Ruminator

  I recently listened to a song by one of my favorite artist’s name John Mellencamp . The song is called Walk Tall . As I listened to the lyrics, I could not help reflecting on the world around me. John states: The simple minded and the uninformed Can be easily led astray And those that cannot connect the dots Hey, look the other way People believe what they wanna believe When it makes no sense at all… This is a recurring sight for me, encountered daily on social media, in conversations, on the news, and most notably in politics. People readily accept Facebook, MSNBC, CNN, or even their neighbor’s post on any platform as the ultimate truth. Very few people bother to delve into the facts, and it’s even worse how furious they get when faced with differing opinions. A point proven recently with a post I saw on Facebook. Someone stated, “this proves people will argue about anything”. There was a picture of a plastic cup of water that was ¾ full. The caption below said a fu...

  I recently had conversations with two people I know that had experienced a sudden rash of acute anxiety. One was medication related, the other was situational. Both stated that they now had a better understanding of what I have been dealing with. With the recent changes to my medication, Although I still feel anxiety, it no longer takes control of my emotions like it did in the past. However, I know acutely that it still lurks on the fringes, patiently awaiting its chance to pounce on me. During my recent visit to Dr. Erin, she assigned me an exercise where I had to jot down three things each day that I felt I excelled at. This is proving to be difficult for me. The parameters are straightforward and easy to understand. “Anything I do well that day,” she said. As I continued with this exercise, I began thinking of a song by Linkin Par called Nobody’s Listening. I got a heart full of pain, head full of stress Handful of anger held in my chest And everything left’s a wast...

A heavy weight, a suffocating shroud, Anxiety's grip, relentless and proud. A mind adrift, in stormy seas, Haunted by shadows, whispering trees. Heart pounds like thunder, a restless beat, Thoughts race like wildfire, a frenzied retreat. A prisoner of doubt, a captive of fear, Lost in a labyrinth, with no hope near. Yet, in the darkness, a glimmer of light, A fragile spark, a flicker of might. A chance to break free, to find a new way, To face the storm and claim a brighter day. Until next time, Tim

  I made my usual Monday gesture and sent out the two shots above to a list of friends, family, and coworkers. The act of sending my weekend shots to the same group of people brings me joy, as their feedback is always valuable to me. I received tons of positive feedback on both versions of the shot. The shots comprised a single image, with a cropped-in view of the wider photograph. The process of taking the shot involved careful aim and a steady hand. Marcie and I were strolling with our friends from out of town, the dogs happily wagging their tails. Making our way down the path at Indian Creek Trail, we passed the quaint houses that bordered the beginning of the trail. As I looked to my right, an open field greeted me, shrouded in a foggy veil. The path was now lined with tall weeds, their leaves adorned with glistening beads of dew, creating ideal conditions for spiders to weave their intricate traps. I quickly grabbed my phone and excitedly told Marcie that I was going to capt...

  I've found myself stuck in a loop lately. It's like my mind is on a hamster wheel, endlessly circling the same thoughts. I can't seem to shake them. It's exhausting. I've been there. That place where thoughts loop around and around, like a broken record stuck on the same groove. It's like my mind is a haunted house, and these persistent thoughts are the ghosts haunting me. I'll be thinking about something, maybe a conversation I had earlier in the day, and then suddenly, I'm spiraling. I'm replaying every word, every gesture, analyzing every detail. It's like a broken record, playing the same tune repeatedly. It's not just conversations, either. I can ruminate about my to-do list, my relationships, or even the weather. It's as if my brain is determined to find a problem, no matter how small. Rumination, as it's called, can be a real drain. It's like trying to go against the flow of a strong current. No matter how hard I ...