One thing I know about happiness is that it comes from the narrative of our life. The story we tell ourselves. But too often, we let others write that story for us. Unhappiness and discontent inevitably follow. The only person who can write the story of your life properly is you. In order to change our narrative to an authentic one, one we write ourselves, we must change our perspective, and thus our perceptions of our world. This is not a new idea. Plato explained it in “Allegory of the Cave” over 2,300 years ago. A small change in perception can mean a huge change in what we see. And changing how we see lets us write a new narrative. The Dalai Lama also explores this idea of the relationship between perception and a good life in his book The Art of Happiness (99¢ in the remainder bin . . . maybe you can buy happiness after all!).
Wait… hold the tar and feathers. I know it sounds like heresy, but I want to argue that it’s actually a good thing for the Broncos that the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. I know a lot of Bronco Country was rooting for Kansas City to lose. They are our loathsome rivals, after all, and […]
Denver Bronco Fans Should Be Glad the Chiefs Won the Super Bowl Read More »
With the country so polarized as it heads into the 2020 election, it is wise to remember what, we as Americans, can all agree on. No matter where you stand on any particular issue or what your party affiliation, if you love this country and its ideals, then you want what’s best for it. We
The Two Faces of Trump Derangement Syndrome Read More »
Watching the devolution of the Republican party under Trump’s leadership has convinced me that Republicans, not Democrats, will turn America into a socialist nation. Before the trolls call me deranged, deluded, or worse, a closet Democrat, I propose a few premises that I think most Americans can agree on before presenting my argument. The first
Republicans, not Democrats, will turn America into a Socialist Country Read More »
Recently, my wife recorded a new greeting for our landline. Yes, we’re dinosaurs who still have a landline. Our phone company made upgrades to their system, forcing us to record a new greeting. I had to listen to it for the first time yesterday and hated it. She identified me as Jerry, a name I
Naming Children for Life Read More »
Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. And in many ways it is a perfect symbol of our national character. The stories that we feed ourselves, tales of grateful Pilgrims, peaceful Indians, and bountiful tables of turkey and pumpkin pie are completely false. Just as false as the story that hard work, faith, and education will
Thanksgiving Day Gratitude: An American Tradition Read More »
One good thing that came out of the Gulf wars, maybe the only good thing, is a belated recognition of Vietnam veterans. Somewhere in all of the “Support the Troops” fervor that gripped much of the country came a wave of guilt over how veterans of Vietnam were treated. What M.A.S.H. did for Korean War
How to Thank Veterans for Their Service Read More »