It's Difficult to Be Healthy

There is limited, but not enough, significant action when it comes to major issues facing us like global warming; income inequality; nuclear threat, and racism. Likewise, there is hardly any focus in the media or congress , except for an article in the newspaper or magazine when it comes to obesity; opioid epidemic; air and water pollution; paucity of regulation when it comes to the food, pharmaceutical,  and beverage industry; lack of physical activity and  mental and physical health. These gigantic concerns provide a backdrop for an article titled “New Hope for Alzheimer’s” found in the August 20, 2018 edition of Time.

Thanks to NFL football. the MCI acronym or mild cognitive impairment is on the minds of many, especially parents and their concern about whether or not to allow their children to play football. Unfortunately, the MCI diagnosis is increasing and currently found in about 10 to 20% of Americans 65 years of age and older. The good news is that many with the MCI diagnosis will not necessarily progress to dementia. However, about 5 to 15% of those with MCI do progress to Alzheimer’s disease. Also, older men are about 50% more likely than older women to develop MCI. However, more women develop Alzheimer’s disease than men.

Although MCI impairment does not have a strong genetic or familial component, the major risks are to no surprise- lifestyle factors. 1. Having a vascular risk factor is a powerful predictor of those that proceed from MCI to dementia. 2. Having three or more of: excess weight, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low “good “HDL cholesterol and high blood sugar markedly raised the risk of MCI of people 65 and older. 3. Women over 75, who had a sleep disordered breathing and sleep apnea are twice as likely to develop MCI or dementia, compared to women without these conditions. 4. Regular vigorous exercise - 45 to 60 minutes a day, four times a week improved cognitive functioning in a group of people with MCI. And those getting moderate physical exercise like brisk walking, swimming, yoga, aerobics, strength training in mid-life, are 39% less likely to develop MCI.

Mild Cognitive Impairment Due to Alzheimer’s disease is a new diagnosis. Another concern is the diagnosis of dementia. Although dementia is not a specific disease, it is a group of symptoms caused by different disorders that affect the brain. For example, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 75% of all the dementias for adults reaching age 65.

To Be Continued

Ego Identity and Young Mothers Part 4

Being unmarried, pregnant and dependent affects her child’s psychological development in that the mother’s identity was flawed with a sense of role diffusion. What values of right and wrong did the young child incorporate? What did he/she learn about choices and consequences? Generally, a mother and father dynamic, provides the child with a better opportunity for the development of an appropriate gender role. If the young mother was unable to be independent and had difficulty separating from her family, then it is more than likely that she is going to pass that  personality trait on to her offspring. Likewise, if she was unable to accept herself, that’s not a good formula for the development for healthy self-esteem of her child as the apple does not fall far from the tree. Her lack of acceptance for self can also be passed on to the child by her being overprotective. Overprotective mothers are commonly hostile mothers, and restrict their child’s freedom. By being over protective, these rejecting mothers likely employed an exaggerated denial of their indifference and rejection.  Difficulty knowing herself, has negative consequences for child rearing in that her anxiety and ambivalence, regarding decision making ,make it difficult for the child to  develop trust with his mother.

We have too many disturbed children, adolescents and young adults per statistics on antisocial behavior, poor school achievement, depression, drug use, suicide gestures and suicide behavior. A major understanding of why these statistics happen to the child, goes back to child rearing practices as personality is primarily formed within its first five years of development. This fact places tremendous responsibility and consequences on both parents. Mothers initially establish a symbiotic union with the youngster. It is in this most critical phase, that correct loving, nurturing and psychological based mothering is necessary. Because of this delicate and important period, state funds should be made available for the young, less educated, identity diffuse mothers. It’s clear that major changes are necessary if these psychological problems are going to be reversed. Parenting, takes more than stating that you view yourself as conservative or religious.

Perhaps the state could divert dollars from the overstuffed defense budget and create and implement a realistic parenting program for our future resources. This program would require professionally male and female trained non minimum wage staff; sufficient housing; additional education and/or career choice training opportunities; and creative and competent, psychological and medical care. There are certainly enough experts in government; at the universities; and local government to address this challenge. It might be unpopular to suggest that parents are failing, but it is a realization. Let’s start at the beginning and attempt to break this vicious cycle of ineptitude, inappropriate and misinformed parenting.

Ego Identity and Young Mothers Part 3

I concluded, from my research, that non-pregnant teenagers did not have the same concerns about their femininity; thought more clearly about their own     values and personal ideology,  were more  self-accepting [egocentric, determined, outgoing] and able to perceive their behavior patterns more  clearly [less denial]; and had less negative worries about their present and future self.

