


Katie Bar the Door
You do not need to be a television show-worthy hoarder to have far more than you use. A cursory review of our closets, kitchen drawers, and garages provides ample evidence for all but the most fastidious. I am not approaching this subject from a moral or value standpoint, criticizing extravagant spending. No, my approach is practical. We should avoid the money squandered, environmental...

It’s Not Your Fault, but It Is Your Responsibility
Each of us can point to circumstances not of our own doing to justify a lack of accomplishment (economically poor family, "bad" parents, fat genes, surname ends in a vowel, etc.). All of them may be an impairment, but do not consign us to defeat. By taking responsibility for our response, we may prevail against them. They Did It Bad upbringing? Oprah rose above an impoverished childhood and...

When the Phone Rings…
You need to answer it. And sometimes it rings when we are unprepared or wish they called someone else. We need to respond even when the timing is terrible, we do not want to, or we do not feel suited for the task. It Rings We would immediately jump to the aid of a heart attack victim and perform CPR, armed only with the knowledge acquired from Instagram reels. Without a moment’s hesitation...

Fear
Better Left Undone? We fancy ourselves facing the world like a swashbuckler standing on the ship's bow with our saber upraised. In reality, the fear of failure too often confines us in our safe harbor and stops us from pursuing what we want. Missteps confirm our present inability, create feelings of shame and disappointment, and potentially subject us to ridicule. How do we move forward when...

Failure
It is a dirty word, and we seek to avoid it. JFK famously said, “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.” However, failure is often better than the alternative, inevitable, hastily decided, and the fertilizer of success. The Alternative? An evil man died and found himself in a splendid casino with an open bar and beautiful women who would not say no to him, and every time...