Fight, Flight, and Sitting Tight: The Spectrum of Trauma

We’ve all heard of fight or flight, that is, the two ways of dealing with existential threats. Running towards a problem in order to confront it and running away from a problem in order to avoid it, are both physical in nature and employ physiological and hormonal changes. If you’ve ever dealt with a highly … More Fight, Flight, and Sitting Tight: The Spectrum of Trauma

This Means War

“We refuse to believe that which we do not understand. We foolishly believe that our own limitations are the proper measure of limitations. “  – Napoleon Hill   What if I’m wrong?  A question. A probe What if I’m wrong? A realization. A threat. What if I’m wrong? Failure. Defeat. Resurrection. This utterance has the … More This Means War

Get Lit With Kit – Best of July 2020

I was deeply impressed by Delia Owen’s novel, Where the Crawdads Sing. Her words struck full of painful beauty. Her characters were real. The book teaches critical lessons that I explore in my essay “The Upside of Suicide.” Read them both. Somewhat related was this interesting podcast from father and son Eric and Zev Weinstein. Baffling how … More Get Lit With Kit – Best of July 2020

From Dust to Dust

“Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive.” – Josephine Hart Upton Sinclair’s Oil! Is a masterful account of one boy’s journey into manhood. James “Bunny” Ross Jr. faces epic challenges to his identity and aspiring integrity as he parses out the meaning of justice and freedom. His father James Arnold Ross Sr., is … More From Dust to Dust

Be the Change

so much depends  upon    a red wheel  barrow   glazed with rain water   beside the white chickens   -William Carlos Williams   The human psyche is a fragile thing, susceptible to all means of threat. Yet, only by facing the fear of destruction is man able to amass strength and conquer. This transcendence … More Be the Change