self-disturbance | Hollings Therapy

Blog Reminder

Please be mindful of the fact that if you subscribe to or comment on this blog, others may be able to see the name and/or contact details you enter. If you are uncomfortable with the self-initiated release of your name, you are encouraged to consider this reminder and use whatever option serves you best. Solicitation, marketing, botting, and other web-scraping subscriptions will be removed.

DISCLAIMER

Law of Holes

[ DISCLAIMER ] I learned a thing or two about digging holes when residing in an all-male cottage of a children’s home during my eighth and ninth grade years. “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop,” I was told, meaning that people with nothing to do are more likely to get into trouble, mischief, or sin. This was expressed, because boredom was said to have opened a proverbial door to negative influences or nonadaptive behavior , supposedly acting as Satan’s tools of temptat

The Daily Stoic

Deric Hollings

12 hours ago8 min read

The Wet Duck Flies Backward at Midnight

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit (edited), photo credit (edited), fair use “The wet duck flies backward at midnight.” That’s what was written on the chalkboard by a student at Randall High School in 1992. I stared at the expression, trying to make sense of it. As the bell had just rung, signaling students to transition from one class to another, I walked away. On my way out of the room, I observed a teacher chuckling at my bewilderment. “What did the sentence mean?” I wonder

Deric Hollings

3 days ago7 min read

It Is Well to Be Stoic

[ 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 . Have you ever had big plans to do something, only to discover that your arrangements wouldn’t come to fruition? If so, then you may consider what ancient Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca h

The Daily Stoic

Deric Hollings

Dec 56 min read

Reminiscing About Sloppy Steaks: I Used to Be a P.O.S.

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , property of Netflix, fair use I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is a sketch comedy television series created by Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin , and leans heavily on cringe comedy with elements of surreal humor. Regarding the current post, you’re invited to consider a season two scene in which a man states: [baby cries when passed to the man] Of course he cries when I hold him. It’s not a big deal. Ah, it’s not a big deal. I guess he

Deric Hollings

Nov 2611 min read

In the Trunk

[ DISCLAIMER ] I recently visited an automotive shop for a state-mandated emissions inspection. While sitting in the lobby, a man glanced down at my exposed calves and saw a large United States (U.S.) Marine Corps tattoo, as the following dialogue ensued: Man: You a Marine? Me: Yes. Man: Semper fi ! Me: Do or die! Oorah ! Man: How long’d ya do? Me: 11 years. Man: You were halfway to retirement. What happened? Me: Were you a Marine? Man: Yes, 22 years. Me

Hip Hop and REBT

Deric Hollings

Nov 118 min read

Crashout

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , property of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures fair use When searching Reddit for content regarding daily practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I came across a subjectively humorous anecdote . In the post featuring a 2011 Walt Disney Animation Studios rendition of Winnie the Pooh , the following dialogue unfolds: Piglet: [Pooh, Rabbit, Owl, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo are trapped in a hole and Piglet gets a rope - only to cut it

Hip Hop and REBT

Deric Hollings

Nov 106 min read

Chilling Effect on Free Speech

[ DISCLAIMER ] I imagine that the one or two people who infrequently peruse my blog for psychoeducational lessons on my approach to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) may be surprised to occasionally encounter content related to the First Amendment : Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and

Deric Hollings

Nov 413 min read

Putting Too Much Weight in Strangers' Opinions

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , meme maker: Thankyoumrdata , property of Paramount Television, fair use With my daily practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I sometimes visit the social media platform Reddit. At times, I’ll discover content regarding serious topics. At other times, I’ll find subjectively humorous information. The current blogpost regards the latter. Recently, I came across the meme above that reminded me of a time when I used to watch the

Deric Hollings

Nov 19 min read

Depression and Reasoned Choice

[ 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

The Daily Stoic

Deric Hollings

Oct 3116 min read

Boots

[ DISCLAIMER ] A friend of mine asked about my opinion regarding the military comedy drama television series Boots (2025), based on the memoir The Pink Marine . Set in the 1990s, the series explores the experience of a gay male’s enlistment in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps. Personally, I can’t speak to the lived experience of the main character. Still, my friend knows that I served in the Corps from 1996 to 2007, as I was kicked out of the Marines following a s

Deric Hollings

Oct 2610 min read