Author: Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst

BATTERIES, BATTERIES, BATTERIES!

Power, Chaos, and the Electrified Life We Lead

From laptops to landlines, batteries are the unsung heroes of modern life. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how battery-powered living shapes our routines, our frustrations, and our environmental footprint.

Just about everything runs on batteries or can run on batteries. Of course, my cell phone runs on a battery, which I have heard can catch fire and terrify you. My computer runs on batteries, and my computer guy tells me not to keep my computer plugged in. Apparently, if I keep my computer plugged in all the time I am working, my batteries can start to grow and swell. Who knew!!?? So now, while working all day, I am conscious of unplugging the thing until the little battery icon gets really skinny! Of course, I failed to tell the computer guru that I had this laptop for at least 6 years and had kept it plugged in all the time, and my batteries had not gotten pregnant. But, what do I know?

I saw an ad on the television for this cool-looking battery box. It looks to be the size of a placemat and has many compartments of different sizes for the various sizes of batteries that one must keep around the house. We have a wire bin filled with plastic bags to organize the different sizes. But I must admit that I envied that plastic box. Just think of it! I could carry all of my batteries around the house and replace everything. Maybe I should put things on a replacement schedule and go for it.

Batteries power everything. Batteries power the new security door knob that we have. Of course, the landline handsets are full of batteries. I know, I know, we should have gotten rid of the landline long ago. Given our age, the only callers are scammers with weird accents. How in the world does anyone get fooled by these people? You can barely understand what they are saying. We have a weather station that runs on batteries. Automatic shades. Remotes for the TV.

I can easily imagine a landfill full of old batteries. If I counted the batteries in this place, I would be shocked. What happens to old batteries anyway? I know some of them say they can be recycled. I think that means they get smashed to bits, and the valuable metals in them get sorted out. The rest end up in the landfill. I can imagine numerous “battery hills.”

Oh, and the car! You guessed it. The car battery died this morning. Usually, our Saturdays are laid back, and we tend to go nowhere. This Saturday we had plans and places we were expecting to go, starting around 9 am. Had to dump them all. Fortunately, the AAA guy arrived within about 45 minutes, although the wait time was advertised as up to 4 or 5 hours. Several hundreds of dollars later, we will be good to go.

We are all charged up and can expect a good 3 years before the thing gives out again. I guess that is a pretty long life for a car battery.

Want to explore how battery recycling impacts the environment and supports sustainability? Visit Electronics360’s guide to second-life battery applications, Stanford’s research on battery recycling and emissions, and Greenly’s breakdown of battery carbon footprints.

If you’re reflecting on sustainability, frustration, or the electrified pace of life, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support emotional insight and environmental awareness.

Campfires, Candlelight, and the Many Ways We Wander

Travel isn’t one-size-fits-all, it’s a reflection of who we are and what we need. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores the contrast between rustic camping and refined leisure, honoring both the grit of childhood adventures and the grace of grown-up getaways.

Summer is a popular time for travel, and we are coming to the end. Some families will soon be making their last trip to Ocean City. Some are overseas trekking through mountains and valleys or getting in line to enter the Louvre on the first round so they can spend as much time in the museum as possible. Cameras are clicking, children are melting down, and memories are being made. Let’s hope yours will be good stories to bring home.

As a child, our family spent time camping in August at a crystal-clear lake in Michigan. We could reach the place by car, so the cost was minimal. We did tent camping, so the nightly fee was State Park cheap. We hauled a boat behind the car, so skiing and racing on the water was a thrill. As children, we were convinced that this was the best place ever and we enjoyed returning year after year.

State Parks are a bargain for vacations. There are 63 State Parks in the U.S. Think about that. You could hit one a year and spend time with your children, then your grandchildren, and perhaps your great-grandchildren. And you could reach any one of them by car with your boat in tow.

Campgrounds are available in most of our National Parks so that you can vacation cheaply. Your tent can be practically any size. Our neighbors have four children and a tent that rivals a wedding venue. When they come home, the tent has to be cleaned, of course, so it is set up in the backyard where it looks like it could cover a quarter of an acre. Of course, I realize that it is not that big, but trust me, it’s enormous.