The non-pregnant were also better adjusted psychologically; more dominant [aggressive, confident, forceful, strong]; more sociable [Intelligent, talkative, self-confident}; had a stronger need for achievement within the structured environment [efficient, loyal, reliable, reasonable]; and were more intellectually efficient [clear thinking, confident, logical, rational].

No one can argue the child rearing is not difficult and our countries future is based on the optimum development of this natural resource. Yet, it is overlooked and not addressed enough. It’s as if all women were born to be natural mothers. I beg to differ.

Briefly, some characteristics that correspond to healthy development, since the mothers personality is of prime importance for the child’s personality growth. A mother’s sense of ego identity is extremely important as it means that her values, ideas relating to career, morality, intellectual efficiency, independence and her sense of self in the present and future become clearer and more coherent.  The mother’s development of conscience, ego ideal and identity development, require meaningful and significant interjections and identifications. They are necessary and play a significant role for her and her child throughout the life cycle.

To Be Continued

Ego Identity and Young Mothers Part 2

To provide insight into the importance of ego identity on the personality development of young, limited educated mothers, I turned to my research that I presented to a professional   association of therapists and school psychologists years ago. In my study, 19 never pregnant adolescents were compared to 19 pregnant adolescents. Both groups were matched according to intelligence and  level of education attained by both father and mother. In the non-pregnant group, 84% of the parents were married and 16% divorced .For the pregnant teens, 53% of their parents were married and 26% divorced. Another difference were that 88% of the mothers, of the never pregnant adolescents, were employed in non-manual occupations compared to 50% of the mothers in the mothers to be group.

Ego identity is an important component in the development of personality. According to Erich H. Erikson, the major task of adolescence was to form an identity by successfully completing [by synthesizing and integrating all previous social roles as well as by incorporating the many new identifications and additional roles] these tasks so the adolescent can develop a sense of ego identity. This means that the adolescents are expected to become increasingly clear about their commitments and values in the areas of personal relationships, career choice, morality, ideology and sex as they prepare for their adult role. If unsuccessful, the adolescent developed a sense of role diffusion instead.

The success or relative lack of success, in this ego identity stage of development, has implications for dealing with the next stage of psychosocial evolution as well. The adolescent in the next psychosocial stage was expected to master the intimacy versus isolation task.  When successful, the adolescent then should be clear about who she is and what she stands for, if she is to establish a mutually satisfying intimate relationship in preparation for marriage. Ego identity personality components follow.

The statistically significant results of my research were as follows: 1. Pregnant teenagers had higher scores associated with identity diffusion. 2. Pregnant teenager’s drawings were more feminine. 3. Non pregnant teens perceived their behavior with less distortion 4. Non pregnant youth had higher self-acceptance scores 5. Non pregnant had less maladjustment scores 6. Non-pregnant had higher dominance scores 7. Non pregnant had higher sociability scores 8. Non pregnant had higher intellectual efficiency scores.

To Be Continued

Ego Identity and Young Mothers

An article titled “Data on Mothers Reveal Schisms across America” in the August 5, 2018 edition of The New York Times highlighted another major concern facing our country. For instance, the age of first time mothers varied according to level of education and geography. Analyzing birth certificates since 1985, they found that women with college degrees, on average, give birth to children 7 years later than women without a degree .These degree women were in their early 30’s while non degree women were in their early 20’s. Moreover, first-time college educated mothers were older and lived in the big cities and on the coasts while the less educated resided in rural areas, the Great Plains and in the South.

The researchers found that the first time, less educated and living in the rural areas, Great Plains and South mothers were more conservative and religious; had younger grandparents who lived nearby; were  unmarried;  had difficulty affording birth control; were  economically challenged with unplanned pregnancies; did not consider abortion; and  were without  a  nearby medical provider . These mothers also had identity formation difficulties, along with a dependent personality.

 Regardless of age, becoming pregnant is easy, but caring full-term and child rearing is difficult. We know that the nutritional and emotional state of the mother is of major importance for her and her embryo. Also, the quality of the mother’s relationship with her partner adds another important positive dimension.

 On the other hand, the older mothers, the researchers reported, tended to be liberal; splitting bread winning and caregiving responsibilities with men; had middle-class wages; had more years of  earned money for investment in children’s lessons  and their  college accounts, had advanced in their careers before giving birth; tended to be married and were   less likely to be  divorced.

