Category: The Things I’ve Learned

Taking Care of Yourself Matters

“I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” – Audre Lorde Mind, Body, Spirit & Self-love Self-loathing is no picnic and often not easily recognized by the loather. Hiding my sexuality for the first chapter of my life, marrying a woman, being… Continue reading Taking Care of Yourself Matters

The Cruise Experience

If you love cruising, some of what I have to say may disturb you. How it All Started I booked this Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) cruise about a year prior to the pandemic and it finally left port on October 5. I have heard great things about NCL and I was excited about seeing parts… Continue reading The Cruise Experience

Three Friends, Three Cities, Three Very Different Experiences

Friendships are a true gift, but they aren’t always easy and they should never be taken for granted. As with all relationships, you have to nurture them. I have three male friends I have known for a combined total of close to 100 years. These men are different in many ways; they do not know… Continue reading Three Friends, Three Cities, Three Very Different Experiences

Travel Tips for Frequent Travellers and Genoa

A little bit of Milan as well (less than 24 hours in this city) Photo: Milan and Genoa (on this trip) My Blog My Opinion I’m stuck in my hotel room in Genoa today (Wednesday) due to severe thunderstorms (I love them, but they never happened). I shouldn’t say “stuck” because I’m in a very… Continue reading Travel Tips for Frequent Travellers and Genoa

Why Being “Right” Can Be So Wrong

Ego versus Humility Can You Hear Me? Abandoning a full-time career has provided for more time to sit around in groups and shoot the breeze. Sometimes, rather than contribute, I observe. What I hear, stirs up all sorts of thoughts and emotions. First and foremost, I fall back on a belief I might be running… Continue reading Why Being “Right” Can Be So Wrong

I Am Not What I Own

A Gentle Reminder . . . to Myself “Hush Christopher! You’re not supposed to talk about your money.” It’s funny how in certain cultures, money is not discussed, yet in others, it is flaunted. I was raised in an environment where it was not appropriate to talk about what one paid for things. Mind you,… Continue reading I Am Not What I Own

If it Were My Last 24 Hours on Earth

“No one here gets out alive.” — Jim Morrison Reblog Nov. 2019 (with additions) Not to worry, not checking out anytime soon, just reminding myself how fragile life can be. The last thing I want to do is hurt anyone; therefore, I think it’s best for me to respond in the abstract and not name… Continue reading If it Were My Last 24 Hours on Earth

What I Don’t Miss About My Youth

I used the above photo for two reasons: first I was partying like the devil that night (on Fire Island for a few days), and second, when I look back, I have no desire to return to that time. Naive, blind to the truth and too easily influenced by others. No regrets, just looking forward… Continue reading What I Don’t Miss About My Youth

Being Happy With What You Have

Or Why Are You One Upping Me? The older I get, the less I understand rivalries. Why are some people so hung up on believing they are better than or have more than someone else? That’s all it is by the way, is a belief. Abundance is an accumulation of material things, yes, but true… Continue reading Being Happy With What You Have