I admire my parents for taking on this summer process. I admire my neighbors for their camping expertise as well. But camping is not for me. I do not want to be digging trenches in the rain to keep the tent dry. I do not want to be fighting with the charcoal to light so that eggs and bacon can be fried for the family horde in the morning. I do not want to string a clothesline between two trees for bathing suits to dry in the breeze.

I want to sit by the pool, have lunch in a lovely restaurant, shop along the streets in all of the boutiques, and have a candlelight dinner on the hotel patio. Am I spoiled? Yes. Have I paid my dues to the camping gods? Yes.

Want to explore which travel style suits you best? Visit Vacationment’s guide to backpacking vs luxury travel, Bamba Travel’s breakdown of camping vs glamping, and Euphoric Outfits’ comparison of outdoor vacation styles.

If you’re reflecting on travel preferences, family rituals, or emotional renewal, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, joy, and self-discovery.

CRYING

Tears, Transition, and the Healing Power of Emotion

Crying isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how tears mark life’s transitions, release emotional tension, and connect us to our deepest selves.

When a baby is born, they cry. Are they crying in anger, fear, shock, or grief? Maybe they are experiencing all of these at once. After all, they have just been pushed or pulled from a cozy environment where they were floating around in a bubble filled with liquid. Granted, the bubble is clearly crowded, and they should be ready to exit, but… the experience of protection and ease is inviting, and they may long to stay for an extended time. Alas, this is not possible. So out they come into this bright, chilly, chaotic delivery room.

Crying is a sign of life and is genuinely welcome. The delivery room staff says the more robust, the better. They like to see that baby protest the change with vigor, which makes me wonder how I react to change. We all tend to get comfy and cozy in our routines and favorite places. Like the infant in utero, we like our safe spaces and gravitate there when we need comfort or peace. For many of us, our beds are that comfort spot. Perhaps you have a sitting nook where you read, contemplate, or pray. Many take to the outdoors for comfort. A walk in the woods or hanging out by the neighborhood stream can bring peace. The water flow undoubtedly takes us back to that safe space in the womb.

Crying has a valuable place in our lives. Crying is a natural reaction to pain, both physical and mental. Tears serve to cleanse us and release the pain we are carrying inside. Some of us, men in particular, have learned to block that naturally healing reaction. The infant shows us how natural it is to cry under stress and change. Tears are nature’s healing mechanism. Tears help to open parts of us that have been contained, boxed, and sometimes forgotten. We were born with this capability, which is the first way we interact with the world around us. Tears should be welcomed and understood.

Tears are not just water. They are a complex mixture. Sure, water is primary, but did you know that tears also contain proteins, lipids, mucin, antibodies, stress hormones, and natural painkillers? Yikes! That is quite a list. Those things are complicated and designed for a variety of functions. It sounds to me like these are valuable. Perhaps facing change does deserve a good cry!

Want to explore how tears support emotional healing and resilience? Visit Psychology Today’s guide to emotional tears and trauma recovery, BetterHelp’s overview of crying therapy, and Inner Researcher’s reflections on the healing power of tears.

If you’re reflecting on emotional release, change, or resilience, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support emotional insight and healing.

Time, Tradition, and the Quiet Power of Ritual

In a world that moves fast, winding a mantle clock is a gentle rebellion, a way to honor the past, embrace presence, and mark time with intention. This reflection invites readers in Maryland and DC to consider the emotional resonance of small rituals and the legacy they carry.

My grandparents were Indiana farmers. They started their married lives in a lean-to on a hectare of land. That is about the size of three football fields. Stop and think about this. Indiana is not on the beach or in the sunny south. Summers are hot, and winters are filled with snow and ice. They started their married life in a lean-to, one open side and a slanting roof that hit the ground on the opposite side. I have no idea how they survived even one winter. I know the following structure was a shed for animals and them as well, and that relatives were called upon to help put the building up. They call it a “barn-raising,” and everyone comes to help. The men do the heavy work, and the women feed them. Living in the barn was common until the farm made enough money to put up a house.

One of the first items that my grandmother splurged on once the house was built was a mantle clock. You have probably seen many of these. They come in a variety of shapes, and the winders are rods that poke through the face of the clock. One winder is for the hands so that they move in time. One winder is for the chime that strikes the hour and the half hour. Some clocks will strike the quarter hour as well.

