Got Me Thinking

Why AI Is the First True Challenge Millennials Have Faced

I hope everyone had a good holiday season and Happy New Year to all – assuming I finish this before 2026 arrives. It has been a busy month, and I have not written nearly as much as I planned. That's my excuse, and I am sticking to it. The

Observations

The Solar System of Grief: A New Way to Understand Loss, Connection, and Emotional Gravity

In the matter of eight days, I attended three funerals. They ranged from a co-worker's father, to the grandmother of one of my partner's best friends, to the father of my best friend in high school. I discussed this with my therapist, Suzy. She asked me

In the news

The King’s Gambit Declined: Daniel Naroditsky and the Price of Perfection

A reflection on the quiet genius of a grandmaster undone by pressure, isolation, and the unforgiving pursuit of perfection.

Personal

The Things We Take For Granted: Oxygen

When my 91-year-old father came home from the hospital on supplemental oxygen, I learned how fragile the simple act of breathing can be — and how easily we forget the quiet miracles that keep us alive.

Bracing for the Fall of My Second Tower

After losing my mother to dementia, I’ve spent years learning to live with grief. Now, as my 91-year-old father faces a life-threatening health crisis, I’m forced to confront the reality of losing him too—and the fragile line between holding on and letting go.

The Wheels On The School Bus Don't Go Round and Round

I can’t start my day without my Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee. It’s as critical as taking my Adderall in the morning. For the record, Dunkin’ is not a sponsor of GotMeThinking.org—but if they’d like to be, send me an email. I always order through the

In the news

Who We Choose to Mourn: Charlie Kirk, Iryna Zarutska, and America’s Selective Grief

I feel the need to address the elephant in the room. There is no getting around it. I don't like talking politics on this site, but I will when it affects my mental health, and this has. The murder of Charlie Kirk Call it an assassination if you

Troubled souls

I Am Providence: H.P. Lovecraft’s Life, Death, and Legacy

Swan Point Cemetery is situated about twenty minutes away from my home. I pass it every week on my way to my therapy session. It is located off of Blackstone Boulevard. I have always known this area as the "barrio dos ricos"--Portuguese for "the neighborhood of

In the news

A Judge With a Heart: My Tribute to Frank Caprio

Rhode Island lost one of its favorite sons on Wednesday. Judge Frank Caprio--only hours after posting a heart-wrenching video on social media asking for people to remember him in their prayers–died on Wednesday, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Caprio served as a Providence Municipal

In the news

Bad things come in threes? Five icons of my youth gone

In two weeks, we lost five legends from the 1980s: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, Ryne Sandberg, and Loni Anderson. They all played roles in my life. This is a personal tribute to the icons who helped define a generation.

Personal

One Journey Ends, Another Begins: Weaving My Way Through the Social Security Disability Maze

It's been almost a year and a half since I last discussed my Social Security Disability case. If you need a refresher, you can read it here: The Judicial System Has Let Me Down. Here's a brief synopsis of the timeline. * 1990-2022 (32 long years): I

Politics

No One Is Immune to Grief — Not Even Presidents

This article explores the seldom-told story of Coolidge’s silent struggle, offering insight into the human side of the man who led America during the Roaring Twenties. It’s a powerful reminder that even the most powerful figures are not immune to the universal pain of loss.

Inspirational

From Hardwood to Healing: The Chris Herren Story

Chris Herren's rise, fall, and recovery from addiction is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond saving. From NBA hopeful to overdose survivor, he now uses his story to inspire hope and help others choose a different path.

In the news

This Isn’t Just About Karen Read

The Karen Read trial isn’t just about guilt or innocence. It’s about what happens when power protects its own—and the truth gets buried beneath it.

Techniques

Not TMZ… TMS: A Pulsating New Way to Treat Depression?

After months of stalled progress, my therapist pushed me to try something new: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. But I’m still not sure I’m ready.

Movies

The Last of the Von Erichs: A Story of Survival, Faith, and Perseverance

A heartfelt look at Kevin Von Erich—the last surviving brother of the legendary wrestling family—navigating tragedy, faith, and the enduring legacy of the Von Erichs.

Another Mother’s Day Without Mom

Creating this website has had a lot of benefits for me. I started this blog, almost exactly, two years after my mother died. I did it, at the advice of my therapist, as a way of journaling and expressing my feelings. It was good advice. I've been through

Troubled souls

Innocence lost: Virginia Giuffre never needed a prince, she just needed someone to trust

You might not recognize the name, but you know the impact she had. You may have even missed the news of her passing, recently, on April 25, 2025. She took down a financier who was once believed to have been worth around $600 million. She took down a British royal

Personal

Pope's passing reminds me of some personal stories of terminal lucidity

I woke up on the morning of Monday, April 21, 2025. As per usual, like many people, the first thing I did was reach for my phone. Usually, I check social media first to see if I missed anything in the six hours I was sleeping. Maybe I will check

In the news

Gene Hackman and disrespecting the privacy of the dearly departed

Every few years there occurs a death of a celebrity that brings me to tears. Not because of who the person is, necessarily. Instead, my tears are for the way their lives ended and the way they are treated, in death. The legendary top-40 countdown radio DJ, Casey Kasem, immediately

In the news

Lessons we can learn from the San Diego Zoo elephants

For the sake of my mental health, in recent years, I have made a conscious effort not to watch as much news on TV, not visit as many news websites on my computer or phone, or spend as much time on social media. Far more often than not, it is

Personal

Expected Value vs. Actual Value

I have returned to playing poker online after about a fifteen year layoff. I have also been reading a book called The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win by Maria Konnikova. The book's subject matter is something I have already been very

Politics

Trump's rise to power (again): What happened to US?

You reap what you sow.

Politics

Clint Hill: Dealing with guilt

Nobody knows when they are born what lies ahead in their lives. When we go through year after year of schooling, we don't know what fate has in store for us. Most of us will lead average lives. We may experience the thrill of meeting a celebrity who

Movies

Hachi and the lessons he teaches us

About ten years ago I watched this heart-wrenching movie for the first time. It wouldn't be the last. It is a movie that has resonated with me ever since. There are several reasons why. First off, the movie was filmed in Woonsocket, Rhode Island which is the next