Reflections & Humor

Depression, the Good Scar

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person sad depression

A recent conversation with someone who is struggling to understand a loved one with debilitating depression brought out some old memories for me. I haven’t experienced a depressive episode in 15 years, but it still feels fresh when I speak to someone who is going through something similar.

Like an old scar, healed but never completely forgotten.

I feel overwhelming sadness & empathy for the person in pain & it’s pretty much a guaranteed ugly cry if no one is around. But one thing I don’t feel anymore is paralyzing fear.

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Reflections & Humor

No Kids = Lots of Travel

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childless dink couples travel

Do you travel a lot because you don’t have kids?

I have been asked this question more than once & it seems to be a common assumption. At first, it seems a fair question. Traveling with kids is more expensive & has added challenges, therefore parents are less likely to travel often. If THIS is the reason the question is asked, then my response is:

Having kids is no excuse for not traveling. In fact, you should travel as much as possible FOR your children — instill a passion for travel & curiosity about the world at an early age. [I’ll talk more about this in a follow-up post.]

Quite often, however, I hear a subtle undertone behind the question that implies something different. It implies that a childless couple has a void in their life which must be filled, & travel fills that void. THIS question bothers me for several reasons:

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Hiking, Reflections & Humor

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

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neighborhood community walk
If this title has you humming the theme song to Mr. Rogers, then you’re in the right mood for this post.
When someone hears the word “neighborhood” it usually conjures a warm fuzzy feeling or a “I wouldn’t go there even if I had an armored car” sentiment. It evokes a strong feeling, either way.
But how many neighborhoods (outside our own) have we truly experienced? How many neighborhoods in our own community do we pass judgment on or completely ignore? I don’t know about you, but when I travel to a city I specifically seek neighborhoods rather than tourist areas. Why? Because if you want to understand a city, that’s where you’ll find its heart & soul. When it comes to my own hometown, however, I’m woefully ignorant.
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