The Ramblings of the Titanium Don

So What if My Guru is a Muppet?

Some of the wisest words of wisdom I’ve encountered come from Yoda. When I was a small child, my parents took me to see a movie that would have a tremendous impact on my life. In 1977, Star Wars was this mesmerizing, amazing piece of fiction that had so many unexpected nuances wrapped into Campbell’s Hero’s Journey amid spaceships, lasers, and swords made of light. Yes, I’m well aware of the imperfections in the story and that it’s not high

To Live Life, If Not Today, When?

The best time to live is now. Apologies if this is triggering, but I need to say it anyhow. You could die tomorrow. Death tends to be the most terrifying topic for many people. The thought of no longer being, the questions of what – if anything – might come after this life has led to debates, arguments, and wars. Somehow, we still ignore that it’s inevitable. Life ends at death. That’s the nature of every living thing that we

Why Does Your Approach to Life Matter?

Your approach is a choice that determines if you merely survive, simply exist, or thrive. The status quo never lasts. Never. That’s because change is the one and only constant in the Universe. Like it or not, work with it or ignore it, you cannot avoid it. Change can, will, and does happen. Recognizing this is huge. Accepting it is even larger. Everything you know is subject to change. If you don’t believe it, apply it to yourself. Are you

Why is it Healthy to Admit “I Don’t Know”?

Not knowing things is how you grow and evolve. One of the biggest issues in modern American politics right now is that one side claims that they have all the answers. They know everything they need to know. Whether it’s been endowed by God, Ronald Reagan, or some other demagogue, they have the answer. Their go-to “leader” is a self-proclaimed “stable genius” who always knows everything and is never wrong. This party is thus, with their claims of knowing everything,

I’m Sorry – Yes, I F#*ked Up! Guess Who Is Beating Me Up the Most?

Spoiler alert – it’s me. A few months back, in an attempt to offer a friend some encouraging perspective – I did exactly the opposite. I totally fucked up, caused my friend anxiety, self-doubt, and a host of other unpleasantness utterly the opposite of the intent of my words. Immediately after, I was informed that I messed this up by a mutual friend. I apologized and explained my reasoning. Now, months later, I learn it was so bad that it

Why Is Knowledge as Empowerment Important to You and Me?

Because only via empowerment do you and I have genuine, positive control. I’m always learning something new. And I revel in that. I learn in different ways from different resources. That includes other people, books, experiences, places, and sometimes combinations of all the above. The lessons are equally as variable. You probably know of Sir Francis Bacon’s statement, “knowledge itself is power” as “knowledge is power.” But I think that missed the mark because “power” is an obscure, often abused

Is It Normal To Question The Path That You’ve Chosen to Take?

It is not just normal to question the path, but necessary. At the start of the pandemic in 2020, I had an opportunity present itself to me. I was in the position to pursue the path I most desired to take. That was writing full-time. This excited me. So, I redoubled my efforts. That led to me publishing 3 books in 2020. An idea sparked a new direction for my writing. Rather than writing by the seat of my pants

How Do We Embrace Pain and Suffering for What They Can Teach Us?

We can choose to learn from pain and suffering. Everyone experiences pain. Everyone experiences suffering. Not just a few people – EVERYONE. Pain and suffering are a part of the life experience for everyone everywhere. Why? Because both are channels for growth. Pain and suffering almost always suck at the time of their occurrence. But afterward, they can teach us amazing and incredibly useful things about life, the Universe, and everything. Pain and suffering are two very different animals. Both

Is Being Genuine and True to Yourself Really All That Important?

Both in the now and the long run, being genuine and true to yourself matters tremendously. How do you react when you encounter someone who is a fake? I’m not writing about someone you later learn is a fake. I mean, right from the outset. They put on airs, they seem confident not quite to the point of arrogance – but nearly so – and they come across as not quite right, slightly off, overwrought, and maybe trying too hard.

Learning to Recognize and Embrace Knowing What You Don’t Know

Recognizing and acknowledging knowing what you don’t know is incredibly freeing. I love to learn. One of the things that keeps me optimistic overall is that I know that there is always something new to be learned. More information to be found. New ideas to experience. Yes, there are things that I could learn that have I zero interest in. There are things that I’m happy to have just passing knowledge of. For most of my life, I have loved

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