Dear overwhelmed-by-all-the-grimy-information drama observers, In Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes, a boy in the crowd says what everyone else knows but won’t admit—the emperor is as naked as a jaybird. Others quickly follow suit and take up the cry. It would seem that we’re witnessing a sea change of sorts in which […]
Dear sickened-by-the-drama observers, I’m feeling a little testy this week. Sort of like that codger yelling at the neighborhood kids to get off his #$!@ lawn. But that actually makes sense the more I think about it because what I’m really miffed about is immaturity–the juvenile ways in which supposed “grown-ups” on the news and […]
Dear moving-past-the-drama readers, In my last couple of letters, I mentioned that I’ve been under the gun of a writing deadline. As of this past Monday, I’ve met it. As Fred Flintstone exclaimed at the end of his workday in the rock quarry, “Yabba dabba doo.” A couple of weeks ago, I shared three exploitable […]
Dear drama watchers, I’ve been writing recently about the ways in which manipulators rent space in your brain and become difficult to evict once residence has been established. Here are three disorienting effects. Foreclosure Reinforcement Some adolescents emerge into adulthood having never developed an ability to think for themselves. They get their ideas from someone […]
Dear vulnerable-to-drama readers, Last week, I “cheated” by sharing something old I had written in place of something new. I’m going to establish a pattern of cheating by doing it again this week—and maybe next week. As I mentioned, I’m covered over trying to meet a writing deadline. You know that picture of Sisyphus from […]
Dear drama observers, I mentioned a few weeks ago that I’m in the throws of a writing deadline. I’m developing a new seminar for Vyne Education entitled “The Psychological Disorientation of Manipulation” and the manual is due soon, like really soon. Remember that scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy was on […]
Dear tragedy-watching drama readers, An acquaintance of mine—I’d be honored to call him friend if we were closer—spent a lot of time on the road for work-related travel. A year or so ago, he woke up in his hotel room in the middle of the night in a lot of pain, not realizing at the […]
Dear reaching-for-the-mute-button drama watchers, Do you ever have life lesson moments? I’ll tell you about one of mine. I had finished my graduate course work and, to become license-eligible, I was required to complete a year of post-doctoral residency. I worked out an arrangement to complete that year in the office of my residency supervisor, […]
Dear can’t-get-enough drama readers, I have the privilege of traveling the country to talk about a subject I love—drama. It’s probably more accurate to say I love talking about it. As I’ve often said, observing dramas is pleasant; being in them isn’t. I get to go out and talk about what I’ve observed. […]
Dear drama observers, I ran an errand this week and was concerned about getting back to my office in time for a 9:30 appointment. What was left of Hurricane Irma was making its way through Nashville so the streets were all wet and ponded. I exited the business establishment and had to cross a lane […]