Are We Full of Sh*t

In this episode, Are We Full of Sh*t? . . .

Let me ask you this, are you a reader (listener) concerned with young people's education today? Are we teaching our children to be creative or follow archaic rules handed down through generations? If so, let me introduce you to the author Don Hanley, Ph.D., and his inspiring memoir that we just finished. But before I do, let's set the stage for how unforeseen pivotal moments can unexpectedly change your life for the better.

In hindsight, one of those moments for me was an invitation to join a local writer's group after my early retirement from GIA in 2014. During that experience, I met and became friends with Dr. Don (as I call him), a former Catholic Priest who left the ministry to marry. Don earned a doctorate in psychology and has served for over 40 years as a psychotherapist, graduate school professor, and counseling supervisor.

Now retired and approaching his 90th birthday, his writings include four non-fiction books on psychology and education and a series of three novels (and rumor has it, he is currently working on another book).

His new book Finding Flowers in a little pile of Sh*t (a memoir), available on Amazon, reveals the life of a hard-working young man striving for acceptance in the Catholic faith during the 1940s. To paraphrase one of his reviewers, "This memoir takes the reader on a voyage of intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth where we discover Don's experiences - and how to live life as real participants."

Criticized as "Free Thinkers," we've decided to team up and share our lunch discussions with friends of philosophy. You may resemble that remark. Someone who questions the status quo and works to impart changes to improve our world. If so, join us.

Our conversations include curious questions about history, philosophy, religion, attitudes, personality traits, and more. We're considering a monthly blog post to discuss "Finding Flowers" and a chronological review of the many religions and their teachings as Don develops his upcoming book. And if we're brave enough, and there's enough interest, we may invite friends to participate in Saturday "FaceBook Live" sessions.

Are you interested? If so, please leave a comment or email pball@sbcglobal.net or dfhanley1933@gmail.com.

Also, if you want to meet Dr. Don, please review my earlier blog posts or listen to the podcasts produced on his most current novel, A New World of Hope.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

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