Dear Mr. Dad: Our 28-year-old daughter lost her job a while back, and after burning through her savings, moved back in with me and my husband. That was nearly nine months ago. In the beginning, I enjoyed having her around, but at this point, she’s definitely overstayed her welcome. Not only is she giving no...Continue reading
“Mid-life Crisis?” Nah…It’s Just the Starting Point for Your Longest Run.
My aspiration is to clearly see and courageously confront concerns appearing for me (and other 40+ guys, too) at the mid-life point and beyond. Concerns about staying physically vital. About not looking “old.” About warding off maladies that lurk in the shadows. Among all concerns, perhaps the biggest is the most subconscious and hardest to recognize: At or beyond life’s halfway marker, we’re uncertain what our life ultimately will have meant. This “Meaning of Life” concern is caricatured as the midlife crisis and the sports car in response. But in reality, it can be more of an awakening, a broadening of vision and spirit, a healthy challenge, and an opportunity. Intensifying your focus on fitness, nutrition and overall wellness — doubling down on overall body-and-soul health — helps maximize this opportunity and achieve whatever your definition of "Meaning" is.Continue reading
“C” Means See Your Doctor
As a doctor, there are certain things I’ve never said, and will never say, to patients. In the operating room, “Oops” is certainly verboten. “There is no hope,” is another. “Trust me, I’m a doctor” is a third. In some way, each of these violates the sanctity of the profession. Help Me Help You Patients...Continue reading
Feeling Fit: A Short Guide to Exercising With Chronic Pain
If you are someone who deals with chronic pain on a daily basis, you already know that exercise sometimes isn’t in the cards. If getting you to move requires taking 2 to 4 NSAIDs before and after, then something probably has to change. It may be that your physical activity routine is contributing to your...Continue reading
Three Benefits to Working After Retirement
As of May 2016, almost 19 percent of Americans over the age of 65 were working full- or part-time, according to PewResearch. This trend doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down either. More and more retirees are going back to work, working part-time or starting new careers. If you’re considering working into your later...Continue reading
Everything You Need for a Successful Father-Son (or -Daughter) Fishing Excursion
Some of your fondest childhood memories may be of you and your father going fishing. Today, with a son (or daughter) of your own, you want to pass down this tradition to your offpsring and keep this pastime alive. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your first father-child fishing trip: Pick...Continue reading
Irritable Male Syndrome: The First Hidden Cause of Mid-Life Marriage Meltdown
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it...Continue reading
Why You Should #LightItUpBlue for Understanding and Acceptance of Autism
April is Autism Awareness month. People all over the globe will be Lightning It Up Blue to shine a bright light on autism during World Autism Month! So what exactly is Autism? Autism is a neurological disorder that affects an individual’s social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and repetitive or restrictive behaviors. The incidence of...Continue reading
Should Kids Have Caffeine? Uh, Nope.
Dear Mr. Dad: I have been noticing kids who look much younger than high-school age buying frapuccino-type drinks at Starbucks and similar coffee places. It worries me, because I didn’t think caffeine was good for children, and didn’t allow my own son to have any while he was a teenager. Is coffee really bad for...Continue reading
Gut-Check for Guys: Re-Thinking Your Approach to Fitness After 40
I seek a sustainable plan for fitness after 40: physical health and feeling “whole” for the 2nd half of my life. I want to feel great, look my best, keep getting happier, and live long. Of course. But how to really do it? We all face—and can powerfully answer—the same questions… 1. Exercise: What do...Continue reading
