[ DISCLAIMER ]   When attending United States (U.S.) Marine Corps Recruit Training  at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego , the recruits with whom I attended boot camp also trained at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton  (1996). There, we learned about warfighting from World War I  (WWI).   Specifically, recruits were taught about the gory endeavor of trench warfare  and how as a last resort fixed bayonets (attached stabbing blades to the muzzle of a rifle for close-quarters

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Regarding this blogpost, a number of terms warrant definition. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), psychopathy is defined  as “a synonym for antisocial personality disorder [ASPD]” and “formerly, any psychological disorder  or mental disease .”   Similarly, the APA defines  a psychopath as “a former name for an individual with antisocial personality disorder.” As ASPD is referenced in both of those definitions, it’s worth noting that t

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When living with my dad during my elementary and junior high school years in Aurora, Colorado, he discouraged me from being lazy (disinclined to activity or exertion). Referring to laziness as the big ‘L’, “Son,” he’d say, “Why aren’t these dishes washed? Is it the big ‘L’?”   I was taught to promptly tend to my chores, because my dad wanted to instill within me a strong work ethic . After moving back to Amarillo, Texas, away from my dad and then eventually i

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living  by Ryan Holiday  and Stephen Hanselman .   The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated, “No person has the power  to have everything  they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don’t have, and to

[ DISCLAIMER ] When assigned to the Marine Security Guard  (MSG) detachment in Lima, Peru (2000-2001), I attended a United States (U.S.) Marine Corps Birthday ball  without a date. A fellow MSG, who often expressed disdain for me, took as a date someone to whom I’ll refer as “Chaparrita.”   Regarding how I met her, I stated in Non-Monogamous Desires  that “there was the matter of another Marine’s date in Lima, Peru who liked me more than him, and who became my rave partner wh

[ DISCLAIMER ]   I’ve paid close attention to the 2026 Iran war (also euphemistically referred to as an operation, hostilities, conflict, etc.) which was started by the United States (U.S.) and Israel—specifically, U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister [PM] of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu .   In particular, I’ve observed quite a bit of propaganda ( ideas , facts , or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause). Much of what

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living  by Ryan Holiday  and Stephen Hanselman .   Stoic philosopher Seneca  stated, “I was shipwrecked before I even boarded . . . the journey showed me this—how much of what we have is unnecessary, and how easily we can decide to rid our

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Throughout my life, I’ve enjoyed visiting Palo Duro Canyon  (PDC). Regarding this Texas state park, one source states:   People have inhabited [PDC] for about 12,000 years. The Clovis and Folsom peoples first lived in the canyon and hunted large herds of mammoth and giant bison.   Other cultures, such as the Apache, Comanche and Kiowa, used the canyon’s plentiful resources more recently. […]   The state bought the land for the park from Fred S. Emory in 1933

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Looking back at my time in the United States Marine Corps  (1996-2007), as military police  (MP) when stationed aboard Camp Kinser  in Okinawa, Japan (1997-1999), I realize how shortsighted (lacking foresight—a view forward) I was. To elucidate this point, forgive me an anecdote.   When initially introduced to the provost marshal office (PMO) in Camp Kinser – affectionately referred to as Mayberry , Killer Kinser PMO, and Kinser County PD [police department

[ DISCLAIMER ]   From time to time, people contact me regarding care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health  (collectively “ mental health ”) for so-called porn addiction. For clarity, it may be worth stating that the American Psychological Association (APA) thusly defines  pornography:   [W]ritings or images (e.g., illustrations, films, digital media) with blunt, often exploitative sexual content designed solely to arouse a sexual response and to satisfy the sexual urg

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When living in a children’s home, during my freshman year of high school, a houseparent at the all-boy cottage in which I lived taught me an invaluable lesson. “ Mind  over matter ,” he stated, “I don’t mind, because it doesn’t matter.” Here, some points of clarity may be helpful.   Colloquially, “mind” is defined as the element or complex of elements in an individual that feels , perceives , thinks or believes , wills , and especially reasons . In the sense

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living  by Ryan Holiday  and Stephen Hanselman .   Per one Stoic source , “You spend your present moment  agonizing over a future tragedy that’ll likely never happen. If it does happen, you’ll have suffered twice . If it doesn’t happen, y

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living  by Ryan Holiday  and Stephen Hanselman .   The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated, “Inwardly, we ought  to be different in every respect, but our outward dress should  blend in with the crowd” (page 255). H

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When working in the field of nuclear security (2004-2008), I obtained a divorce. Following the ultimately healthy dissolution of that unhealthy union, I began body sculpting (achieving a lean and defined aesthetic by increasing muscle density and reducing fat to highlight muscularity).   Notably, I achieved imperfect success with my interests and goals , which required a lot of cutting that which wasn’t necessary  (e.g., reduction of empty caloric intake). W

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living  by Ryan Holiday  and Stephen Hanselman .   When professionally providing care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health  (collectively “ mental health ”), I think it’s morally and ethically  responsible to inform people of menta

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living  by Ryan Holiday  and Stephen Hanselman .   Today’s lesson on Stoicism regards opinions  ( subjective , and often invalid and/or unreliable , views , judgments , or appraisals formed in the mind about a particular matter). Regardi

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When in the Marine Corps (1996-2007), I bowled quite a bit. As a matter of full disclosure, I’m not a skilled bowler. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the challenge of an obstacle (something that impedes progress or achievement). In my case, my lack of skill at bowling was the obstacle.   Somehow, it was as though other Marines were naturally accomplished bowlers. Yet, my balls spent more time in the gutter than not. (If you read a sexual innuendo in that last senten

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living  by Ryan Holiday  and Stephen Hanselman .   Using REBT, I often encounter beliefs  which are absolute (having no restriction, exception, or qualification). This tends to occur with moral and ethical perspectives which are subjecti

[ DISCLAIMER ]   In my youth, public service announcements  (PSAs) were a common method of teaching morals and ethics . For clarity, a moral is a person’s standard of behavior or belief concerning what is and isn’t acceptable for the individual and other people.   Morals thus relate to what’s considered good, bad, right, wrong, or otherwise acceptable or unacceptable. An ethic is a set of moral principles , especially those relating to or affirming a specified group, field,

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living  by Ryan Holiday  and Stephen Hanselman .   The authors quote ancient Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius  who stated, “You’ve endured countless troubles—all from not letting your ruling reason  do the work it was ma