[ DISCLAIMER ]   In my youth, I was often bored in school. Therefore, when the American Revolution was discussed, my only takeaway was that the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain had irreconcilable differences, culminating in the American Revolutionary War . There was death involved, as well.   That bloody event was said to have resulted in the independence of the colonies as the United States (U.S.). Then, when learning about the American Civil War , I understood that the

[ 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 Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius  who stated, “Watch the stars in their courses and imagine yourself running alongside them. Think constantly

[ DISCLAIMER ]   *Spoilers for A Big Bold Beautiful Journey  (2025) contained herein. Photo credit , property of Sony Pictures Releasing, fair use   A Big Bold Beautiful Journey   I recently watched A Big Bold Beautiful Journey  (2025), a romantic fantasy film, with slight expectation for a particular outcome. To my surprise, I enjoyed it quite a bit! (With little doubt, I’ll be watching it again in the future.) Describing the plot, one source states:   Some doors bring you

[ DISCLAIMER ]   *Spoilers for Tron  (1982), Tron: Legacy  (2010), and Tron: Ares  (2025) contained herein.   The Tron Franchise   I saw Tron  (1982) in childhood, though I couldn’t remember much about it aside from how the Light Cycles  turned at sharp angles. Similarly, I watched Tron: Legacy  (2010) upon its release, yet I couldn’t recall much about the film other than Serinda Swan ’s depiction as Siren #2.   Given how forgettable the Tron franchise  has been to me, I didn

[ 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 ’s first century AD fabula crepidata (Roman tragedy with Greek subject) Thyestes , as follows: “ Tantalus : The highest power  is— Thyes

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use   Halfway through my fifth grade year, my mom sent me from Amarillo, Texas, where I lived with her, to live with my dad in Aurora, Colorado. I was an overweight, white-appearing, biracial (white and black) child with a thick Texas accent, and who didn’t know any other kids at school.   When enrolled in Crawford Elementary School (pictured above), I was introduced to Crips  who lived in the local neighborhood. This introduction was by way

[ DISCLAIMER ]   In 1998, while on leave from Okinawa, Japan when serving in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), I sat watching gameplay concerning boys of the family who accepted me into their household from the children’s home in which I previously lived.   At the time, I was self-disturbed by irrational beliefs  about a former intimate partner who broke up with me as I underwent USMC Recruit Training in 1996. Per my distorted view, she was playing games with my affect

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When providing care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health  (collectively “mental health”), I invite people to consider perspective shifts . Are you familiar with this helpful approach to rational living ? For context, the American Psychological Association defines  perspective as:    “[T]he ability to view objects, events, and ideas  in realistic proportions and relationships,” and, “the capacity of an individual to take into account and potentially u

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Defining Terms   When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT), I find it useful to define terms. This is done in the interest of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding . In fact, these three terms are worth defining.   According to the American Psychological Association (APA), knowledge is defined  as “the state of being familiar with something or aware of its existence, usually resulting from experience  or study” or

[ DISCLAIMER ]   In a blogpost entitled Practice How You Perform , I discussed a concept that I learned in childhood: Practice how you play and play how you practice. This expression was also reflected throughout my training when I served in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps (1996-2007).   For example, the above photo is the only image I have depicting my law enforcement defensive tactics  training when becoming military police (MP) while stationed aboard Fort McClellan ,

[ DISCLAIMER ]   It isn’t necessarily easy to discuss one’s own past mistakes . Yet, here I am addressing my historic error in judgment ....

[ DISCLAIMER ]   I recall the golden age of hip hop from when many slang forms of expression originated for me. For instance, although I...

[ DISCLAIMER ]   The idiomatic expression “you make me sick” refers to someone that perceivably causes you to feel intense anger ,...

[ DISCLAIMER ]   In my younger years, I lacked the wisdom to understand that the knowledge I assumed  wasn’t true  or subject to change....

[ DISCLAIMER ]   I make no secret  of or apology  for the fact that I’m a fan of lyricist and hip hop producer Kanye “Ye” West ’s music...

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT), I invite people to use thinking...

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When on voluntary appellate leave  from the Marine Corps, as I worked in the field of nuclear security , I continued my...

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use   I invite you to take a look at the photo above. Suppose you’ve arrived at a point along your...

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When recently listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set  by Lysa Chain , I heard the track “ Reactivated ”...