To Be Continued

Bo's Mental life Part 3

A lack of perfection occurred when Michigan had a punt blocked while playing Missouri in 1969. The following week, in practice, Bo had his players perform numerous punting drills. In fact, he boasted that he would pay a player who could block a punt. Then, the unforgivable happened, and a punt got blocked. Coach Schembechler believed that Jim Brandstatter made the mistake allowing the punt to be blocked. Bo, ran after Brandstatter and caught up to him, yelling, spitting and berating his player. Even though Coach Jerry Hanlon, told Bo that Jim was not at fault, Bo told him that Jim needed it anyway. Once again we see the power of the emotional need for perfection and the fear of failure reality. In other words, the unrealistic drive for perfection and fear of failure go hand-in-hand. Another example of the identification and introjection was illustrated by Bo’s father was when the senior Schembechler was taking a civil service exam for a job promotion. He found out that his competition had the test questions prior. The senior Schembechler went into a rage about how unfair that was. However, playing by the rules were modeled and Incorporated in Bo’s psyche. While Michigan’s head coach, Bo was told of an alumni booster who paid a player to cut his mother’s grass in Buffalo. At the time, the NCAA would have penalized the Wolverines for violating one of their rules. Schembechler told Fritz Seyferth working in the Ad’s office to take away the boosters football tickets, and to that overzealous booster from the football program. The ground floor for Identification, introjection, ego ideal, conscience and self-begin early in the development of one’s mental life. It’s like the standard is set and we add to it with the identification of numerous idols, celebrities, literary figures, stars and so forth throughout a lifetime of experiences. For Bo, there was nothing greater than the roar of the crowd; the adulation; the team; the mastery -satisfaction and all the positive feelings fulfilling his personal ambitions. The losses and all the accompanying negative feelings like guilt, unworthiness, disappointments and shame fueled his fear of failure and drove him in an attempt to obtain perfection. His teams became his family. At times, being human, he was unjust to himself as well. For more about Bo Schembechler and his Wolverines, check out Bo’s Warriors Bo Schembechler and the Transformation of Michigan Football.

Bo's Mental life Part 2

As an adolescent, Bo did have a fantasy and in his imagination and dreams, he was pitching in the seventh game of the World Series. In reality, Bo had an opportunity to become the hero for his high school baseball team. Bo was brought in as a relief pitcher with the bases-loaded in and all-important playoff game. Unfortunately, Bo gave up a hit that cleared the bases; his team lost; the team was knocked out of championship contention; and Bo never pitched again. Bo, in his psyche, let down his coach, teammates, school, self, and of course mother .In his conscience, he felt a tremendous amount of guilt and shame along with negative self-talk. Within one’s conscience and ego ideal, one’s sense of self gets established. That game loss resulted in being “bad” with tremendous behavioral consequences. It set up and reinforced the dreaded mechanism for fear of failure. Bo’s fear of failure was significantly reinforced again when he played in an all-important and the most physical high school football game of his life. Again, he experienced failure when his team lost that game 7-0. Bo cried after that heartbreaking loss. Those defeats and negative feelings were implanted in the memory of his conscience forever. Psycho dynamically, this was a narcissistic injury for Bo. Other heroes, identification figures, and ego idols for Schembechler included legends from Notre Dame Football like Knute Rockne-the Gipper, The Four Horsemen, and Elmer Layden. Bo wanted to be a star and play football for Notre Dame, but was not recruited. Instead, he was recruited by Sid Gilman from Miami of Ohio. Gilman was fired, and then replaced. Bo’s head coach became Woody Hayes. Once again, another major disappointment and the fear of failure was highlighted and reinforced in Bo’s psyche as he did not become a football hero for the fighting Irish. Bo, essentially learned from Woody Hayes about compensating for the fear of failure through practice and the endless repetition of do overs. Football, like other sports has the human element of making mistakes. Woody, in order to minimize mistakes and shoot for perfection or mastery, ran the same offensive play over and over. The same football repetition occurred when Bo took over as head coach for the University of Michigan. Further, Coach Schembechler had the players performing unorthodox and gut wrenching conditioning during the winter. Once again, one has to become stronger than his opponent and hope that it protects and is a defense against failure. To Be Continued

