• Midstream Musings – we scale ourselves and return Sisyphus …
- I read a lot about the effects of chronic, daily hours-long engagement with social media. Endless smartphone scrolling. The go-to thing when there’s any idle time. I see such behavior play out in the gym at my health club as well. I also support Fair Play, a nonprofit advocating awareness […]
- Epigraph “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – United States Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson replaced the word “property” with “pursuit […]
- Introduction idyllic_moment.jpg Attaining (whether by pluck or luck) a seemingly friction-free life is a seductive notion. A state essentially without complaint. Something to yearn for, strive for. Perhaps achieve via a life of effort, as a well-earned place. Or a heroic reward. A validation of righteousness. Such is this notion […]
- [Draft 11-3-2025] feather & fur – parting ways a 21st century fable Copyright © 2025 John P. Healy (humility’s hard done by) Claws in the night In the murky stillness, something sharp hit his head, knocking him to the ground. Rising to his knees, claws tore into his back. He […]
- October 31 comes with parties … candy treats … a long and varied history … remembering … This year the Halloween holiday reminded me of the 1983 film adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s 1962 dark fantasy novel Something Wicked This Way Comes [1]. But a while back, in considering a story […]
- Regarding mattering, yes, there's a book for that – new in 2026. • LA Times > "10 page-turners for a new year" by Bethanne Patrick, freelance critic and author of the memoir "Life B." (1-1-2026) Mattering – The Secret to a Life of Deep Meaning and Purpose By Jennifer Breheny […]
- Screen-time … a complicated reality. Is it like, "Screens, you're hooked on them, but you can't hack it without them?" The fault may not be in our wishes, but in wishing on the wrong stars: Setting our sights – wishing – on tech delights, so much nearer than stellar lights […]
- In the context of seeking success & happiness, here's another perspective on friction, as an inevitable aspect of life. In this case, a perfectionist mindset vs. "getting real" about: * Flaws – you're continually "bugged" because not everything (or every experience) is perfectly to your liking or expectation. * Shelf […]
- The pursuit of happiness [two p's in that word, eh] … the pursuit of property … and the intersection of those aspirations. Dissonant dreams. An expectation that "each generation does better than the one before." The feeling of ownership. Equity. Good credit scores. Yet, the dilemma of affordable housing. It's […]
- Living in the uneasy place, an uncomfortable space [1] – the challenge of relying on reasoned choice rather than impulsive alignment or disengagement. This year's news cycles reminded me to beware of the illusion of majority consensus. That the loud (extreme) voice of a small minority (for example, on social […]