Welcome! Stay Calm and Read On

Thank you for visiting my blog. I sincerely hope you will find my writing provocative and are moved to respond and comment. So, yes, readers, if you're roused, please join me! You're most welcomed to share your perspective and experiences. Through this blog, I endeavor to promote curiosity and incite a desire to learn more about subjects typically shunned in polite society. Here you will find a platform to openly discuss these matters and more. As such, the opinions and thoughts of all are welcomed, those who vehemently disagree with me, whole-heartedly agree, and those who remain disinterested. 

Civil, respectful discourse is not the norm online, but the goal here. For too many people around the world, freedom of speech is not a right. For those of us who enjoy the privilege, it's a gift that should be exercised without fear. Also, please know that it is not my intent to persuade others to adopt my values and/or beliefs. My aim is to initiate dialogue that might serve as a path to better understanding of ourselves and others. The main themes to be explored include the following topics:

Abuse and Trauma

As a survivor, I read articles on sexual abuse and overcoming trauma. It is not an easy topic but one that needs to be out and in the open. I remained silent about the abuse for more than 35 years, so I know why most men don't want to talk about it. There is a profound sense of weakness, loss of self-respect, shame, and embarrassment felt by all victims of sexual abuse. Just thinking about it, never mind talking about it, can re-traumatize. However, I found empowerment when I finally broke down and spoke out. I hope wider discussion will move the needle on removing the stigma felt by victims. 

Addiction Recovery

I’ve been sobered for more than 37 years and I'm keenly interested in research and articles on alcohol and substance abuse. Now that marijuana has become legal and socially acceptable, more people are attempting to escape from the realities of life through drug use. While engaged in addictive behavior, I emerged from the fog of intoxication, time and time again, to find my problems waiting for me to come out of it. I admit that I still sometimes try to avoid dealing with the struggles of daily life, but in most cases, I rely on my faith and trust in God. I know He gives me strength to tackle issues head on.

Endurance Training

In 2026, I will be competing in ultra events at the age of 62. It’s getting harder to stay focused and in shape. Nonetheless, I power through and remain committed to continue competing. I am determined to cross the finish line for a particular race that I have attempted several times, but thus far, have not yet completed. In this blog, I will journal about the trials and triumphs of my endurance training and competitions. In addition, I'll give my perspective on the ups and downs in the ultra-endurance world. 

Faith and Hope

My faith is of paramount importance to me; therefore, I have deep respect for all religions. I am a confirmed Roman Catholic, who remains deeply interested in the affairs of the church. It pains me to see that church leadership often fails to allow God to work through them. Especially regarding the clergy abuse scandal, it is my humble opinion that those failures continue to this day. I believe their response to this troubling episode has driven many followers from the church. I encourage believers not to lose faith, but to raise their voices instead, so that together we may revive our Church. 

Prison Education

And finally, education, specifically prison education, is a topic dear to my heart. I learned so much from the men I served as a prison education administrator for more than 15 years. I believe it’s through education that we find ourselves. Socrates told the Oracle that the wise man knows that he knows very little. I'm not sure that I'm a wise man but I'm aware of how little I know. That became evident to me when I pursued my doctoral degree and by indulging my curiosity with the informal study of a wide array of subjects. 

Don't Rage... Engage

Thank you again for reading my post. I look forward to reading and responding to your honest opinions and thoughtful comments. It's important to say what you mean and to mean what you say. Just remember, you don't have to be mean to make your point. When actively engaged in the meaningful exchange of ideas, we learn, grow, and become better, more empathetic human beings.