Episode at a Glance

A dental implant curveball that could’ve tanked my mood, but instead leads to a moment of gratitude, sets the tone for my guest, Tom Mallouk, a psychotherapist of 50 years and an award-winning poet (2022 Poet Laureate of Bucks County, Pennsylvania) who helped shape my life during formative years of individual, couples, and men’s-group work.

Tom shares how a violent protest aftermath, a bad LSD trip, and years of inner shutdown culminated—after 9/11—in a “tsunami of poetry.” His lesson is beautifully practical:

* Become aware of your natural tendency (fight, flight, freeze… or speed vs. flow).

* Make a conscious opposite move (seek order if you invite chaos; listen if you usually dominate).

* Notice what happens—that’s how the self grows.

He reads three devastating, gorgeous poems: one about a first therapy session that offered just enough hope to keep going, one about a traumatic childhood incident, and one about his brother’s sudden death. You won’t want to miss his heartfelt readings.

Why it Matters

Growth isn’t a personality transplant; it’s microscopic course-corrections—gratitude over grievance, curiosity over control—repeated daily. Tom’s map turns suffering into craft and presence.

Nonprofit Spotlight

In honor of Tom, we’re donating to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). If you or someone you love needs support, visit nami.org. Help is available now: Call 1-800-950-6264, Text “NAMI” to 62640, or Call/Text 988 in a crisis.

Links & Mentions

* Guest: Tom Mallouk — psychotherapist & poet; Bucks County Poet Laureate (2022).

* Chapbook: The Right Metaphor (Amazon).

* Nonprofit: NAMI

Call to Action

If this conversation resonated: follow, rate, and share The Life Lessons Collective. Tell a friend who loves poetry, psychology, or simply good stories about growth.

What happens when the very thing that defines you suddenly disappears? At 21, Elissa Maas Weinzimmer lost her voice—vocal hemorrhage, reflux, and muscle tension dysphonia—right as she was singing, acting, and directing nonstop. That break became a breakthrough: years of studying, unlearning, and ultimately teaching others how to access an authentic voice rooted in nervous-system calm and real presence. Learn more about Elissa’s work at Voice Body Connection.

In our conversation, Elissa explains in plain language how “pushing” (physically, mentally, emotionally) often creates more tension and worse sound. Letting go isn’t another task—it’s the absence of doing, the easing that allows your voice to flow. She also shares how student-centered pedagogy (not “the teacher has all the answers”) helps clients notice their patterns, unwind habitual tightness, and speak or sing from a truer place.

I also share a mini-lesson of my own: finally clearing my desk—and my mind—after years of dabbling with Getting Things Done (GTD). When I made space, ideas returned and flowed…almost effortlessly. Different paths; same theme: stop forcing, create room, and trust what’s already there.

Nonprofit spotlight: Samadhi — compassionate, community-based recovery care

Books Referenced

• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity — David Allen

How do you measure success? For musician David Davol, it isn’t about fame or fortune — it’s about living life on your own terms, doing more of what you love, and less of what you don’t.In this latest episode of *The Life Lessons Collective*, I reconnect with David, whose career in music has spanned over 46 years and more than 7,000 performances. From bar gigs and cruise ships to country clubs and concert halls, David’s story is a testament to the power of persistence.His life lesson is simple yet powerful: *the harder you work, the luckier you get.* Whether practicing guitar seven hours a day in a seaside motel or jumping at a last-minute cruise ship opportunity, David shows how preparation opens the door to serendipity.This episode is also a reminder that success isn’t one-size-fits-all. As David puts it, “I’ve done more of what I wanted to do, and less of what I didn’t want to do, than almost anyone I know.” That, to him, is the definition of success. It sure is an inspiring message I think about every day.

David (left) and Carty Brown - mid 1970’s. David’s post about this photo inspired my reaching out to him and our conversation. A positive re-connecting moment in the divisive, stormy seas of today’s social media climate.🌟 Nonprofit Plug

This episode supports Rock to the Future (rocktothefuture.org), providing free, student-driven music programs that build confidence and community for Philadelphia youth.

📚 References

* Peter Block’s The Answer to How Is Yes

* Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers

* Historical context: The Beatles’ Hamburg years (example of preparation meeting opportunity)

* Spotify playlist of songs mentioned in the episode.