We are all, to a greater or lesser extent, consumed by self.  Quite obviously, we are always in our own company and, therefore, cannot help but place ourselves first in our own worlds.  It is inescapable.  The world at large, or macro-world, is an amalgam of the billions of individual, or micro-worlds, of which it [...]

Consciousness is what separates mankind from most of the animal kingdom.  The consciousness of ourselves and the world around us shapes who we become as individuals, cultures, and societies.  What is referred to as the normative state of consciousness manifests the real world perceptions of most people who would be classified as sane (although one [...]

The sounds of nature became the first music heard on this planet.  As Homo sapiens emerged and evolved, we added to the symphony.  By uttering sounds in rhythmic sequences, early man created songs to express his range of emotions.  As time went on, he developed crude instruments, such as drums made of animal skins, to [...]

How do we define happiness: that which each of us pursues with a single-minded purpose, yet often, fails to achieve?  Is happiness a state of mind we delude ourselves into entering, or is it as real as it is fleeting?  Is it a secret desire, lovingly nurtured and finally brought to fruition?  Is it a [...]

I believe that I am not overreaching when I state that everyone likes to win, whether such winning relates to games, contests, arguments, debates, or larger personal or professional developmental challenges.  And, why would anyone not want to win?  Mankind has been conditioned from time immemorial to savor victory – from times both long and [...]

Deeply embedded in our DNA are certain genetic traits that propel our species forward or at least, ensure its continuation.   Every human being possesses the drive, if not the actual ability, to earn, create, or steal his or her most basic survival needs.  On some level, we all share a sense of humor and a [...]

In a hostile world in which saber-toothed mammals roamed free and early man literally fought to eke out a living, how on earth did our species survive?  The Good Book tells us that God gave man the gift of an immortal soul.  The soul is that indefinable and inextinguishable spark of life that transcends death [...]

For many of us, our views on science and scientists have been colored by literature and films.  For baby-boomers, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and various of what are now known as classic science fiction films gave us the strong impression that while scientific objectives were generally beneficial, the end result often produced evil.  Dr. Frankenstein was [...]

We measure our lives in years, with calendar changes, birthdays, holidays, and other events functioning as milestones along our route from birth to death.  From day to day, life seems as if it may last forever.  Most of us, while in good health, give little thought to the fact that our lives will surely end.  [...]

In the 1993 biographical drama Rudy, a young man from a small steel mill town overcomes his physical limitations, intellectual shortcomings, and the doubts of friends and family members to achieve his dream of gaining acceptance and playing football for Notre Dame University.  The true story, based on the life of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, chronicles [...]