[ DISCLAIMER ]   I served in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps from 1996 to 2007, with my primary billet as military police  (MP). During that time, men and women were held to different standards of physical fitness. Regarding this matter, one source claims:   While they are gaining seniority in the US military, women continue to face discrimination. As women were forging paths into the military, men sought ways to differentiate themselves and maintain their dominance in

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Growing up under the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses , my dad taught me not to believe in luck (a force that brings good fortune or adversity, and the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual). Regarding my dad’s advisement against belief in luck, one source  states:   Supernatural interpretations of luck consider it to be an attribute of a person or of an object, or the result of a favorable (or unfavorable) view manifested by a dei

[ DISCLAIMER ]   As a resident of a children’s home sponsored by a local congregation of the Churches of Christ in Bomb City , I met Jack who was an elder (a biblically qualified man who serves as a spiritual leader, overseeing and shepherding the local congregation alongside other elders).   Each time Jack greeted me, he delivered one of the most firm handshakes I’d ever experienced. His grip was downright painful, as Jack would laugh as I writhed in agony. “What’s the matt

[ DISCLAIMER ]   On the electronic dance music (EDM) anthology Pop Life (2007), the third studio album released by French DJ and record producer David Guetta , is the track “ Tomorrow Can Wait ” which features Chris Willis  and DJ Tocadisco . Lyrics of the chorus state:   Live life here and now , tomorrow can wait Dance all through the night, sleepin’ all day Stuck inside a box, you gotta get out Stand up, get up, live your life now, come on   Within the cited lyrics is a h

[ DISCLAIMER ]   By the time I attended United States Marine Corps Recruit Training (1996), I’d already been in a number of physical altercations. As my experience with fistfights began in elementary school, I had awareness of what it was like to get punched in the face.   For instance, as a resident of a children’s home in middle and high school, I’d engaged in mutual affrays with various boys. On one instance, a school bus driver pulled me off of a boy who sucker punched me

[ DISCLAIMER ]   For this post, a number of definitions are required. The term “erudite” is an adjective relating to having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying: possessing or displaying erudition (extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books: profound, recondite, or bookish learning).   In the ‘80s and ‘90s, the term used for erudite scholars was “nerd,” which is a noun relating to a person devoted to intellectual, academic, or technical pursuits or interests

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When serving in the United States Marine Corps (1996-2007) in the billet of military police (MP), I was introduced to the concept of muscle memory . Regarding this topic, one source states:   Muscle memory is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition, which has been used synonymously with motor learning.   When a movement is repeated over time, the brain creates a long-term muscle memory for

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use   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 Marcus Aurelius  who stated, “ Pay attention to what’s in front of you —the principle , the task, or what’s being portra

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Earlier, when working out, I heard the song “ Unruly ” from the album Speshal Machinery: The Ghronic Edition  (2024) by Conway the Machine  and Big Ghost Ltd. , as the track features 38 Spesh . Notably, I briefly paused my physical training routine when listening to 38 Spesh’s verse:   Ayo, now, where your heart go? I’ma make sure that you bleed awful No joke; to match my smoke , you gon’ need charcoal Seen Narcos ? I transport extreme cargo And I don’t call

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Many years ago, when I was relatively new to the field of mental, emotional, and behavioral health  (collectively “mental health”), I worked with children (also referred to as “littles”). On one particular day, the woman tasked with training me used an expression I found humorous.   “How do you eat an elephant?” she asked a little as I shadowed my trainer. The child client sat for a moment and thought. “I don’t know,” the little said when shrugging. “One bite

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Do you find that comparison is the thief of joy , as you covet ( desire  what belongs to another, inordinately or culpably) the possessions or lived experience  of other individuals? If so, you aren’t alone. In fact, there’s an expression regarding such behavior, as one source states:   “Keeping up with the Joneses” is an idiom, or popular phrase, that refers to the pressure to “keep up” with your neighbor’s social status, wealth, or popularity. It refers t

[ DISCLAIMER ]   The above photo was taken during a Marine Corps noncommissioned officer (NCO) Mess Night , which is a formal, traditional dinner and ceremony that fosters camaraderie and celebrates Marine customs. In the picture, I’m featured with two of my friends (persons XX and XY).   Individuals who remain familiar with my blog are likely aware of the fact that I experienced significant administrative and legal issues  when in the Corps, as I ultimately received other th

[ 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 .   Concerning this blogpost, some defining terms may be necessary. First, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines  a habit thusly:   [A] well-learned behavior or automatic seque

[ DISCLAIMER ]   By the time family X, from a Churches of Christ congregation of which I was a member, took me into their home during my sophomore year of high school, transferring me from a children’s home, I’d already been raised under the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses for most of my life.   What family X, who lived in Amarillo, Texas, didn’t know was that when living in Aurora, Colorado between half of my fifth grade to half of my seventh grade years, I became acqu

[ 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 Stoic philosopher Seneca  who stated, “The greatest portion of peace of mind is doing nothing wrong . Those who lack self-control live disoriented and di

[ 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 Stoic philosopher Seneca  who stated, “Let us also produce some bold act of our own—and join the ranks of the most emulated [that to which one strives to eq

[ DISCLAIMER ]   There’s a line on lyricist Murs ’s song “ Woke Up Dead ”, produced by Jesse Shatkin and from the album Have a Nice Life (2015), that states “gettin’ older as my life gets shorter.” It’s the sort of message that at first may seem like a throwaway line.   Of course, we get older as our lives get shorter. Still, I wonder about how often (or not) people contemplate their own mortality. With each passing day, they grow older while their lives get shorter. All th

[ 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 Epictetus who stated, “Where is Good ? In our reasoned choices . Where is Evil ? In our reasoned choices . Where is that which is neither Good

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Years ago, when employed in the field of nuclear security, a coworker buddy of mine asked for help with constructing an at-home concrete walkway. In effect, he expressed reliance (the state of being reliant—having dependence on something or someone) on me for the project.   It wasn’t that my friend spoke of an inherent need (a condition requiring supply or relief), as he could’ve completed the walkway on his own. Nevertheless, reliance on me for the project

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use   I performed an artificial intelligence (AI) image search query for “beautiful” (the quality or group of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure  to the senses or the mind ) and the above image was revealed. Personally, the AI individual in the photo above isn’t beautiful.   While I acknowledge that there’s no unified objective standard of beauty to which all  people are held, there remains plenty of evidence in support of th