On January 4, 1989, my two-year-old daughter noticed something unusual on the back of my neck. We had just finished taking down the Christmas decorations, ensuring we could fully celebrate her birthday on January 9 without any holiday reminders. That morning, after showering together, I wrapped my hair in a towel and gave her a piggyback ride. At first, I didn’t realize what Wendy was pointing at.

“What’s that boo-boo, Mom?” she asked.

Curious, I turned to see a small, dime-sized mole.

“Great, another mole,” I replied. “I’ll call my dermatologist in a few days.”

I didn’t think much of it then; I had plenty of moles, and most had been removed without issue. I finally contacted my dermatologist, Dr. Rolf Johnsen, on February […]

For a long time, I unknowingly thought the aim was to correct every part of myself I considered flawed.

That’s the foundation of the entire self-improvement industry.

In essence, I aimed for self-perfection. I thought I could only embrace myself fully after reaching a certain level of personal growth. By relying on this behavior, I placed the power to accept myself beyond my reach, which deepened my sense of helplessness and incompleteness. Naturally, nothing I did ever felt sufficient.

I was stunned to realize that the identity I had been striving to improve was never confirmed. I had created it in my mind. This is a common experience for all of us. We picture ourselves as distinct individuals with certain traits shaped by […]

While general election years are typically stressful as we anticipate our next president, the last few have been particularly emotionally charged due to heightened hostility between political parties and growing disdain toward those with opposing views. With politics playing such a prominent role in our daily lives, it often becomes a frequent topic of conversation between family, friends, neighbors, and even romantic partners—sometimes leading to conflict when disagreements arise.

Yesterday, on a Facebook page, someone I’ve known for many years unexpectedly directed a harsh and unprovoked attack toward me based solely on their assumption of my choice in the presidential election. It seemed like they were seeking attention, empathy, and validation through this outburst.

While expressing their emotions may have offered them […]

Grappling with life’s purpose and discovering meaning in the smallest moments. My seventies have been a peculiar period. Life has felt routine in many respects—so ordinary and uneventful that it seems barely worth noting. I find myself pondering questions like: Why are we here? What have I accomplished? What’s the meaning of it all? Realizing there may be no real answer brings a sense of quiet resignation, more from fatigue than any profound revelation, yet there’s still some relief. With limited time ahead, you may as well savor what’s left.

In the end, I suppose, we all arrive at the same conclusion—centuries of humanity gradually coming to terms with the absurdity of it all.

I explored various creative paths in my younger […]