Category: Philosophy

Personal observations

Evolving Attitudes: Religion in My Family

“There lives more faith in honest doubt, I believe, than in half the creeds.”  In Memoriam, Tennyson I suppose I inherited my parent’s attitude about religion in ways that surprised me in later life. Retracing my spiritual steps, it might be easier to look back over the past 60 years and see a reasonable, understandable evolution … Continue reading Evolving Attitudes: Religion in My Family →

Calluses on the Feet? Not on the Heart!

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."Leo Tolstoy If you ever had calluses on the bottom of your feet, you will know how painful that can be. Caused by walking unevenly, the thickness grows, layer over layer, until the core of the growth painfully penetrates the nerves.  Likewise, our … Continue reading Calluses on the Feet? Not on the Heart! →

Life: A Dash Between Dates?

“The dash between dates holds the essence and spirit of the deceased. It doesn't take long for memories to fade. Precisely why every family needs a historian to capture and relate stories of each member.” Sharon Mosier, Educator* It was my last visit in the hospital before Dad had surgery for throat cancer, a result … Continue reading Life: A Dash Between Dates? →

Doctor’s Orders: Don’t Play Basketball Right After Surgery!

"Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives."William Dement Ordinarily, doctors wouldn’t need to tell a 75-year old guy that he shouldn’t play a game 6-months after back surgery. But the guy did it anyway and nearly wrecked any recovery and rehab. He had … Continue reading Doctor’s Orders: Don’t Play Basketball Right After Surgery! →

Party Labels: We Never Cared

"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines … Continue reading Party Labels: We Never Cared →

Why Write a Journal? Why Let Everyone Read It?

“All writers are vain, selfish, and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives there lies a mystery.” George Orwell Because I have written continuously over the past 50 years, I recently asked myself, “Why do I write.”  “Who is my audience?” “What is my purpose in jotting things down?” At first, I assumed that … Continue reading Why Write a Journal? Why Let Everyone Read It? →

Obituary Addiction: More Popular Each Day

Yes, I read the Joliet Herald-News every day. Not for the sports, the local politics, or the news in brief since they are not as interesting as the obituaries. As Carl Reiner stated, "If you're not in the obit, eat breakfast." The habit of "obit checking" accelerates with each passing year for the "superannuated" generations. … Continue reading Obituary Addiction: More Popular Each Day →

The Moment I Fell in Love with Adult Education

“Lucky, indeed, are those who have a moment of discovery that shouts out, “This is what I want to do!”  That moment when latent and, perhaps, unrecognized, personal strengths and desires are merged with an event that resonates within the very soul of your being. Congruent personal mission aligned with a need that pleads for your company leaves … Continue reading The Moment I Fell in Love with Adult Education →

Learning Through Books, Music, and People

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”  Alvin Toffler Still have some of my old library. Learning and Unlearning When we are young, we are sponge-like, soaking up all that surrounds us while we are formed into the people … Continue reading Learning Through Books, Music, and People →