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We Must Seize What Flees
[ 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
Deric Hollings
Nov 16 min read
I Don't Agree With Everything That Anyone Says
[ DISCLAIMER ] I don’t agree with everything that anyone says. “Anyone?” you may ask. Anyone! Taking this proclamation a step further, I don’t agree with everything that even I’ve ever said. “What?” you may respond. After all, I’m able to change my mind when considering additional information. Therefore, there are many positions I’ve historically supported that I don’t currently advocate. Personally, this approach to rational living is how one may achieve what Stoic a
Deric Hollings
Oct 3011 min read
I Can't Stand It!
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on the ABC model , one of the major techniques of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I find it useful to discuss the finer points of beliefs which are irrational (not in accordance with both logic and reason ). For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption , not the occurr
Deric Hollings
Oct 234 min read
Don't Go Outside
[ 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
Deric Hollings
Oct 148 min read
My Lil' Ol' Tie
[ DISCLAIMER ] My late stepmom used demeaning remarks when mocking people in her uniquely comical way. For context, “demeaning” is...
Deric Hollings
Sep 305 min read
I Can't Take It: It's More Than I Can Handle
[DISCLAIMER] Have you ever been exposed to a CS gas chamber? I have. In a blogpost entitled Resilience, I described my experience from...
Deric Hollings
May 196 min read
Tolerable FAD
[ DISCLAIMER ] Depicted in the above photo are three fashion elements in which I no longer participate, as they relate to a passing...
Deric Hollings
Apr 185 min read
In My Life
[ DISCLAIMER ] On his 2000 album The Understanding , rapper Memphis Bleek released the track “In My Life” which featured a sample of...
Deric Hollings
Mar 47 min read
Sit Down if You Can't Stand Me
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons about the ABC model of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I often...
Deric Hollings
Feb 234 min read
Listening to Dissenting Opinions
[ DISCLAIMER ] “Socialism” refers to a political and economic system or an ideology in support of such a system. Under this ideology, a...
Deric Hollings
Feb 238 min read
Therapy Was Also an Option
[ DISCLAIMER ] As an obese child, I dreaded the days on which running activities would take place at school. For instance, during the...
Deric Hollings
Feb 188 min read
Voluntary Adversity
[ DISCLAIMER ] As an overweight child, I was required to participate in the Presidential Fitness Test along with other children....
Deric Hollings
Jan 119 min read
I Can't Take It
[ DISCLAIMER ] For those readers who are unfamiliar with Texas history, the following information serves as context pertaining to this...
Deric Hollings
Mar 29, 202410 min read
FLAT
[DISCLAIMER] Photo credit, fair use In 1999, Mr. Oizo released the song “Flat Beat.” At the time, I appreciated the way its varied tones...
Deric Hollings
Mar 23, 20244 min read
Deal Wit Dis
[DISCLAIMER] In my first year of high school, West Coast gangsta rap group South Central Cartel (S.C.C.) released an album entitled South...
Deric Hollings
Mar 17, 20246 min read
High Frustration Tolerance
[DISCLAIMER] Given responses I’ve heard from people in my personal and professional life about dating, I’m glad that my days of courtship...
Deric Hollings
Feb 24, 20247 min read
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