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Tall Tale Tellers
I’ve worked with several pathological liars in my lifetime. It’s a mental disorder that I struggle to understand, because there seems to be no emotional payoff. Do these people not realize that for the most part, everyone can see right through them? They’re certainly confronted enough. This causes them not to be trusted, and their…
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Our Honor System
If Donald Trump has taught us nothing else, it’s that our political/socioeconomic system does not have our best interests at heart. I mean, those of us who were the least bit politically savvy prior to his being elected already knew that, sort of. But did we know it, know it? Judging from the perpetual state…
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Obfuscation
I am very confused by people who don’t say what they mean and mean what they say. That seems to be the case with a lot of people here in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s why I’ll probably always feel like a stranger in a strange land as long as I live here. I prefer…
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Trust Your Instincts
Back when I was in college the first time, I was renting the top floor of a Victorian house just a few blocks away from campus. It had two bedrooms, so I decided to look for a roommate to split expenses. Based on the advice of a friend, I settled on a young, outgoing, very…
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Traveling with Quagmire
Way back in March (my, how time flies) I adopted a little black Dachshund and named him Quagmire. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with him ever since. To say that this dog has issues would be putting it mildly. First of all, I had no idea how stubborn Dachshunds are as a breed. But then…
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Lack vs. Abundance
There is an interesting human spectrum that tells you a great deal about people. I call it the generosity spectrum. But it also has a great deal to do with trust, confidence, kindness, and a sense of karma. At one extreme, you have people who are so wide open that they put themselves at risk.…
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Arbitrary Deadlines
When you feel as though you’re not meeting a deadline, it can be extremely stressful. That is, if you’re like me and you like to meet your deadlines. It doesn’t seem as though everyone does. But given the amount of anxiety they produce, it surprises me the number of arbitrary deadlines I come across on…
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Stuffing Up
One of the wisest things my mother ever told me was that if you make a mistake at work and are able to fix it, don’t tell anyone about it. But if you really screw up and can’t rectify it, then be an adult and admit to it. I’ve pretty much lived by this philosophy…