The clock was a sign of prosperity. If you were wealthy, you would get a grandfather clock. Most farmers had mantle clocks. My grandmother’s clock chimed the quarter hour and donged the hours. The thing ran all the time. That means if you slept at grandmother’s, you were doomed to hear the chimes every 15 minutes all night long. Somehow, your brain adjusted after a few times, and sleeping through the night was easy. Your brain is a fascinating organ that accommodates this disruption and allows for nightly rest.

When you were tall enough and steady enough to stand on a kitchen chair, you could haul the chair into the living room, place it in front of the fireplace, and be trusted to wind the clock. There are two winders and a glass cover that must be opened safely to access them. A large brass key sat behind the clock, so you also had to be tall enough to reach the key before you were trusted to be the winder. The other marvelous thing about this privilege was that you got to replace your older sibling. There are few opportunities for this one-upmanship, so you took every one that you could. The sound of the winder was satisfying. It was a bit like a crank on an old car. You had to be careful to pay attention to the tension increasing as you wound so that you did not stress the spring and ruin the clock.

There are a few rites of passage for a young child, and winding the clock was truly valuable.

Oh, and by the way, I still wind the mantle clock today. So satisfying!

Curious about how these clocks work? Explore Clock Preservation’s guide to winding holes and Bill’s Clockworks instructions for antique American clocks to learn more about the mechanics and care of these timeless treasures.

Rituals like winding a clock can ground us in memory and meaning. If you’re exploring personal history, emotional growth, or family legacy, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support healing and insight.

Legacy, Resilience, and the Social Key to Longevity

Some generations carry the weight of history—and the wisdom of it too. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection honors those born between 1930 and 1946, exploring how cultural transformation, technological progress, and social connection shape not only the past, but the future of aging well.

I was born in 1946, a time that historians now call “the best of times.” Those born between 1930 and 1946 belong to an incredibly rare group of which only 1% are still alive today. Those now ages 77 to 93 grew up in a unique time in history.
This was a transformative time including a global economic crisis, a devastating world war, and significant advances in technology and culture that have shaped the world for generations moving forward.

Black-and-white TVs were cutting-edge.
Shopping meant visiting downtown stores.
Polio was a feared disease.

While your parents worked hard to rebuild their lives, you grew up in a world of endless possibilities. You thrived in a time of peace, progress, and security that the world may never see again. You may have grown up in the best of times ever.

Progress was marked by the development of penicillin, radar, and early computers. Jet engines also saw their first use during this period.
A sense of community and the importance of resilience were dominant, and the struggles of ordinary people were highlighted in books and films, as in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.

Kodachrome brought color into filmmaking. Radio offered a diverse range of programming, while the popularity of big band and swing music soared. Disney’s first feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered in 1937.

And as we have learned today, pockets appeared in dresses. I, for one, cannot live without a pocket in my dress.

The lesson that I want you to pocket today, whether you grew up in the “best of times” or not, is that science now tells us staying young and having a brain that defies aging is highly dependent on our social connections. Deep social, emotional engagement and curiosity about others cause your brain to thrive and remain young.

Your participation in groups is the key to longevity.

Want to explore how social connection supports healthy aging? Visit NIH’s study on social relationships and cognitive aging, Psychology Today’s guide to aging well through connection, and Blue Zones’ insights on social engagement and longevity.

If you’re reflecting on aging, resilience, or emotional connection, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support vitality, insight, and lifelong growth.

THE OLD MANTLE CLOCK

Time, Togetherness, and the Stories That Bind Us

Some heirlooms tick louder in memory than in sound. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how shared objects become emotional anchors, and how laughter, love, and legacy are wound into the gears of everyday life.

We have this old wooden mantle clock shaped like a wave. On the face of the clock, there are two winding mechanisms: one for controlling the movement of the hands and one for controlling the striking of the bell. Of course, you can shut the bell off if you wish. Many guests in our home have requested that change after trying to sleep through the night while the bell sounds every 15 minutes. It is funny how we have adjusted to this and do not even hear it.

