Failing Up

Five years ago we went into lock down.  All except for the "essential workers".  Those selfless heroes at times taken for granted until a crisis occurs and they rise to the occasion.  In this case, nurses, doctors, truck drivers, grocery store employees and first responders, police, and on and on...  Individuals' who make our lives possible.  I just found the term "essential wo...

One sure sign that spring is around the corner and winter is melting away is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  This is season where the "Fish Fry"  rules!  I love going to the local fish fry's in church basements or cafeteria's. There is such  sense of community and warmth.  Even at the take-out fried fish stores that are packed every Friday up unit Good Friday there is...

Pennsylvania has Punxsutawney Phil, to forecast when spring will arrive, New Orleans has Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, heck we even have lent, all to let us know that spring is on the way.  In the central part of New York State, USA, in city named Syracuse, in a wonderful Irish section named Tipperary Hill, full of history, legacy names, families, and the only traffic light with green on top, we know s...

Unlike the "Dog Days" of summer we are now in the "Dead of Winter" here in the northeastern portion of the United State.  February in Upstate, NY, cold and snowy, dark and cozy.  Yes, cozy.  Nothing liked a grey snowy Sunday to put on an extra pot of coffee, grab a book, watch a movie or just be a peace.  You can hear the silence as the snow falls and blankets the ground.  Past...

I despise Valentine's Day!  It's a holiday of pressure, stress, forced love, and embarrassment.  Designed to kick start sales and post holiday spending in the dead of winter.  Ok, I have a few issues that have never been resolved! This goes back to elementary school when all the children in our classes had to make an envelope to stick on the wall in the front of the classroom, for all to...

The United States Surgeon General reported earlier this year that loneness is at a all time high.  How can the be in a world that is so connected by technology. A world that is connected yet disconnected. Where communications on platforms such as Facebook are one way a post validated through "Likes'. Arguments with "friends" over sports, who's the GOAT, politics, you name...

Reality TV has crossed over into the real world.  Values are based on entertainment, voting is a ratings war, and fantasy valued over facts.  Of course it is not a reality program, and it is not my intend to demean the genre by comparison to what is currently playing out in our word.   We are in a period where being entertaining, creating a persona is valued over the truth, law, integrity and valu...

I was on my way into the grocery store, (which are now little communities that go way beyond just groceries) to pick-up my prep prescription for an upcoming  colonoscopy.  The procedure no one wants to admit they get.  "The procedure is not bad, but the prep will kill you!!!"  That's all you hear!  So as I entered the store I am greeted by two lovely ladies who asked me if I would l...

In a day and age when there is a constant bombardment of messaging through  vast channels of communication, the casualty has been the truth.   Those who grasped this new reality have been able to motivate and persuade by delivering messages their audience wants to hear regardless of accuracy.  A message that aligns with the values of the intended audience.   If the message is questioned for truthf...

In the home, whether it be a mansion, house, apartment, flat, log cabin or a small shack, the kitchen table was the place where the pulse was.  It was at the table where debates occurred, homework was done, sorrow and joy shared, the day debriefed with family and friends.  There was comfort in routine; Sunday dinner, roast beef, and gravy, Monday meatloaf, Tuesday casserole, Thursday spaghetti, Fr...

2025 a new year with many changes ahead.  As in most cases uncertainty can fuel fear. Most fear is created to motivate, manipulate, and control.  Now, this will sound cliché, but the way to overcome fear is through love. Love of your community, family, friends, those less fortunate, the arts, individuals' who may have different views and values.  As President Franklin D Roosevelt stated in hi...

In this podcast we are celebrating Christmas Eve in the studio.   Merry Christmas! timothymahar.org

As I entered the parking lot to the grocery store what did I see, a mass of zoned out shoppers in a frenzy.  All in a hurry to get in the store, in hopes their special items were not there no more.  Items required for the traditional dish, past down for generations and never missed.  So charge to the store in 14 degrees, people get out of my way if you please. Tall and short, coats and hats, some...

