Shopping for Halloween costumes made me humor-drunk. ___ Humor can save us and it can make us high. When we laugh, our brains secrete what my doctor calls “happy chemicals.” That’s probably what drug dealers say about everything they sell. No, my doctor is not a “doctor of back alley medicine.” Five reasons why laughter … More Five Benefits of Being Humor Drunk
If you have a teenager, if you are a teenager, or if know a teenager, you need to read this Declaration of Teenage Independence. ___ My wife and I have been having a discussion for months. Our teenage son bargains, begs for, and sometimes demands more independence. I believe that freedom needs to be earned, but … More The Imperfect Parent’s Guide to Teenage Freedom
Because Zombies are just awesome. ___ I love Zombies and this post is in honor of Zombies everywhere. You know who you are, just know that we love you and we want to run away and hide from you at the same time. Not even your in-laws can can get you to react like that. 13 Reasons … More 13 Reasons to Love a Zombie
The other day I gave my wife the look. At 7:30 on a Thursday morning, I was finished. We love him, but our teenage son is driving us mad. ____ Words are inadequate to describe the experience of living with a teenager. Parents, you are not alone: You feel confusion mixed with love and you begin … More Teenage Insanity Syndrome Affects Teens and Adults
Our cracks are very real and often painful. How we heal can lead to greater strength and increased value. ___ I like to keep broken things for a while. Fixing broken stuff feels good because I believe there is always more life inside. Just yesterday, I threw out an old laptop case. The case was fine … More To Heal, You Must Become The Art
I tried to teach my son a life lesson but I realized that it was meant for me. ___ Pumpkin pie is naked without the whipped cream. For Thanksgiving, we wanted the perfect pie, so I taught my son how to make whipping cream. It was a cool father-son moment. I explained the process to him … More Sometimes You and I Need a THANKSKEEPING
Relationships are a collision of worlds. When love chooses you, it is beautifully chaotic. ____ If you are not married and are in a committed relationship, I hope what I write will connect with you. At the core, a marriage is a relationship of two people held together by love, good intentions and a lot … More Love Your Imperfect Marriage and it will Love You Back
Life can be difficult and it can wear us down. Recovering a sense of humor may be just the change we need. ___ Aches and pains greet me in the morning. Obsessive thoughts follow me throughout the day. My bathroom scale goes up and my bank account goes down. Life is serious and it can be hard to … More The 12 Steps of Taking Ourselves a Little Less Seriously
Anxiety is a secret weapon giving you powers that most mortals could only dream of. Read on anxious warrior, you have earned a place in our clan. ___ If it were not for anxiety, we would all sit around unmotivated and satisfied with ourselves in our caves. Because of anxiety, we have shopping malls and … More 13 Ways that Anxiety is Your Superpower
Claim your crazy. Your mental health may be stronger when you struggle. ____ Stigma is never a good thing. We do it with race, gender, sexuality, religion, and mental health. Go ahead, tell your friends and coworkers that you are crazy. At first they will laugh and then they will ignore it (and maybe even you). That is … More Reclaim Your Crazy
Getting High on Recovery 