From discouraging setbacks to shattered dreams — A mixed bag of adorableness and feisty conniptions epitomizes the persona of the typical toddler. Beset by the challenges of autonomy and exploring limits, it is during this stage of development that a profusion of developmental milestones and risk-taking occurs. It is a time in which motor skills, language development…

The minimum requirements and the dealbreakers — I used to have a bevy of friends. Knowing there were people in my life to offset the debilitating loneliness and anxiety that accompanied familial estrangement was a significant source of comfort. The problem was, over time I discovered that these relationships stymied my growth. …

A book review — I am exceedingly grateful that although I was groomed to be supply, and consequently I was a narcissist magnet for much of my life, I never actually married anyone on the malignant end of the narcissism spectrum. Being on the receiving end of brutal degrades and discards by significant others…

The disintegration of respectful dialogue — “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.” / Cool Hand Luke Just a cursory glimpse of current political discourse gives us a blueprint of how not to communicate. You would think it would be common knowledge that polarizing bashing matches that spew contempt and hatred do not comprise…

The traumatic impact and the path to reclamation — Recently American singer, songwriter Billie Eilish shared about how her early consumption of pornography starting at eleven years old resulted in developmental harm. Specifically, Eilish spoke of how watching explicit porn as a child brought about diminished discernment and a confused sense of sexual agency, particularly with regard to consent. …

Not clean needles and supervised consumption — Addiction is a disease of mind, body, and spirit. Addicts in New York City have been failed by the de Blasio administration. His harm reduction model, devoid of comprehensive care constitutes enabling. As the frequency and amount of drug and alcohol use increases, blackouts, rapid weight loss, poor hygiene, and myriad medical conditions occur. Spiritual and moral depravity takes the form of lying, theft, and criminality. Relationally, emotional insensitivity, abandonment, raging and even physical violence can ensue. Alternatively, the addict might completely retreat so as to use in isolation.

Pretty Smart on My Part — The other day I was listening to the music of topical songwriter and satirist Phil Ochs. The upbeat vitriol of Pretty Smart On My Part, with lyrics that speak of misguided paranoia and hatred, got me thinking about the defense mechanism of displacement. I can see him coming / He’s…

Its link to individual and societal collapse — Traveling from New York to Northern Utah offered a spectacular and illuminating respite from the urban squalor of New York City. Visiting an alpaca farm and ecologically pristine and iconic landscapes made it obvious to me that the southwest region of the United States offers a quality of life that…