Who am I, why am I here … and why have I had so many jobs? — I’m a deep thinker from way back. As a small child, I recall wondering, for example, why my first grade teacher was so unhappy. Her name was Mrs. Sullivan and she didn’t seem to like first-graders. Since then, I’ve discovered that teaching is a profession that can make it difficult…

What was the question? — It’s tough to commit when you are an underachiever. When I lean in, I find myself swaying, then reaching for the nearest piece of furniture, where I promptly sit down. It’s not easy to write about this condition, either, because laziness is a loyal side effect. …

In the spirit of Festivus, it’s time to air some grievances — The holidays have come back. The hellscape that is late November to January 2nd is on a repeating, endless loop. Frosty is melting and Rudolph’s nose is overheating. I’m not saying the holidays don’t feel good at times. It’s kinda like going on a sleigh ride with a group of…

Beats being roasted, but I’d rather be Golden Goose-ted — A couple of days ago, my Medium ship came in. It was carrying an enraged Komodo dragon along with a frightened Indian boy, but I digress. They boosted my story, and then it hit me: the B-word isn’t another Medium rumor. It’s as real as the secret love between Captain…

When every second counts — I started a job three months ago that I am quitting in seven business days. I used to think business days meant Monday through Friday but I never know what day of the week it is anymore. My psyche is a casino, where obnoxious, fluorescent carpeting zigzags and random bells…

Winnie the Pooh vs. DSM-5 — When you look closely at children’s literature, you realize every great story is about someone who felt different, learned to love themselves, and turned their flaw into a superpower. Sometimes I wonder if all writers are neurodivergent. Children’s books explain why the world feels forbidding and confusing, and offer hope. …

Living flat in a 3D world makes you look sketchy as hell — My church occasionally has members give talks about their “spiritual journey” which is always interesting as we are a bunch of non-conforming Unitarians. Given the reality of public speaking, these talks are all over the map. I’ve witnessed two: one “meh” and the other fabulous. The first speaker tried to…

Take a look through the AI lens. It’s not a pretty picture. — In the old days, 1 in 16 kids diagnosed with autism was female. Twenty years ago, 1 in 4 children with autism was female. In a recent study funded by NIH, researchers concluded that a sample of 1711 participants revealed the ratio is actually 3:4: “The true male-to-female ratio appears…

Free verse — The clouds feel cool today, the winds recede and swell. The sky is static with uncertainty, the hum of summits and descents is sudden but — what’s this? A life vest wraps across my chest. I search the pockets, here’s a note: “This ride is killing you. You must talk to…