Son, the boy now grown,My love forged from absent past—Stand tall, life is yours. When I was 18 years old, I really had no clue what I was doing. But of course, who at that age has any real grasp on life? I’ve mentioned in the past that I grew up without a father and … Continue reading Eighteen Years, One Indescribable Journey
Where Have All the Men Gone? The Urgent Case for Male Mental Health Professionals
Back in November 2024, I reviewed the book Of Boys and Men by Richard V. Reeves. He studies the reasons men are falling behind women with respect to education, and he emphasizes the need for men to begin transitioning into fields traditionally dominated by women—what he calls HEAL jobs (health, education, administration, and literacy). Pamela … Continue reading Where Have All the Men Gone? The Urgent Case for Male Mental Health Professionals
Swim Tests Don’t Belong in College Graduation
I recently read an article titled "Making waves on campus: A once-proud tradition is becoming awkward for elite universities" in The Economist about swim test requirements at some U.S. universities as a condition for graduation. I didn’t know that this was a requirement at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, and Columbia … Continue reading Swim Tests Don’t Belong in College Graduation
Book Review: The Complete Writings of Phillis Wheatley
Photo by Ed Ortiz - Book and Hot Puerto Rican Coffee in My Taíno-Inspired Mug I finished reading The Complete Writings of Phillis Wheatley over the weekend, and I really enjoyed reading her poems and learning more about her life. Most importantly, I learned that people often think less of others when they make no … Continue reading Book Review: The Complete Writings of Phillis Wheatley
Book Review: The Unexpected Abigail Adams
Photo by Ed Ortiz “Abigail was as learned as any man of her time, and she could write like an angel. And Adams kept a diary. When I read Abigail’s letters, I wonder how she ever had time to write them. She was raising a family with four children, running the farm without her husband … Continue reading Book Review: The Unexpected Abigail Adams
Book Review: History Matters
Photo by Ed Ortiz “Happiness—true happiness—is not to be found in vacations or the like. It’s to be found in the love of learning and doing what you really want to get up and get to each day.” – David McCullough I must confess that I have never read any of David McCullough’s work before. … Continue reading Book Review: History Matters
The Press Has Forgotten Its Job—and We’re Paying for It
“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”1 — Thomas Jefferson Freedom of the press is extremely important, and there has been a lot of debate about this subject lately. The founding fathers of this country were keenly aware of its significance. Thomas Jefferson, while he … Continue reading The Press Has Forgotten Its Job—and We’re Paying for It
Book Review: Attack from Within
Photo by Ed Ortiz “Disinformation is the deliberate use of lies to manipulate people, whether to extract profit or to advance a political agenda. Its unwitting accomplice, misinformation, is spread by unknowing dupes who repeat lies they believe to be true.” — Barbara McQuade Disinformation and misinformation are major problems not only in the United … Continue reading Book Review: Attack from Within
On Justice
“The cardinal virtue that most obviously deals with the social sphere, with our relationships, is ‘justice’ (dikaiosunê). The Stoics use this word to encompass both dealing fairly with others and acting with benevolence toward them, wishing for them to flourish in accord with virtue, Fate permitting.” — Donald Robertson, Stoicism and the Art of Happiness … Continue reading On Justice
The Overlooked Side of Retirement: Mattering
“Many of us plan for our future wealth and health. Few prepare for an equally essential aspect of retirement: how to continue to feel seen and valued.” – Jennifer Breheny Wallace This quote opens a great article in the Wall Street Journal titled The Retirement Crisis: No One Warns You About: Mattering. Mattering is described … Continue reading The Overlooked Side of Retirement: Mattering
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 