Just Guys Being Dudes

Howdy 🤠 "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." - Confucius Quitters never win, and winners never quit. We’ve heard it time and time again. Leaders, philosophers, and warriors of every era have echoed this truth. A not-so-subtle nod to determination—that relentless drive that, if nurtured, will carry us forward, no matter how long the road. How many times have you quit that last set at the gym, knowing damn well you had at least one more rep in you? How often have you veered off the difficult path, choosing the smooth pavement instead? How long have you dreamed a dream but refused to wake up and make it real? I like to see it as a battle—the classic struggle between the angel on one shoulder, pushing you forward through sheer willpower, and the demon of doubt on the other, whispering about failure, urging you toward the easy way out. This battlefield? It’s within us. As good ole Teddy Roosevelt put it: "It is not the critic who counts... The c...

Top of the evening,   I got a new book today.  I've made Barnes & Nobles my unofficial office when I am not at this dresser(which I am writing from as we speak).  There was a sale on a little book called "Creative Writer's Notebook: 20 Great Authors & 70 Writing Exercises"  Here's the link if you're interested in some fun and eye opening / hand cramping activities.  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-creative-writers-notebook-quid-publishing/1121299005?ean=9781435160187 It caught my eye as I was told that the marketing book I was looking for was no longer stocked so I figured fuck it, I'm leaving here with sumn' --> Denzel voice. The first exercise deals with the aforementioned title of this post.  Interior Monologue.  And who do they choose to feature this? None other than James Joyce. No, he isn't just a cool name for an Irish pub. He actually only lived in Dublin for 20 years and moved abroad, never to return. He was and still is c...

 Good afternoon fellow crazy people. We have some theological topics and rough seas to navigate today, so ahoy or whatever pirates are saying now a days. I had quite the eventful Sunday yesterday.  Let me set the scene for you. 8:53 AM.  Interior. Softly lit room. Grace family church. BIG Jesus vibes. Roughly 73 degrees (Fahrenheit because I'm not a commie). Approximately 200 hundred devotees of a Jewish man born in Bethlehem, to a woman of low class yet pure of body, mind, and soul, are in attendance.  A pool sits before me with slightly heated with an array of spotlights washing over it. I'm talking Baptism here people Here's a little history about my faith, fall, and "resurrection" so to speak. I was raised in a passively Catholic household on my father's side. He was a Catholic. As was my Grandpop. We rarely went to church though I do have vague memories of attending Sunday School in my youth.  As I grew and experienced the world, I strayed away from the t...

 Happy Fucking Friday ya'll "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently" - Henry Ford This is a ✨Japanese✨ inspired philosophy so get your bonsai trees and koi ponds out because we're taking a little trip east 🏯. This fun little favorite of mine can be applied in both our personal AND professional lives. Love me a good BOGO(It's where shopping is a pleasure) Here's some AI overlord context before I start giving you my "cultured" and "poignant" take/application on the matter.  History of Kaizen Kaizen, meaning "continuous improvement" in Japanese (from "kai" = change, and "zen" = good), originated in post-World War II Japan. It became a cornerstone of Japanese business culture, heavily influenced by American management practices introduced during the U.S.-led occupation of Japan. One of the key figures in this development was W. Edwards Deming, an American statistician and consultant who ...

 “The most beautiful of all compensations for our miseries is the tenderness of our fellow creatures.” -  Jean-Jacques Rousseau In perpetual hindsight, I have been know to talk quite often and often times more than I really should. Call it my fatal flaw, hubris, or aggressive ADHD. Any of those is fine.  Since many of you have reached out with personal stories or problems you happen to be going through, I've had to practice shutting the ole hole and actively listening.  To quote Sahil Bloom, "I'm a helper". Can't help it. Pun very much intended.  I've recently moved into my grandmothers house. For reasons aforementioned in my last post (go read that shit), I was neglecting her and the home that will one day be mine, though I hope that day is a far off horizon that I never see. Since getting sober, I've been hyper fixated on tending to her every need and getting my Home Improvement on. (Tim Allen should really sell his own tool belts) I sometimes even stre...

 Hello there (Ewan McGregor voice) "If there is no struggle, there is no progress" - Fredrick Douglas We're gonna start today with one of my favorite myths of antiquity, so buckle up kiddos. It's about to get nerdy. Sisyphus, the clever king of Corinth, was known for his wit and his ways to deceive. He angered the gods by tricking Death itself, chaining him tight and halting life's flow. Even when freed, he outwitted the underworld, escaping his fate with a sly silver tongue. But the gods, not ones to be mocked for long, cast their judgment: an endless toil in the depths of Tartarus. Now Sisyphus spends eternity bound to a hill, pushing a boulder that will never stay still. Each time it nears the peak, it tumbles back down, mocking his effort with every round. Yet within this tale of labor and strife, lies a whisper of hope: to embrace the climb. For as Camus mused, in struggle we find, a meaning, a purpose, a life redefined. Philosophical Perspective: Albert Camu...

 Howdy there folks "Who's gonna carry the boats?" - David Goggins See also -----> "They don't know me son!" - also David Goggins If you haven't heard the story of Mr. "I run ultra marathons for shits and giggles", you're missing out on some wild shit. Born in Buffalo, NY, (is it gay to be jealous of Josh Allen?) Goggins grew up in a abusive household with a controlling father. The family moved to a predominately white town in Indiana where he was bullied for having more melanin than the rest of the corn fed fucks who grew up there. He was overweight, suffered from learning disabilities, and even had an undiagnosed heart condition.  After high school, he was 300lbs (thicccccc) and working as a exterminator with little to no direction nor purpose in his life.  So, our protagonist here (Daddy Goggins), happened to catch a documentary on the Navy Seals(frog boys). This was a major turning point in his life.  You see where I'm going with ...

 Afternoon Dudes (and potentially dudettes? idk) "Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self" - May Sarton  No matter where you begin, you have to walk alone. That may sound odd coming from a self proclaimed "mental health" blog but hear me out. "Loneliness?!" you may be thinking to yourself, "I came here to feel less lonely. To feel more connected to my fellow man! What is this entitled prick on about?!" (I can be a prick sometimes, it's called *self-awareness*). Well, let me clarify. At the beginning and end of each and every day, we really are our only company on this little rock hurtling through the cosmos. From the day you the enter this world, to the day you exit stage left (hopefully by shark attack for me, what a story that would be, right?) you'll have to rely on yourself.  Now don't get me wrong, our family, friends, lovers, are there for us. I'm not arguing that fact. However, when you wake up a...

  My name is Dorian Angelo Santolla. I started this blog to address something that most men, including myself, have a hard time talking about. Our mental struggles and the way that we deal with them. Now, I am no philosopher nor am I some overnight success story baiting for clicks to grow a YouTube channel (though I may eventually start one, who the hell knows.) Success, whether it be monetary, spiritual, or mental does not happen overnight. We must overcome the obstacles that impede "The Path" EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Over the coming days, weeks, months, and hell even years, I’ll try to use my own personal experiences to give clarity, guidance, and hopefully some levity to guys out there who need it. I hope this blog can be a good work in all of our lives and make each of us just a little bit better. A song that got me fired up today: "Feathered Indians" by Tyler Childers A book that I've enjoyed immensely: " A Cook's Tour" by Anthony Bourdain A...