Being a Male American Actually Isn’t Good For You – Musings in Missoula
I know, I know, this doesn’t sound right. Growing up as a liberal, feminist, progressive, world-traveling male American, much of what I was told over the years was that I live at the height of privilege. But privilege doesn’t necessarily mean a good life. Nor does it mean a long life. Let me explain. But first, this is not to deny or distract from the enormous issues facing women and
Buddha’s Take on the DIY Mindset – More Musings in Missoula
In my last post, I wrote about the coming of summertime and the DIY mindset. This is a mindset of curiosity and exploration, a willingness to learn, and of care to listen to the wisdom of those who know better than we do. The Buddha, my favorite religious founder, philosopher, and perhaps psychologist of all time, had a similar take on cultivating an open mind in our pursuit of the
Employing a DIY Mindset – More Musings in Missoula
As spring turns into summer, this is a time for many of us here in Missoula and Montana to think about Do It Yourself (DIY) projects. DIY, in my family, usually means things like landscaping or building a deck. But for many, it encompasses a wide variety of activities that can include cooking, arts and crafts, car maintenance, and outdoors adventures. DIY can be a great source of empowerment. Most
Simone de Beauvoir on Aging Well – And More Musings in Missoula
How often do we think about growing old? And just what do we think of when we do so? I know that here in my busy life in Missoula - I rarely think about it. And when I do, I focus on the circumstances around me that I hope for: a comfortable home, an ability to escape to the mountains in the summer, caring friends and family members around me.
COVID, Long-COVID, and Emotional Trauma
**Trigger Warning** This piece discusses suicide and suicidal thoughts, and some people might find it disturbing. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please, contact your physician, go to your local ER, or call the suicide prevention hotline in your country. For the United States, one can call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), or message the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Both programs are free and
In Praise of Silence – More Musings From Missoula
100 years ago in Germany, the Jewish philosopher Theodor Lessing (1872 – 1933) wrote of the difficulty caused by the noise in his life as a thinker and writer. He further thought that noise caused invisible harm to everyone. He wrote that noise was “the revenge of those working with their hands on those head-workers who laid down their laws,” calling it a kind of aural narcotic that dulled the