UNMASKING CONTEXT
Remember the original Star Trek series where the interplay between Bones, Spock, and Captain Kirk more than made up for the low-budget effects? In the episode, “The Devil in the Dark,” Bones protests Kirk’s order to heal the silicon-based alien killer, “Damn it, Jim! I’m a doctor, not a bricklayer!” Yet, he does, by extrapolating principles from carbon-based lifeforms to the silicon monster, who [spoiler alert] turned out to be a mom protecting her eggs.
In college, my engineering classes reinforced that real life isn’t so kind as to provide all the information you need to solve a problem. You must apply principles to the context. And you must grasp the context to know which principles apply.
Whether it’s judging the framers of the U.S. Constitution, an infrastructure based on fossil fuels, or viral mask mandates, what could possibly replace context? Learning and appreciating context is hard work. Yet the most vociferous societal outcry depends on—thrives on—snapshots out of context.
Whose daughter will discover cures for cancer—the one taught to study the challenge, appreciate its complexities, then apply principles toward solutions? Or the one led to believe that science is situational, and a popular end justifies any means to achieve it?
Whose son will broker international peace? The one who understands opposing parties in such depth as to craft a win-win? Or the one indoctrinated to seek offenses then cancel the perceived offenders?
Who is more likely to teach your children the context behind the world’s most contentious issues?
Only you can answer that question.
👉 If you’ve started wondering what else your child’s school might be missing—you’re not alone.
🔗 Explore how homeschooling might fit your family
HOMESCHOOLING: Haven or Havoc?
Your child's school years are precious and fleeting.
Now could be your best time to step up where your school is letting your child down. Let this series of myth-busting short chapters encourage you.
2 Major Mistakes
Which one will you make?
Which of these 2 retirement mistakes are you making right now? It's impossible to entirely avoid both mistakes.
You won't know for sure which mistake will work out better for you until it's too late.
How to choose?
Finding the Will
(Part 1)
Part 1: Have the will to arrange for a smooth transition when you’re no longer around to answer questions
Have the will to arrange for a smooth transition when you’re no longer around to answer questions (Part 1)
Ensuring your children or other Loved Ones can readily access your important papers when you die entails a sound process versus one or two conversations. You must overcome aversion to the subject of death, procrastination of anything that is long-term, and the tendency to assume things will be fine. Family dynamics can be sweet, spicy, or dicey.
Finding the Will
(Part 2)
Part 2: Getting Organized
While the internet permits convenient access to accounts, policies, and stored documents, it presents a plethora of password management problems. which too many people avoid by succumbing to password laziness, such as:
- re-using passwords for multiple logins, or
- use simple, easy to remember passwords, or
- writing them on sticky notes placed on their monitor or under their keyboard, or
- keeping them in a spreadsheet on their computer, or
- letting their browser remember passwords for them
Embrace Your Clarence
Is Clarence your future?
Golden insight from a golden retriever.
Post-Pandemic W.E.L.L.ness
Working, Earning, Learning, and Launching to Thrive
Where life drastically changed forever two years ago, everyone adjusted to the best of their abilities.
Here are a few of the key adjustments--"pandemic pivots"--that sustained some and prospered others.
Prenuptial Adulting
Equip Them for Happily Ever After
“Mom, Dad, we’re getting married!"
“Wonderful, congratulations! Here’s what you both need to do first.”
Equipping newlyweds with essentials of responsibility leaves plenty of life yet to be discovered on their own. Adults understand that love isn’t oogly feelings; it’s a hard choice. It’s putting your commitments and your money where your mouth is.
Many of the following steps also apply to one’s turning 18 years old. Becoming engaged adds urgency and a deadline.
Rethinking Competing Funds for College and Retirement
We live in a time of skyrocketing inflation topping decades of unbridled higher education costs.
Is the tension between funding your retirement and funding (at least partially) your children’s college education keeping you up at night?
You’re not alone.
Married? Is Your Endgame 100% or Just 50%?
Are you single? That other 50% could be whoever is most important to you.
Multiple unforgiving players factor into your retirement and estate plans (collectively your “endgame”). Household names include the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Key decisions with these players are nearly impossible to reverse. Plus, if you qualify for a pension, how you activate it is another irreversible decision.
Are you more of a planner than your spouse? It’s all too common for one spouse to blindly trust the planning spouse. Countless endgame “plans” were created by 50% of a couple:
