The post for this week is about an article that I recently contributed to.

Actually, I was invited to contribute to an online mag titled Bold Journey which contains stories by people who have overcome problems or dilemmas in their lives and have chosen to share those stories to help more people. As written on the About Bold Journey page: one of the best ways to deal with [those] challenges is to learn from the stories and experiences of others. 

After reading some of the stories that were published I opted to contribute answers to a series of questions that became my story in the magazine. I hope you enjoy my story and read more stories from other contributors in the Building Blocks of Success: Confidence and Self Esteem section.

On another note my wife, our three dogs and I are on a 3-day mini vacation in the southwest corner of Colorado (Cortez) with a day trip to Telluride and the surrounding area to see the colors of autumn in the San Juan mountains. It's absolutely...

Firstly, thank you to everyone who responded to the post last week announcing the nose bleed. Lots of well wishes and concerns for my well-being and health were sent. My heartfelt gratitude to you all.
                                                          

Tuesday last week my nose started bleeding which is not unusual this time of year given the heat and very low humidity index. I’ve had too many of these inconveniences to be worried about. Remedies included a wad of tissue stuffed up the ol’ schnoz, holding still until the blood letting stopped, and taking it easy for a while afterwards.

This time was very different when I felt the onset of a gusher while at work. As I trotted...

Let’s face it - just reading the word cancer conjures all kinds of gremlins in our minds.

Remember this gnarly-looking gremlin from my Inner Critic post last week?



Well, it’s screaming BIG TIME whenever the ‘C’ word is mentioned.

Hell, I had a small basal carcinoma on my forehead a few years ago. Thankfully, it was caught very early by my dermatologist and he removed it with clean and clear results. Living in Colorado where the altitude at our home is above 6,800 feet the sun is very strong. Whenever I go out the most prominent feature on my face, my nose and my forehead look a bit ghostly white from sunscreen. Eventually my skin absorbs said sunscreen and I go about my day whether it’s taking the furry family out for a hike or working around our horse property.

Oh, and, I always wear a floppy wide-brim hat to protect my face.

Ode To Cowboy Hats
No cowboy hats on this dude.
Tried it before.
Not a good look - it was crude.
Some guys have a cowboy hat head.
No,...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in our lives. To honor this very important part of healthcare, I’ll offer mental health resources available to all of our communities.

If you need it, help is out there. You are not alone.

Did you know that according to the National Institute of Mental Health it is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (57.8 million in 2021).
Reference: Mental illness

That’s a hard number to digest! It’s no wonder we’re feeling out-of-sorts with all the lunacy (my word) for the current state of events: threats to democracy, dignity, and human rights around the world; and the lack of ethical and moral leadership in our country!

How trauma can be passed down
Mental health is known to begin with our family of origin. That’s right! Our parents, grandparents, and on up the line of our lineage may be a...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like living with Post Traumatic Stress? Actually, I hope you never have to personally experience it.

Do you know anyone who lives with Post Traumatic Stress also known as PTSD? Perhaps a family member or a friend of yours lives with PTS. Do you know how to help someone when they are triggered?

I can tell you from personal experience exactly what it’s like living with post traumatic stress and how my meditation practice has helped me overcome trigger points over the years.

First, let’s dive into what Post Traumatic Stress is.

The information below is borrowed from The Mayo Clinic, specifically, this website: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967#. The bold items indicate my personal account of post traumatic stress.

Causes
You can develop post-traumatic stress disorder when you go through, see or learn about an event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury...