Five Years Without You: A Letter to My Mother Dear Mother, It was five years ago today that I held your hand for the last time. Five years ago today I kissed your face for the last time. People say time flies. Now that I’m in my 50s, I catch myself saying it too. But not in this
In the news When the Weakest Link Breaks: The Cost of Declining Quality It was 3 a.m. when I started writing this. I woke up in the middle of the night—as I tend to do now in my 50s—and made the mistake of checking my phone before trying to fall back asleep. That never ends well. I tell myself I’
I’ll Climb That Mountain When I’m Ready What Alex Honnold’s mindset reveals about pressure, timing, and the courage to say “not today” until you are truly ready.
Politics When will enough be enough? No politician — let alone a sitting president — would ever post something like this. I mean, it's just not conceivable. It would be political suicide.
The Lost Art of Listening People love to talk. I am guilty of it myself. My partner, Erin, will quickly attest to that. But I also consider myself a good—no, you know what—I consider myself a great listener. That raises a question that got me thinking: Do people today actually like to listen?
Politics While America Slept The Mental Cost of Never Knowing What Comes Next What has happened to us? I have tried, for a long time, to steer this site away from politics. Not because politics doesn’t matter — but because I know exactly what they do to my mental health. I know how it
Why AI Is the First True Challenge Millennials Have Faced I hope everyone had a good holiday season and Happy New Year to all – assuming I finish this before 2026 arrives. It has been a busy month, and I have not written nearly as much as I planned. That's my excuse, and I am sticking to it. The
Observations The Solar System of Grief: A New Way to Understand Loss, Connection, and Emotional Gravity In the matter of eight days, I attended three funerals. They ranged from a co-worker's father, to the grandmother of one of my partner's best friends, to the father of my best friend in high school. I discussed this with my therapist, Suzy. She asked me
In the news The King’s Gambit Declined: Daniel Naroditsky and the Price of Perfection A reflection on the quiet genius of a grandmaster undone by pressure, isolation, and the unforgiving pursuit of perfection.
Personal The Things We Take For Granted: Oxygen When my 91-year-old father came home from the hospital on supplemental oxygen, I learned how fragile the simple act of breathing can be — and how easily we forget the quiet miracles that keep us alive.
Bracing for the Fall of My Second Tower After losing my mother to dementia, I’ve spent years learning to live with grief. Now, as my 91-year-old father faces a life-threatening health crisis, I’m forced to confront the reality of losing him too—and the fragile line between holding on and letting go.
The Wheels On The School Bus Don't Go Round and Round I can’t start my day without my Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee. It’s as critical as taking my Adderall in the morning. For the record, Dunkin’ is not a sponsor of GotMeThinking.org—but if they’d like to be, send me an email. I always order through the
In the news Who We Choose to Mourn: Charlie Kirk, Iryna Zarutska, and America’s Selective Grief I feel the need to address the elephant in the room. There is no getting around it. I don't like talking politics on this site, but I will when it affects my mental health, and this has. The murder of Charlie Kirk Call it an assassination if you
Troubled souls I Am Providence: H.P. Lovecraft’s Life, Death, and Legacy Swan Point Cemetery is situated about twenty minutes away from my home. I pass it every week on my way to my therapy session. It is located off of Blackstone Boulevard. I have always known this area as the "barrio dos ricos"--Portuguese for "the neighborhood of
In the news A Judge With a Heart: My Tribute to Frank Caprio Rhode Island lost one of its favorite sons on Wednesday. Judge Frank Caprio--only hours after posting a heart-wrenching video on social media asking for people to remember him in their prayers–died on Wednesday, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Caprio served as a Providence Municipal
In the news Bad things come in threes? Five icons of my youth gone In two weeks, we lost five legends from the 1980s: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, Ryne Sandberg, and Loni Anderson. They all played roles in my life. This is a personal tribute to the icons who helped define a generation.
Personal One Journey Ends, Another Begins: Weaving My Way Through the Social Security Disability Maze It's been almost a year and a half since I last discussed my Social Security Disability case. If you need a refresher, you can read it here: The Judicial System Has Let Me Down. Here's a brief synopsis of the timeline. * 1990-2022 (32 long years): I
Politics No One Is Immune to Grief — Not Even Presidents This article explores the seldom-told story of Coolidge’s silent struggle, offering insight into the human side of the man who led America during the Roaring Twenties. It’s a powerful reminder that even the most powerful figures are not immune to the universal pain of loss.
Inspirational From Hardwood to Healing: The Chris Herren Story Chris Herren's rise, fall, and recovery from addiction is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond saving. From NBA hopeful to overdose survivor, he now uses his story to inspire hope and help others choose a different path.
In the news This Isn’t Just About Karen Read The Karen Read trial isn’t just about guilt or innocence. It’s about what happens when power protects its own—and the truth gets buried beneath it.
Techniques Not TMZ… TMS: A Pulsating New Way to Treat Depression? After months of stalled progress, my therapist pushed me to try something new: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. But I’m still not sure I’m ready.
Movies The Last of the Von Erichs: A Story of Survival, Faith, and Perseverance A heartfelt look at Kevin Von Erich—the last surviving brother of the legendary wrestling family—navigating tragedy, faith, and the enduring legacy of the Von Erichs.
Another Mother’s Day Without Mom Creating this website has had a lot of benefits for me. I started this blog, almost exactly, two years after my mother died. I did it, at the advice of my therapist, as a way of journaling and expressing my feelings. It was good advice. I've been through
Troubled souls Innocence lost: Virginia Giuffre never needed a prince, she just needed someone to trust You might not recognize the name, but you know the impact she had. You may have even missed the news of her passing, recently, on April 25, 2025. She took down a financier who was once believed to have been worth around $600 million. She took down a British royal
Personal Pope's passing reminds me of some personal stories of terminal lucidity I woke up on the morning of Monday, April 21, 2025. As per usual, like many people, the first thing I did was reach for my phone. Usually, I check social media first to see if I missed anything in the six hours I was sleeping. Maybe I will check