Bo's Mental Life

Bo Schembechler was born in 1929 on April Fools’ Day. He was given the reins 40 years later to become the University of Michigan’s head football coach in 1969. He retired from that position in 1989. Schembechler’s Wolverines were victorious in 194 games and lost just 48. During his tenure, his Michigan teams won or shared in 13 Big Ten titles, and made 10 Rose Bowl appearances. He was voted national coach of the year 1969, by the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America. The psychodynamic basis for Schembechler’s coaching success follows. At about three years of age, Bo’s ego ideal and conscience began to be developed as a result of the introjection and identification mechanisms that resulted from his parents, parenting. Ego ideal refers to the unconscious desire, wish to attain perfection and achievement or the idealized picture of self [stronger than Hercules, smarter than Athena, more attractive than Helen, faster than Damysus and so on]. Conscience is related to good and bad, right and wrong, ethics and moral behaviors. For instance, if you strike out while playing baseball, that feels awful or when you make a basket in a basketball game, that feels terrific. Bo’s mother was a devout fan and follower of the Cleveland Indians. She listened to their radio broadcasts and even attended games. Her favorites likely were pitcher Luke Sewell and perhaps Lou Boudreau. Bo interjected his mother’s favorable attitude regarding the Cleveland Indians and more than likely, young Bo in latency, these Indians became lodged in his ego ideal. Cleveland Indian idols and heroes like pitchers Luke Sewell and or Joe Dobson became his heroes, and young Bo created fantasies, and dreamt about being a major-league pitcher in the big leagues. Listening to the radio broadcasts, the announcers embellished the miraculous athletic feats to the roar of the crowds of these larger-than-life athletes. Bo’s imagination ran wild with Herculean exploits of greatness and fame. With sports, individuals experience a wide range of emotions, within the safety of the group. As a result, Bo had permission to express and feel emotions. To Be Continued

Functional Medicine and Nike Part 2

Although this was not a random sample of runners and there were problems with actual identification of various running shoes, the conclusions supported Nike’s claim. For example, the speed increases associated with the Vaporflys were consistent with the increases in a Nike funded study. Runners who improved their performance in the Nike shoe and then switched to another shoe found their running times got slower. At the moment, the shoes cost $250, even though some runners claimed that they were good for only about 100 miles. Further, Nike’s newest version of the shoe, the Elite Flyprint cost about $650 and will be used by a limited number of runners in the 2018 London Marathon. I do not have a dilemma at the moment. I am determined to evaluate if my amino acid supplements work in my 2019 races to see if my running times improved. After completing those 4 runs of two 10 milers and two 50 K’s, I plan to asses and decide whether or not to purchase the Nike running shoe. Another option would be to begin track workouts as another variable. In essence, I shall have at least three options for consideration. In any event, I plan to keep moving.

Functional Medicine and Nike

Last year I attended a continuing education class, and learned more about medical foods and about functional medicine doctors. Not only did the class enhance my knowledge, it also provided the impetus to seek a functional medicine doctor in my area. I liked the idea of digesting certain foods and supplements to improve my health. So, I made an appointment, and then had to figure out why I was seeing that physician. I told that doctor that I wanted to run faster. Dr. Kristin took a history, provided me with information regarding medicinal foods and set up an appointment for bloodwork. The results came back from Genova Diagnostics and indicated that my riboflavin-B2 and folic acid-B9 were low. She then referred me to a company that created a personalized supplement that I currently take in powder form. Although I was in good medical health prior, I will continue taking this supplement at least until I run my first four races in 2019. At that juncture, I will compare my running times to years past to determine if I have increased my running time speed. Then out of the blue, I ran across a July 22, 2018 article in the New York Times titled “What If a $250 Shoe Actually Made You Run Faster?” I now have at least two options for increased running speed. In this article, a survey was implemented to see if the Nike claim that their Zoom Vaporfly allowed people to run 4% faster. The article, Incorporated, a statistical model based on runner traits such as weather, age, prerace training ; runners previous race times; runners who ran in the same pair of races; personal record when switching shoes; and after runners switch to new shoes in an attempt to verify Nike’s claim. The authors employed Strava to track runners running times, and personal runner communication, per the type and/or model of running shoe used for 500,000 Marathon and half Marathon running times since 2014. To Be Continued

