18 Comments
User's avatar
From Ritual to Romance's avatar

A fascinating examination of self reflection and growing self awareness. If more people in America could do this, the future might seem less bleak.

Expand full comment
Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you very much!

Expand full comment
HeartOpen's avatar

Great insights into the bully mindset. I've been thinking about this for a long time, and I learned something new today. Thank you. Hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend. 😊

Expand full comment
Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you HeartOpen!

Expand full comment
Fred Johnson's avatar

Walter,

You keep directing me to look in the mirror and reflect on past (and present) behavior that hits home.

Not typically what I gain by reading the opinion section of the NYT, for example.

Expand full comment
Walter Rhein's avatar

Thanks Fred! I'm glad my articles are directing your thought that way! I often try to rethink the things I've lived through. Your experiences change when you look at them from a mature perspective. Thanks for the lovely feedback!

Expand full comment
Fred Johnson's avatar

Now if you could just focus more on prayer and football..

Expand full comment
Walter Rhein's avatar

Ha!

Expand full comment
Danny Hoback's avatar

This is important, and reminds me very much of my own experience. To be quiet and not come back with a response more hurtful was seen as surrender, and there was nowhere to disappear to, without leaving the group.

Expand full comment
Walter Rhein's avatar

Yeah. There's the illusion that if you can always say something witty, you'll be the darling of the group. But I actually got to the point where I could always say something devastating and I felt robbed when it didn't make me popular. It was an important lesson.

Expand full comment
Danny Hoback's avatar

Very true, being made unpopular could seem like a “win.” As if one was “feared,” and not to be messed with.

Expand full comment
Diane Moe's avatar

Another enlightened morning coffee read. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you Diane!

Expand full comment
Isende's avatar

I would love to send this to my father, but I think he still wouldn't understand- or care enough to try.

Expand full comment
Walter Rhein's avatar

Call him up and read it to him :)

Expand full comment
Isende's avatar

When one cuts off contact because of abuse, one doesn’t reopen that contact. He’ll have to learn it elsewhere or die ignorant - no longer my problem

Also - he wouldn’t listen, that being the point 😉

Expand full comment
Malcolm J McKinney's avatar

Well put.

Expand full comment
Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment