way of doing almost everything.
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In What World is this a ‘Time for Rest and Reflection’??
Did you ever wonder if, perhaps, there is a reason Santa only delivers once annually? Perhaps he avoids using a noisy motorised vehicle, and evades and face-to-face contact, after millennia of experience with children.
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Quiet Voices – A Short Story
The following is a fictional short story I submitted for the Quebec Writers Federation Short Story Competition. Apparently, it made the first cut but did not qualify among the ten finalist. Following my story’s elimination from competition, I was struck by two ideas: 1) Brene Brown and the idea of Daring Greatly, and 2) Remembering…
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Phuleeeeze…Just Get The Vasectomy!
Do it. All you REALLY need to undergo a vasectomy, is balls. Here is some reassurance for squeamish men.
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Winter Travel Plans? Here’s How to Get Through Airport Security Faster
During the holidays, thousands take to the skies to celebrate with friends and family. It’s the time of year to give gifts to our loved ones. There are some restrictions on what can be brought on board a plane. Here are a few simple tips to get through security hassle-free.
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A Theory About Why Men Enjoy Televised Sports
Televised sport is a permission slip to disconnect from being a father, an employee, a husband and a home’s general contractor. It is more permissible to say “I’m watching the game” than it is to declare “I need time away from everybody to do nothing.”
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T.V. Still Gets Laughs From Women Hitting Men
This past week’s episode of “The Newsroom” socked some of that credibility and self-righteousness in the gut.
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Att’n Betsy Hart: Modern Men Marry Mountain Climbers
A red spot on my forehead remains from when I slapped it moments ago. On her blog re-posted here, by the Chicago Sun Times, Betsy Hart explains why she hates this TV commercial: Before I continue, I will make a small adjustment to my wall calendar: 2012, 1997, 1986, 1961. There. Better.
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Why Is It Sometimes I’m Aching to Criticize My Spouse?
…It’s partly because, at the time, I’m not lashing out about a turkey roll, but rather about the dozen or so small moments which frustrated me before I got home: traffic, spilled coffee, an upsetting e-mail, a computer crash. These are the psychological termites which gnaw at your patience and understanding until you can vent…
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Yes, Men Shop. Want Me to Return to Your Store? Here’s What I Expect…
For a retailer seeking to gain an additional, loyal customer, ready to divest of his disposable income (and occasionally beyond), here are some do’s and don’ts:…never sigh and say ‘Sir, we’re very busy.’ We’re all very busy; the difference is, at this moment, you’re collecting a salary to be busy.
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Smart Phone & Reply All: Why I Can’t (but should!) Avoid Distractions
‘RA’ is the digital equivalent to ‘Tell Everybody’. Imagine if such a technique was employed before the advent of electronic communication, using snail mail…
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The Things I Remember are as Remarkable as The Things I Forget
My mother has framed photos of each of my kids on her wall. Each frame is comprised of eleven small photos: one for each of the first eleven months of their lives, and one larger photo on the middle, taken on their first birthday. As I examined them, I remembered the children looking like that,…
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Personal Space: Those Who are Too Close for Comfort.
…can we make a new rule that no one should be touching, leaning, nudging or bumping someone else, unless such behaviour is expected or welcome? Next time I get bumped by an old lady at a burger stand, I’m throwing an elbow.
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Time to Give the Tiger Woodses of the World What They Deserve: To Be Ignored.
I don’t know why I was so interested in watching this self-destruction. I think partly it was due to the unbelievable nature of it all; at the height of his popularity – before it transformed itself into notoriety – was there another athlete with a brighter sheen to their marble than Tiger Woods? Following this…
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Household Chores: A Labor of Love & Hate.
I don’t mind household chores; however they do infringe on time I would otherwise fill quite easily with more enjoyable activities. But since, for the moment, I do not have a butler, or maid, or cook, or concierge, I must do my share of deck-swabbing. After several conversations with wives whose husband abhor housework, I’ll…
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It’s Not About Quitting or Keeping a Job; It’s About being Happy.
Twenty years ago, I wanted to be an actor, ten years later, I wanted to be a doctor, ten year after that, I work in television. So it goes. I used to regret the efforts I didn’t make: school, work, saving money, etc. Only recently did I learn what I consider to be two important…
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The Chasm Between Alone and Lonely
I still revel in the time spend in mental limbo, be it reading, or long-distance driving. I don’t know that I will ever – even when I am alone – feel lonely. Perhaps I should embrace this aspect of my personality as a blessing. I know there are many people who have little choice where…
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Commentary: Men are allowed to Complain!
I will say this: Sometimes things hurt. And when they do, Man says “Ouch”, and every once in a while, we deserve a “There, there, poor baby”. Not all the time, but certainly following these real-life scenarios:
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