The Importance of Identification Part 3

I supported, and overlooked his unorthodox behavior of sleeping in a recruit’s room or even attending high school with that recruit. He held spring practices in Florida, and took his teams to Italy and France. In 2015, my Wolverines lost to Michigan State when on the last play the game, the punt was blocked and a Michigan State player ran it into the end zone. I could not objectively listen to criticism when it came to coach Harbaugh’s call to punt the ball. Moreover, it was as if my conscience was frozen, nonfunctioning, malleable or absent as Jim’s sense of morality became like my own. I could not employ my conscience independently when it came to Jim’s behavior. I could easily use my words, and/or defense mechanisms or even ignore the coach’s behavior. I could not even apply rational thought and thinking properly. Or simply put, my rational thought and my conscience were objectively ineffective when it came to coach Harbaugh. It would probably take losing seasons to dislodge my identification with coach Harbaugh. Otherwise, my feelings of approval and support continue to be obtained by allegiance to this external authority. These few examples demonstrate the power of unconscious identification. Irrational judgment, non-effective immature conscience, submission to the leader, inability to listen to reason or criticism, and the employment of denial, rationalization, and intellectualization occur within .Jim Harbaugh, as the messiah, can do no wrong at this moment. His will, commands, and precepts or principles becomes my moral laws. Because of our cognitive ability, we can come to any conclusion possible. We don’t have to be consistent; we don’t have to be rational; we don’t have to make sense; we don’t have to think in complete sentences nor do we have to be reasonable. We can even convince ourselves of the unbelievable. Facts are easily discounted and become not important. Often, our unconscious introjections, identifications and emotions interfere with and rule reality. As a consequence, our moral and ethical conscience and development are often out of balance, flawed, and not representative of Judeo-Christian values. Who is your Pied Piper? It’s clear that the vast array of Pied Pipers help define and establish one’s personality as a result of the power of the identifications.

The Importance of Identification Part 2

As a University of Michigan alumnus, I have followed the football and basketball programs. In 2015, Jim Harbaugh took over, and became the leader for the football program. I knew that Jim was previously a quarterback for the Wolverines, played for Bo Schembechler; was a successful NFL quarterback; was a head coach at the University of San Diego , Stanford; and the San Francisco 49ers. His whole career was about high-performance, dominating and winning. Michigan’s illustrious football program was in decline after coach Lloyd Carr retired. Coaches Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke did not rescue the Wolverines. The Wolverines had been previously elite. It was difficult following them, and I was resentful about their mediocracy and poor play, especially against Ohio State. It was an embarrassment to say the least. Jim Harbaugh was brought in to resurrect the football program and restore it to its former glory. He had a reputation of being a narcissist, powerful, controlling with an authoritarian personality style. Identifying with the Wolverines resulted in my experiencing either jubilation or despair, depending upon the outcome of the game. The hiring of Jim Harbaugh resulted in an unconscious identification with Jim. Translated, this means that his personality, his rationality, and his conscience became like mine. In other words, Jim was correct or right, regardless of what he said or did. He could do no wrong, and I was unable to evaluate him and his accomplishments rationally. Further, no one could effectively reason with me about any of his negatives. He could walk on water, and I would experience hardships [having a poor won and loss record] if necessary. To Be Continued

The Importance of Identification

We live in an economic, political and social system. Our capitalistic economic system favors the top 1%; we have a serious political divide; we are confronted with potential nuclear war, terrorist attacks, opiates/drugs, global warming, massive personal and national debt, and all the insecurities and so on. Within these elements, personality, character and conscience are influenced. For instance, as newborns, we are born helpless and dependent and rely on our parents for survival. They gratify our physical and psychological needs and meet the requirements for our development. With techniques of praise, loss of love, disapproval, and/or physical punishment, we began to understand parental attitudes and witness parental rigidness, inconsistencies, non-rational contradictions and ambiguities while developing our conscience. By five or six years of age, we have incorporated and learned parental interpreted notions, attitudes, values, ethics, good, bad, morals and prohibitions as our own. We now have the beginnings, or the ground floor for further conscience development. The following “being honest; obeying rules and regulations; resisting temptations to cheat, lie or steal; acting in kind, considerate, altruistic ways; considering the rights and welfare of others; treating people in egalitarian rather than authoritarian ways; making moral judgments in which justice is tempered with mercy” become the components of our conscience. In other words, we have introjected the moral foundations of our parent’s conscience and behavior, and established and instituted our conscience by identifying with them. Realistically, we have likely incorporated more of not “do as I say,” but instead “do as I do.” And, further, that our identification is not only strong but has incorporated the essence or the power of parental authority. Throughout our lives, we identify with others of importance like older siblings, peers, teachers, coaches, professional athletes, role models, heroes and so forth. A brief example of the power of unconscious identifications follow. Remember, unconscious means, not being aware. To Be Continued

