"Since the pandemic started, I've wanted to stay connected with our community. Through the form of a weekly blog, I share my insights and reflections on various topics."
The other day I was listening to an interview of Malcolm Gladwell by Adam Grant. Gladwell is a journalist and public speaker best known for his books The Tipping Point and Outliers. Grant is an organizational psychologist, Wharton School professor, and author of books such as Think Again and Hidden Potential.
The other day, Oxford University Press announced that the Oxford word of the year for 2024 is “brain rot.” It seems like two words to me, but who am I to second-guess Oxford. The word (phrase) is defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”
By the time you’re reading this post, and if you celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, you likely have blown the budget on eating this week. I know I have. Thanksgiving kicks off an eating frenzy that, for most of us, goes through New Year’s Day.
A couple of years ago, one of my neighbors brought a musician and songwriter, Ike Reilly, to their home to perform for a crowd of about 40 people. I hadn’t heard Ike’s music before but was excited to see him perform. I enjoyed his music and one line in his song, Devil’s Valentine, caught my attention.
The late fall always reminds me of a story from a couple of decades ago and my experience as a homeowner. Our large oak trees were getting overgrown, and we knew we would have to hire someone to do some large trimming. On a random Sunday morning, there was a knock at the door and a man offering tree services.
As I write this week, millions of people are participating in elections. I think it is appropriate that my topic is about government service and, specifically, about the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, commonly known as the VA. Last weekend, I was talking with a friend who works at the VA.