That clock was an early purchase in our marriage. We made two significant purchases in our first year, and the mantle clock was the first. One of our favorite pastimes was visiting antique shops and live auctions. We have acquired many things in our home through auctions. There was one particular auction house that we used to frequent on Friday nights once a month. Over time, we became friendly with the auctioneer. On one particular night, we arrived late, and the place was packed. There were no seats together, so we split up and sat on opposite sides of the hall. When the clock came up, the bidding was slow at first, so I raised my paddle to place a bid. A couple of other bids increased the price, and I bid again. Then, there appeared to be a contest between me and someone on the other side of the room. Yep. You guessed it. The auctioneer let this go on for a couple of rounds and finally asked if I wanted to outbid my husband again. The house erupted in laughter. That is part of why the clock remains. It is a reminder of how easily we come together.

What brings you together with those that you love? Shared stories of fun, adventure, and silliness are good glue for any relationship. When meeting new couples, I enjoy hearing their stories of how they met and what holds them together. We are born connected and spend our lives seeking connection with others. If we are fortunate, we can find one person for a lifetime of connection. We build stories together. These are the glue that holds us together and brings joy to ourselves and others we meet.

I hope you have your own “Old Clock Story.”

Want to explore how heirlooms and shared memories foster emotional connection? Visit Heirloomed’s story of a namesake mantle clock, Living Life Retired’s reflections on a father’s clock and legacy, and Heirloom Explorer’s journey through vintage clock history.

If you’re reflecting on connection, memory, or emotional legacy, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support emotional insight and relational healing.

DUNCH

Connection, Creativity, and the Joy of Shared Time

Dunch isn’t just a clever portmanteau—it’s a celebration of friendship and flexibility. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how mealtime improvisation fosters emotional connection, storytelling, and the rituals that keep relationships strong.

And you want to know what that is? Have you not heard? Dunch is the meal you have between lunch and dinner. When your calendar is busy and you want to spend time with a friend, you have to improvise. I am only free between 2 pm and 4 pm, so we will meet for food at our favorite place and call it Dunch.

I love the cleverness of my friends. This dear woman has invented an entirely new meal that we will no doubt enjoy this week and for weeks to come.

Getting together with a friend to share a meal, to break bread, to spend time together over food and drink is always a delight. People have been doing this for decades and will continue this tradition for years to come.

Food tends to bring out the best in us. Of course, a glass of wine may also contribute to the pleasure.

While Dunching with my friend, we will explore our families and bring each other up to date on their adventures. We will share stories about our friends and how they have been traveling over the summer or hunkering down in their air-conditioned spaces through this blasted heat. We will no doubt venture into politics and then feel the red-hot sting of putting your hand right on the burner and withdrawing quickly before your skin falls off. We will look forward to the coming Fall events and getting dressed up for lunches and parties with our hats and gloves that only come out for special occasions. I will wear my white necklace, given to me spontaneously by a friend, as I admired her wearing it and thought fondly of that loving gesture.

Dunching will bring us closer together as we reminisce about the past and look forward to the future. After all, we are on a journey together. We travel in the same circles. We enjoy good conversation and read great books. We laugh at ourselves and our colleagues. We support each other and volunteer ourselves as needed.

At some point, Dunch will be over. We will pay the bill, remember the good times, and promise each other that the time between will be shorter next time. Staying connected is essential, and this new method of Dunching has been perfect!

Thank you, friend.

Want to explore how mealtime creativity fosters connection? Visit DishPairing’s guide to mealtime fusion and social rituals, Simply Synonyms’ breakdown of Dunch and linner, and Emory University’s lexicon of everyday neologisms.

If you’re reflecting on friendship, emotional connection, or creative rituals, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, joy, and belonging.

THE TITANIUM GENERATION

Strength, Focus, and the Endurance to Lead

Titanium doesn’t just build aircraft—it builds metaphors. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how the properties of titanium mirror the emotional resilience, clarity, and persistence needed to lead meaningful change.

Titanium is a naturally occurring element. You can find it in the Earth’s crust, the Moon, and the Sun. Wow! This thing gets around. The name was acquired to emphasize its most significant characteristic: strength. This metal is strong and exceptionally lightweight. The next time you get on a plane, you will be surrounded by it as it is used in the aircraft’s body for its strength and light weight. You may own a set of clubs made with this stuff if you are a golfer. The light weight and strength make it perfect for a variety of applications, from going into space to sending a little round ball flying down the fairway.