It Ain't Fair Part 2

University Michigan coach Bo Schembechler told his team on their first meeting “I I am going to treat you all the same, like dogs.” Does this mean that he’s going to, absolutely and under all conditions, treat all his players equally? To learn more about fairness, Schembechler, Darden, Keller, Betts, McKenzie and Brandstatter, consult Bo’s Warriors Bo Schembechler and the Transformation of Michigan Football. In the early 1980s, I purchased my first equine Nowata from Veryl Lybert, a smart no-nonsense cowboy, originally from the province of Alberta, Canada. Veryl told me that he preferred to enter horse competitions that did not have a subjective quality. He said,” like in a horse race, when the first horse crosses the finish line, it’s the winner.” Incidentally, Veyl’s oldest boy won the title of “all-around cowboy” on the rodeo circuit numerous times. Veryl was correct, when possible, take subjectivity out of the equation. My younger sister told me of a recent conversation with our brother. I’m the oldest, followed by my brother, and then my sister. My brother reminded her that he complained to our mother that it was unfair that he had to go downstairs to the refrigerator and bring up a watermelon. Why couldn’t she ask our sister? That early memory is still etched in his brain .It’s still remains unfair. It will always be unfair to him. However, being a good son, my brother, the physician was with mom until the end. Thank you, brother. In the 90s, I went on a trail run along a creek in the Bay Area. When I returned to my car, after the run, I could not open my door as I had left my keys inside the car. I called AAA to unlock my car. I was told that my soon-to-be ex-wife had taken my name off the AAA membership. At that moment I was surprised. AAA came anyway, and unlocked my car door. History and the evolution of Homo sapiens, provide too many illustrations of favoritism, wars, killings, persecution, prejudice, economic inequality, sexual abuse along with the cliché “the person coming in second place is the first loser. “With man being narcissistic, prejudiced, and irrational, along with primary needs of survival and secondary needs of aggression, dominance and exhibition, it’s no wonder that words like compromise, rule of law, democracy, affirmative action, level the playing field depict an attempt to create fairness between and among individuals. Good luck with your memories of unfairness. Laughter is better than resentment. PS Thom Darden, Reggie McKenzie, Mike Keller, Jim Betts, Jim Brandstatter and I are currently working on a project based on Bo’s Warriors and the Transformation of Michigan Football Bo to bring their stories to the big screen in a full-length feature movie. I’ll keep you posted.

It Ain't Fair

Last week’s post on envy and jealousy triggered numerous memories. A significant dynamic or component of envy and jealousy is, in part, related to the perception of fairness. Developmentally, kids begin learning about fairness at a young age, as result of experiential actions and interactions with parents and siblings. So, according to the definition of fairness “Impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or discrimination,” fairness is about the perception of the beholder. Further, it doesn’t mean that the beholder, King or consensus makes it right. A few examples of fairness or unfairness follow: 1. King Solomon allegedly was confronted by two women who claimed the baby in question was their own. Cleverly, King Solomon’s solution was to cut the baby in half and present each woman one half of the child. The biological mother, horrified of that idea, told the king, “Give the child to the other woman.” It was at that juncture, that the wise King knew the true mother. 2. Jim Brandstatter was the radio voice of the Detroit Lions for 31 years. Without warning, he was abruptly terminated by the WJR radio station. Jim didn’t mention fairness or unfairness, but he did say he was shocked and” that’s the nature of this business.” 3. Mike Keller, as an adolescent, was large for his age. “By the time Mike reached junior high, he had really grown. He was disallowed from playing competitive football because of his size and weight. [As an eighth grader, he was about 6 feet tall and weighed about 160 pounds.] The football coach allowed him to practice with the team, and placed him on defense against the first-team offense. Mike indicated that even though he was bigger than everybody else, he did not attempt to hurt them. He did admit that he made most if not all of the tackles.” 4. Thom Darden made second team all Pro in the NFL with the Browns. He thought he was better than the Dallas player who made first-team all Pro and was paid $40,000 a year more than Thom. Darden went to the team owner of the Cleveland Browns and told him of the discrepancy. The owner said something to the effect “you signed a contract and go pound nails.” 5. Reggie McKenzie, while playing for the Buffalo Bills, was told by management that they were not going to trade him, despite the rumors. They in fact did trade him to the Seattle Seahawks. Reggie was mad at owner of the Bills, Ralph Wilson also from Detroit. Reggie said some uncomplimentary things about Wilson and the Bills management in the newspaper. This news angered Mr. Wilson. It wasn’t until Wilson died that the Bills honored Reggie by inducting him in their Hall of Fame. Reggie said that Wilson was probably turning over in his grave with that event. 6. A freak accident interfered with Jim Betts potential NFL career. “Jim was drafted by the New York Jets in the 10th round of the 1973 NFL draft and signed a contract to play backup quarterback and safety. Before reporting to camp, Jim was rehabilitating from ankle injury [an injury suffered in the blue and gray game], and was student teaching at Scarlet, junior high, in Ann Arbor. There was a tradition at the junior high that the student teacher would be thrown into the swimming pool by the students at the end of the school year. So, a great number of students started to drag Jim toward the pool. Unfortunately, Jim had a whistle around his neck, and one of the students hand’s got stuck on the lanyard, while Jim was going into the water. The metal whistle got pulled out, striking him in his left eye…. He has a black spot when using his left eye, and lost 70% of the vision, in the eye….. No matter how good you are you can lose it in the blink of an eye-no pun intended.” To Be Continued