Growing up when and where I did, the winters could be very cold and snowy. To take advantage of this season I found myself participating in winter sports along with friends.  My three favorite's were: throwing snowballs at cars, Ski-Doo rodeo, and of course tobogganing.  Well, tobogganing fell off the list after a late night fateful jump on the local iconic reservoir that left four snowmen sp...

The minute the last trick-or-treater put's down their bag for the night, the clock begins ticking for Christmas.  We are reminded of the number of days left beginning November 1st.  Black Friday is everywhere you go, there is no escape!  Everyday you are being reminded only 35 shopping days, then only 20 , then you better get packages in the mail by 12/15 or you are toast.  Run! only 20 days,...

The holiday season is upon, and Christmas is at the forefront with decorations, the tree, cookies, drinks, shopping Santa, Christmas programs, and specials, it goes on and on.  There is one thing that holds the season together like a bow on a gift, and that is Christmas music.  Christmas music is everywhere and for 6 weeks like a drug.  Rockstar's, popstars, country and classical singers all...

Thanksgiving is a holiday that belongs to everyone.  There are no specific religious, themes, it is not just a "red" or "blue" holiday, it is inclusive.  It was a holiday founded on gratitude.  There is no crazy commercialization,  just a big parade and football. It is a holiday based on sharing a meal and time with family and friends and those less fortunate.  It is a holiday...

Just like with the environment, when unregulated garbage, toxins and exhausts are dumped into our oceans, omitted into the air, and just tossed anywhere, the effects to the environment, and those that occupy this planet have unhealthy and life threating ramifications.  The same holds true for the mass amounts of information we are exposed to daily/hourly from a plethora ( I really wanted to use th...

Our great addiction to the phone, (which is not really a phone) is stronger than crack and I would argue would be just as difficult to kick.  Our phone, (which is really not a phone), this device is our photo gallery, weather system, medical tracker, financial advisor, trip guide, entertainment guide, match maker, calorie and step counter and much more.  People bury their faces in it while walking...

I grew up in a "blue collar family.  One grandfather was a firefighter, the other work at a plant.  My father worked at large plant then the power company, my mother was a nurse.  I have always looked at those people, nurses, plumbers electricians, police officers, fire and EMT as the true backbone of our nation.  You know it when you need them! Also, I have been able to travel all over and c...

In 1981 due to cutbacks in the school lunch program, then President Ronald Reagan attempted to have ketchup declared a vegetable.  Well, congress went crazy and said no way.  Now, for the purpose of replacing vegetables on school lunches I agree with the decision of congress at the time, however I do think ketchup is truly America's vegetable.  We put ketchup on everything, eggs, hamburgers,...

This is the 200th episode of Failing Up.  As we celebrate this milestone I want to thank all of you who continue to download this podcast, which is really a form of self therapy.  I appreciate being able to share my fragmented ramblings on a regular basis, my mind is not a neighborhood to spend a lot of time in alone.  This program is my version of neighborhood watch.  Jungle Jim, and I look forwa...

There are the classic Halloween candies that continue to rise to the top of all goblin lists.  These are Halloween Hall of Fame (HOF) candies.  The Milky Way Bar, Three Musketeers, Snickers, Milk Duds, Butterfingers to name a few.  Then there are the retired treats, "the rocks", homemade popcorn ball, apples, Pez etc.  I assume and thank God that "B obbing for Apples"  has been...

Show me some ID!  If you are old enough to drive a car or get a Learner's Permit or Driver's License , you are too old to Trick or Treat!  No candy for you 16yrs with just a hat on and a pillowcase telling me your in a boy band!!  timothymahar.org

As this important election is about to reach its climax. I find myself overwhelmed with all the polls.  For the last 90 days is seems a different poll comes out daily with different percentages. The Emerson College Poll, the Siena College Poll, the New York Time, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, CNN, NBC, Taco Bell, McDonalds, on and on.  Stop the madness!  They are up they are down they are all aro...