Mental Health Awareness
The Tragic Death of Chris Cornell: Depression’s Toxic Bedfellow…Suicide
Chris Cornell’s death will stand to be one of the saddest moments in rock history as yet another infinitely talented artists is no longer of this world. It is one of the most profound recent tragedies next to the loss of Prince, at least for me.
He was gifted with one of the better rock voices in the modern era of grunge and alternative rock. Cornell was blessed with raw talent that made him a Rock God, one that aspiring as well as successful musicians idolized. And to pair up his throttled, husky voice, Chris had the perfect looks to be the front man for Soundgarden and Audioslave. The man with a 4-octave vocal range was also lead songwriter, guitarist, and drummer. Read the rest of this entry »
Rejection: The Root of Gun Violence?
Rejection is the most powerful human emotion. Without a doubt, it is a universal experience that, it’s safe to say, everyone hopes to avoid. Personally, I believe everyone has a deep desire to be accepted.
Acceptance is the driving force behind everyone’s human need to love and to be loved. Without the acceptance from peers, friends or family, feelings of rejection often result as does the seeking of vengeance. In our generation of gun violence and school shootings, most of the deadly news headlines have resulted from the same recycled cause. Read the rest of this entry »
The Homeless Generation
Hunched over on the cement bench facing the ocean at Redondo Beach is Esperanza. Most, if not, all locals know who she is by sight though very few know her by name. Esperanza in French and Spanish, ironically, mean’s hope, though perhaps from society’s perspective she represents the loss of it.
I have tried to talk to Esperanza on several occasions, only for her to retreat by hanging her head in shame, reversing her cart piled with a hodge-podge collection of discarded junk, but it’s all that she owns. Despite her need for privacy or, perhaps, due to her fear of the outside world, I managed to catch her on a good day and squeezed out her name. Walking my dogs along the beach, we’ve managed to get to know other dogs and their owners around the neighborhood. So, I wanted to also know Esperanza by name rather than to simply point to her, referencing her by apparent her lack of finances and an address. Read the rest of this entry »
The Major Pitfalls of Obtaining Your Own Health Insurance
I try to stay positive on this site, but my recent health care fiasco left me struggling to take deep breaths to calm down, attempting not to scream as a result of my frustration.
I recently transitioned from working full time for an employer to becoming my own boss. It’s had its ups and downs for sure. The work, at least initially, can be sporadic, so it’s difficult to determine specifically how much you’ll actually make monthly much less annually. The first year of self-employment is not as steady as the second year, I’m told. I certainly hope so.
I found that I make too much money to qualify for Medi-Cal, which is not a bad problem to have. Yet, because there is still three months remaining in the year, and having just started my freelance practice, I cannot accurately predict how much I stand to make. So, I’ve been searching for a health plan that fits my wallet, and I wanted to be reasonably conservative.
Going cheap definitely has its pitfalls. I was asked how often I go to the doctor, but the plan that was the most attractive in terms of cost only gave me the option (and hope) to visit one up to two times within one calendar year. The insurance plans that are most affordable to healthy young adults include incredibly high deductibles. In other words, you basically don’t really have insurance. Often times you are required to pay $2,000 or more out of pocket within the year before your benefit finally kicks in. Say What?! Read the rest of this entry »
R.I.P. Robin Williams: The Road to Mental Health Awareness is Not Without its Potholes
R.I.P. Robin Williams
DEPRESSION: A Serious Illness
In memory of the very tragic, shocking and sudden suicide of Robin Williams, I am re-posting the following article because I find it fitting for the moment. This was written in April and in my article Are Your Feelings Running Your Life, I provided a list of comedians that I learned had suffered or suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, or some form of mental illness. And yes, Robin Williams was apart of this list. Read the rest of this entry »
Writing With Hope 