Envy and Jealousy Part 2

In comparison to those brilliant minds of yesteryear, I prefer to reframe the emotional state of envy within the dynamics of human needs. Comparing self to another is cognitive and has to do with perception. Being cognitive suggests there is an achievement need. Achievement means to accomplish something difficult; to master; to rival and surpass others and to increase self-regard by the successful exercise of talent. Yes, the completion of a marathon is measured achievement and admirable, regardless of age. Being able to acknowledge and appreciate achievement is related to deference and character. Another necessary cognitive component in combating envy is a need for counteraction. This means to master, or make up for a failure by restriving; to overcome weakness; to search for obstacles and difficulties to overcome; and to maintain self-respect and pride on a high level. Perhaps this professor can no longer run, but he likely can walk. Instead of whining, he might consider working and training for hiking and walking. It’s important not to refrain from an activity because of the fear of failure. On another level, he might sublimate and explore the dynamics of being. I agree with Camus when he wrote “… our emotions imbue our perceived universe with valence in color. Unpleasant as it might be, it is good to know when we are projecting green—when most everyone seems to be making us feel smaller and less fortunate.” It is important to understand our own psychological dynamics. And if you’re comparing [some components are out of your control, experience and limitations] yourself to some anonymous source, determine the reason or reasons without the emotional overlay. If the basis for the envy is the result of advertising or social media tactics, determine if you want to be just one of the masses and follow that crowd. On the other hand, take a look at your need structure and its unconscious forces. When all else fails, reframe. Yes, “Know Thy Self” is always preferred. Envy and jealousy are negative, irrational, immature, nonproductive, self -defeating and downright inappropriate and part of human nature.

Envy and Jealousy

An article titled “The Upside of Envy” written by a philosophy professor was found in the May 6, 2018, The New York Times. The professor stated that he was envious of all the 60 and 70-year-old’s that have the ability to ride many miles, and that a friend his age had recently finished a marathon. He went on and quoted a number of outstanding thinkers regarding their thoughts about envy that included Nietzsche, “Envy and jealousy are the private parts of the human soul;” Francis Bacon “Envy keeps no holidays;” Kierkegaard, “Envy is secret admiration;” and Aristotle “…as the pain caused by the good fortune of others.” A Dictionary of Psychology did not include a definition of envy. It did, however, have a definition of jealousy “a complex emotional state, involving a sentiment of hate by one person for another, because of the relations of both to a third; the commonest form is sexual jealousy.” Jealousy begins early and common in development. It often occurs but not limited between siblings, with a perceived unfairness “that’s not fair” regarding receiving affection, attention, food, things, and love from parents. This professor stated that he hated those athletes because his injured body can’t keep up with them any longer. This professor was really saying that he despises his own weakened inadequate body; which is a significant component of his sense of self or self-esteem. The professor’s statement suggested that he was merely projecting his diminished frailty. On a personal level, when it comes to ultra-running events, I am typically, the oldest participant. I don’t know if others in my age group hate me? If so, it’s certainly a waste of negative, non- productive energy. I surely don’t hate the individual who finished ahead of me in my age group. What’s wrong with admiration, working harder and reality? TO Be Continued

