Ron's Blog

Enjoy Ron Culberson's insights on a variety of topics

My Car is Too Smart for My Own Good

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My Car is Too Smart for My Own Good

Some rental cars today seem as complicated as the latest tax laws. Since neither math nor mechanics are my God-given talents, encountering either is a challenge for me. You see, when I travel for work, I typically use Uber or Lyft. I love that everything is handled through the app, including the exchange of currency. […]

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I Wanted to Be Famous

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I Wanted to Be Famous

When I was a kid, I didn’t think my life would be complete until I was famous. I’m not exactly sure why I thought fame was a worthy goal. Perhaps curing cancer, inventing the internet, or even creating a way to have healthy teeth without flossing would have been worthwhile endeavors. Seeking fame for fame’s […]

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Who Thought That Was a Good Idea?

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Who Thought That Was a Good Idea?

Someone once said that “common sense” is really “uncommon sense” because it seems to be in such short supply. This very well may be true. I remember attending my first Boy Scout camp and a group of older scouts convinced me to go ask the camp director for a “left-handed smoke grinder.” Needless to say, […]

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Sensing Loss

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Sensing Loss

Well, after vaccinations, boosters, and two-and-a-half years of avoiding COVID, my wife Wendy and I finally succumbed to the WD-40 version—or whatever variant we’re currently on. I do take responsibility for catching it. Wendy and I attended a large conference where there was a lot of hugging, talking, and spewing of droplets. Without a mask, […]

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What Are You Afraid Of?

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What Are You Afraid Of?

A few years ago, I had a speaking engagement on Long Island, NY and was staying in a small hotel in Great Neck. On my way to lunch, the elevator got stuck between the second and third floors. Now, just so you know, I’m slightly claustrophobic. And by “slightly”, I mean “tremendously.” But the elevator […]

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The Mid-Life Question

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The Mid-Life Question

I’ve never really had a mid-life crisis. It seems somewhat ridiculous to think that one could somehow reverse the effects of life by veering dramatically off course, as some do. Life is like a moving sidewalk and it’s hard to fight its forward motion. Even if we try to pretend we’re staying in place or […]

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Abnormal or Just Unfamiliar?

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Abnormal or Just Unfamiliar?

As a young person growing up in rural Southwest Virginia, I was a bit more sheltered than those who spent their childhoods in urban environments. I had wonderful experiences, grew up with many good people, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade a minute of it. That being said, once I got into the “real” world, I […]

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Volunteering, It Deserves a Second Look

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Volunteering, It Deserves a Second Look

As a lifelong volunteer and to celebrate National Volunteer Week, I’m republishing a blog from 2015. I’ve edited it a bit but the point is still the same—volunteering is key to our health and wellbeing. Enjoy! I have been involved in some sort of volunteer organization for most of my life. More recently, as an […]

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Why Doesn’t “Phonetic” Start With an “F”?

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Why Doesn’t “Phonetic” Start With an “F”?

Have you ever noticed how many ways we can say something using the English language? There is a plethora, an abundance, a wealth, a cornucopia, or as some might say, “Too damn many.” With all these options, our language gets quite complicated. The other day, I was filling out a crossword puzzle and one of […]

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Managers, Pay Better Attention

Managers, Pay Better Attention

When I was trained as a social worker, my graduate program followed the psychodynamic theory of human behavior. This approach focused on Ids and Egos, and suggested that our emotional problems might be tied to our inner child, our outer parents, or perhaps the inner and outer trauma associated with potty training. It was an […]

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