The Ramblings of the Titanium Don

Does Your Morning Routine Set the Tone for Your Day?

How does your morning routine – or lack thereof – impact you? Everyone sleeps. Some people sleep better and more deeply than others. Because everyone sleeps – everyone has a “morning” when they wake up from their slumber. It might not be the standard “morning” time. But I postulate that the time immediately after you wake up – be it 6am, 12pm, 10pm, or whenever – is your morning. Many self-help, mindfulness, and other spiritual gurus and similar expound on

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

Why Can’t We Always Have Positivity in Life?

Because change is inevitable – and positivity coexists with negativity. We live in a world of opposites and extremes. But the important thing about this is that we exist within the opposites and extremes. Very few people exist at any given extreme. Near, perhaps – but seldom at. This is why comparing extremes and opposites via a coin misunderstands the breadth and depth of this reality. It’s not a coin, it’s a cylinder with vast space between the given extremes.

The Zen of Positivity

True positivity is Zen. Many, many years ago, I was introduced to the idea of Zen when my best friend handed me the book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryū Suzuki. FYI, if you have not read this book, I highly recommend it. Why? Because Zen is an ultimate state of calm, peace, and being present in the here and now. It’s often joked about and even made fun of. But it’s a very good place to be because it’s

What is Positive Intention and Why does it Matter?

Positive intention gives us hope and is practiced with mindfulness. Lots and lots of people are struggling. After 2 years of a seemingly never-ending pandemic, an ugly, pointless war in Ukraine, the dark impact of reactionary conservatives in politics and business, and increasingly illogical anti-science and anti-reason campaigns, I know I’m exhausted. And so is virtually everyone else I know, too. No matter how strong you are, you can only take so much. Everyone reaches a point of saying, “That’s

What Are You Doing with Your One Life Experience?

We all get one life experience each in these bodies. What are you doing with yours? Like it or not – we have a finite time in this existence. The finite meat popsicles we call our bodies are the vessels that house our infinite souls. The substance may be eternal – but the vessels are not. Are we here just for basic subsistence? Or is there more to this life experience than that? I believe that we’re here for more

Have I Actually Got This – Or Am I Just Fooling Myself?

Believing that you’ve got this is the first step to handling everything we experience. Sometimes the day begins with you waking up excited, anticipating good things to come, and feeling rested. Other times, you begin the day with dread, not looking at all forward to what you have on your plate. Most often, at least in my experience, you probably begin your day groggy, maybe a little achy, uncertain, and unsure of just what lies ahead for you. The first

If Yesterday Sucked Will Today Likely Suck Too?

I get to decide if today will be like yesterday – or not. Every single day I get to make new choices. I’m not talking about what to eat, what to wear, or those types of choices. I’m talking about how to think, feel, and act. Every. Single. Day. But that doesn’t mean I consciously, actively make choices. Often, I just go with the flow, follow my routines, and let shit happen as it will. That’s also a choice. Albeit

How Is Practical Positivity Truly Possible in This Crazy World?

Practical positivity is more about approach than anything else. It is way too easy, currently, to see the world as being on fire. The news media is all about doom and gloom – because that sells. And so, we’re inundated and bombarded by an onslaught of negative, bad news. Take your pick – partisan politics, the situation in the Ukraine, COVID, Brexit, teacher and care-worker shortages, supply-chain issues, and more. None of this is pleasant. For a long time now,

Is It Possible That I’m Wrong About Positivity Empowering People?

Yes, I might be wrong about positivity empowering people. If I am, I’m open to learning how and why. One Monday morning, in February 2014, I logged into Facebook. I was immediately bombarded by similar messages. Today is going to suck. I hate Mondays. What fresh fuckery will I deal with this week? Back to the terrible grind. And similar negative messages. Wow, I thought. So much negativity. I wonder what I can do about that? Thus began my Monday