We are indebted to a Reverend for the discovery of this element. Reverend William Gregor of England was an amateur geologist and discovered this stuff in a local stream. As he ran an experiment on this black dust, he knew he had found a new element. As all humans do, he wanted to name it after his parish of Menaccan. A second discovery of the same element led to the adoption of titanium in honor of the strength of this metal, like that of the Titans.

Titanium exists on Earth in abundance. It is the ninth most abundant element on Earth. Still, it isn’t easy to extract, but it is well worth the effort. This stuff is everywhere. Look carefully at the ingredients in your sunscreen, and you will find it there. The belly of the airplane you are flying in is made with it. Spaceships and rockets depend on it because of its strength and light weight. The plastic bucket that you carry water in contains this stuff. If you need a hip replacement, you will carry titanium in your body for the rest of your life.

This stuff surrounds us, and there are efforts to find ways to use it to do many other things as well. Someday, we will all be driving cars made of titanium. This combination of strength and lightness is essential, along with the fact that it is not magnetic. That last quality is not magnetic, which means it cannot be drawn off course. The lightness means that it can keep going and not fatigue. Strength means that it can endure pressure.

How do you compare? Can you stay focused on a project or idea and not be drawn off course? Do you have the strength to honor your commitments even when the process thwarts you at every turn? When you get pushback from others, are you able to persist? Can you keep going despite the social pressure to change course?

We need a titanium generation that can zero in on critical issues, persist through difficulties and discouragement, trust that their efforts will pay off, stand up to pressure, and address the issues that matter.

Want to explore how titanium’s properties inspire resilience and leadership? Visit Qinghang Metal’s deep dive into titanium’s strength and limits, Bornupdates’ breakdown of titanium’s durability and atomic structure, and California Metals’ overview of titanium’s versatility and sustainability.

If you’re reflecting on persistence, emotional strength, or leadership, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support emotional insight and purposeful living.

BURY YOUR PHONE

Technology, Disconnection, and the Call to Reconnect

Smartphones were meant to connect us—but what if they’re doing the opposite? For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how the evolution of mobile devices has reshaped communication, and why reclaiming face-to-face connection is more urgent than ever.

Apple is coming out with a new phone, as is their routine. This September, they will release the iPhone 17 with a price tag of at least $1249. Think of it. This thing started as a “shoe phone” or similar. The first iPhone released in 2007 cost $499. The Blackberry phone, which was popular from its release in 2002, cost $549 at the time, and the iPhone soon blew it out of the water. Going further back in the history of these portable phones, we find the 1984 Motorola DynaTAC 8000X selling for $3995. If you have one of those in your dresser drawer, it could be pretty valuable. At the time, you could talk for 30 minutes! Then the battery would die and need to be recharged.

Television popularized the “shoe” phone as a gadget used by the spy Maxwell Smart, played by Don Adams, on Get Smart. In our household, we dubbed the original flip phone a shoe phone. I think we still have one of those.

These devices are robbing us not just of our money but of our humanity as well. When I see two teens sitting next to each other, tapping on their phones and realizing that they are tapping to each other, I am appalled. Communication is not just words in print. Research has shown that 93% of communication may be nonverbal. Our facial expressions, posture, changes in muscle tone, and subtle gestures all make significant contributions to communication.

So, the teens sitting side by side and texting each other are stripping away the majority of the richness of communication. Think about the potential result. The capacity for empathy is diminished. The capacity for understanding is reduced. The capacity for connection is diminished. As a culture, where are we going? We already know that robots will take over most, if not all, of the basic functions in the future. They will do our shopping, cooking, cleaning, driving, etc. That leaves us lots of free time. If that time is consumed with isolating ourselves in a relationship with a smartphone, what happens next?

What happens to our emotional needs? I was thinking that the age of robots would lead to breakthroughs in emotional intelligence and advances in interpersonal development. However, if the next two generations are isolated with their devices, then interpersonal development will not likely be the focus of the future.

Put your phone down. Talk to the person sitting next to you on the couch.

Want to explore how smartphones affect emotional intelligence and social connection? Visit Greater Good’s interview with Sherry Turkle on reclaiming conversation, Psychology Today’s guide to smartphones and emotional development, and U.S. News’ tips for mindful smartphone use.

If you’re reflecting on digital habits, emotional connection, or interpersonal growth, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, healing, and reconnection.