Earlier this week, I posted a piece called Taking off the mask. It's about using humor to avoid vulnerability and to keep people at a safe distance emotionally. After some reflection, I’m afraid I inadvertently downgraded the benefits of humor. The cliché saying that laughter is the best medicine is not far from the truth. …
Taking off the mask
I saw the live-action Aladdin last week with two boys I babysit. One of the boys is ten years old and the other one is seven. We had the following conversation on the way home: D (10): Who do you think was the funnier Genie? The cartoon or this one? Me: Well, Robin Williams played …
Just a book idea: Part 2
Here is the second installment of my book The Ultimate Guide to Not Sucking at Human Interactions: One person’s painful account of being awkward Here's Part 1, in case you missed it. Part 2: You probably didn’t actually move to Alaska, so we can pretend like you never saw chapters 4 through 7—Also, tips on …
Acceptance
I’m not sure what to write about this morning, so I am using a prompt from Beckie’s Mental Mess, a blog written by an amazing advocate for mental illnesses. She is also very supportive of other bloggers who want to share their stories about mental illness. When you first found out that you had a …
The Casual Vacancy — J.K. Rowling
2 out of 5 stars This book was disappointing. It was disappointing from a literature perspective, not because “it isn’t anything like Harry Potter,” which is a common complaint about this book. It isn't anything like Harry Potter; a lot of things aren’t like Harry Potter, but they still have substance and believable characters. The Casual Vacancyhad …
Hope
Depression is darkness. An absence of all things good. Nothing looks, sounds, or feels right. There is no relief; there is only pain. When someone asks what hurts, the only accurate answer is, “Everything.” It’s impossible to articulate the hole depression leaves in your soul. You do not feel whole or worthy. There is no …
The Reason You Are Alive — Matthew Quick
5 out of 5 stars I loved this story. I have most of Matthew Quick’s other books, and this one is my favorite. David Granger, the main character, is a Vietnam War veteran, and he’s a crotchety old man. The book is set during the Obama administration, and there is a fair amount of Obama …
