masculinity

Halloween Maskulinity

This is our Halloween themed blog post.  Maskulinity.  Isn’t that how it should be spelled.  Isn’t the prevailing cultural myth of a man mostly about the mask that he wears?  We have the ultra financially successful manhood of Mitt Romney or Jack Welch.  The first a Potemkin man of charismatic emptiness and the latter a caricature of scowling condescension. We… Read more →

Modern Day Rite of Passage

Modern Day Rite of Passage

Last weekend I had the honor of helping facilitate and guide four teenage young men as they completed a solo rite of passage.  We spent Friday to Sunday deep in the woods and up in the mountains.  We slept under angled tarps against the rain and the boys spent a 24 hour period solo and fasting. It was led by… Read more →

Just Say It

Just Say It

 At ODT we coach men in becoming more effective in their lives.  We look to achieve tangible results in specific areas.  One area is in having a tough conversation. The goal is to reach the point where someone else’s reaction to what you say (whether it be a compliment, idea, or concern)  does not dictate either: * your mood *your… Read more →

Did Zen win the Super Bowl?

Did Zen win the Super Bowl?

Mindfulness is on the cover of Time Magazine.  There is organic food grown on the grounds of the White House.  Prisoners are doing yoga. Positive Psychology is being taught at Harvard University, and my Dad is advocating being vulnerable enough to talk to someone about what’s bothering you. All of this is very encouraging and seems to be an ever… Read more →

Is Hazing OK?

Is Hazing OK?

The Richie Incognito case in the NFL is at the top of the sports headlines today.  It is an ugly situation in which one player has harassed another teammate to the point of him leaving the team.  And the harasser , Incognito,  has now been suspended by the Dolphins for “conduct detrimental to the team”. It is a story that will… Read more →