Category: Wisdom for Men

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, a holiday to honor and mourn those who who laid down their lives while serving in the military. It is also a time to pause to reflect on the freedom we enjoy in America. For most, it is the unofficial beginning of summer with picnics, barbeques, and graduation parties. Some go to the beach or lake house for the long weekend. For others, it is a day of sadness with visits to cemeteries and memorials to loved ones and friends. This morning, I paused at local Veterans Memorial Park to honor those who died during battle. I also remember my father, who passed away last year. Dad was a proud U.S. Marine, who rests in peace, along side many other veterans at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.  This year, celebrating the holiday is a bit more difficult given the

This past weekend was Mother’s Day in the United States. For me, it is a day with some sadness since my mother passed away in 2017. For others, it’s a complicated and confusing day about how to celebrate mothers. Most of us will honor the mother of our children. Some may give a card to their child’s mother even if they are no longer married. Some will mess the day up completely and not celebrate it saying, “Well, you’re not my mother”. Hopefully, many will also celebrate their mother-in-law. But what do you say if the day is a painful reminder of a miscarriage or infertility?  Here’s some background on Mother’s Day and a few suggestions for celebrating mothers of all types. Feel free to weigh in via the comments if I’ve gone “off the road” or if you disagree. You can also provide some additional suggestions.  The Origins of

Some people take themselves way too seriously. I know at times, I do. However, I’ve learned that having a healthy sense of humor, even laughing at yourself on occasion, can lead to a more balanced and joyful life.  I was reminded of this principle recently after seeing an internet meme based on a famous line from the movie The Dark Knight released in 2008. The line, “Why so serious?” comes from Heath Ledger’s performance as the villainous Joker. In Ledger’s most powerful scene of the movie, the Joker describes the physical and emotional scars inflicted by his father, which gives viewers insight into why The Joker was so deranged. The movie was a huge success but sadly gained extra attention after Ledger’s tragic death before the movie’s premiere. As I wrote in my previous post, Understanding Your Past Shapes Your Future, every man should address the significant wounds of his