Existentialism and Le Suicide Part 4

Add human detachment and lack of significant others to the equation, and this equals a higher negative ratio of pain to pleasure. Yes, there are too many individuals in our country that are hurting. These dependent and insecure individuals seek unrealistic and simplistic mechanisms to ease their pain like alcohol and drugs. Their sense of insignificance, ineptitude, unworthiness, lack of esteem, anxiety and stress results in them being unconsciously drawn to the false, illogical, exploitive promises of for profit colleges. Attending a non-expensive community college geared for the troubled learner is more difficult, since one has to sit in a classroom, study, take exams, etc. Another quick fix for the sense of the weakened and powerless individual is the unconscious drive to be protected and taken care of by double talking authoritarian and narcissistic politicians. Because these primitive unconscious motives are emotionally based, and remain with us during our lifetime, acting against one’s own self interests are repeated and par for the course. No, it’s not surprising that despair and suicide is on the rise. Unless things dramatically change in the socio economic and political spheres, we can expect the poorly educated with their limited skill set to remain vulnerable and hopelessly in the doom and gloom, emotional phase which is an existential crisis. In conclusion, with the inability to fulfill man’s basic needs of affiliation [cooperation, solidarity, love and friendship]; achievement [to accomplish, to master, to excel, and to work], results with significant interference in establishing a sense of purpose or meaning for an individual. When these important and necessary human components are not fulfilled, one’s sense of identity is compromised. In our society, when identity is negatively compromised, the result is often frustration and anger turned inward.

Existentialism and Le Suicide Part 3

As far as finding meaning, also In the June 24, 2018, The New York Times was an article titled “The Snake Oil of the Second- Act Industry.” For example, we know that limited education and the closing down of industries in our country has affected many older or 50+ aged individuals. With clever “starting over,” “you’re own second act can actually be the most exciting, freeing and empowered era of your life” marketing, a new scam industry was created. This industry is “for-profit colleges,” and not the community college. These false, slick and unethical consumer operations promote useless and meaningless certificates; and create massive student debt. In this article, one student’s debt was $16,000 and another’s $59,000. Student debt for the middle-aged account for at least 17% of the $1.4 trillion in outstanding student loan debt for people over 50 years old. In fact, people 60 and older are the fastest-growing age segment of the student loan market. Moreover, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 33% of job seekers are age 55 and older. The long-term unemployed rates for people over 55 are triple the rates for those under 25. It’s difficult to find meaning, understanding, and/or not taking on a victim viewpoint in our Protestant ethic, capitalistic economic system when one loses their job, their career, their income and goes into unaffordable debt. Part-time employment, minimum wage, limited education, and paucity of skills results in a high external stress index score. This score correlates with a high internal stress index score as well, as one’s sense of self and sense of identity suffers greatly. For many, work and career make up an important part of one’s identity. That significant loss creates a large void or hole that’s difficult to fill. It’s no wonder that these vulnerable, older individuals, in this stage of their life, are frustrated, angry and stressed. Anger expressed inwardly with self-hate, and destructive impulses can lead to abasement behaviors and even suicide. To Be Continued

Existentialism and Le Suicide Part 2

If viewing the problem of suicide from an existential viewpoint, lack of meaning or the crisis of meaninglessness; with greater human detachment; and a weaker sense of belonging are increasing the risk of existential despair. More specifically, a few diagnostic symptoms of an Affective Disorder include feelings of inadequacy, decreased effectiveness or productivity, social withdrawal, loss of interest in or enjoyment of pleasurable activities, inability to respond with apparent pleasure to praise or reward, pessimistic attitude towards the future, brooding about past events, or feeling sorry for oneself fit, correspond, and are associated with existential despair. Despite the electronic explosion of smart phones, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., we continue to have significant loneliness among our inhabitants. They call loneliness an epidemic in Great Britain. A disruption to one’s affiliative needs runs counter to man’s nature. Affiliation or the necessity to unite with other living beings is paramount for growth and well-being. Loneliness suggests a perceived lack of belonging, connecting, and/or solidarity. This results in a sense of alienation, which has disastrous consequences for its effect on identity. To make matters worse, Electronics have reduced important face-to-face interaction, despite plenty of texting. People handle, touch, and fondle their smart phone more than they do others. They probably also fondle their pets more than other Homo sapiens as well. Living in a different era while residing In Detroit, as a teen, I delivered the Detroit News to people who resided on my block, etc. As a result of friendships with neighbor kids and my paper route customers, I became familiar with many of my neighbors. My mother, being a friendly type, also knew many in our neighborhood. I completed my PhD and subsequently took an assistant professorship at California State University in San Bernardino. It just so happened, that one of my former customers daughter had moved to Fontana, California. Talking with the neighbor, my mother gave me the phone number, and address in Fontana to contact. I arrived in San Bernardino on a Sunday morning and called my former neighbor. She was married and invited me over to meet the family. Her husband and I looked through the paper and found some rentals in the San Bernardino Mountains. We found a place near Lake Arrowhead, which I rented. That’s an example of face-to-face neighbor to neighbor interaction and meaningful interpersonal contact back in the day without the Internet, and without a cell phone. Those facts were all pluses on the balance sheet. To Be Continued