Bill Brenner

Maybe People Pleasing’s Not So Dumb After All

by Bill Brenner October 20, 2010 Love

One of the more popular posts I’ve written in this blog is about how stupid it is to be a people pleaser. Lately, I’m having a small change of heart. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFl0nlHaWa4&fs=1&hl=en_US] I still stand behind much of what I said. When it comes to trying to please the overlords of corporate America or the abusive parent in hopes that you won’t get hit again, people pleasing IS futile. Here’s the dark side of…  [Read More]

Cut the Drama, Rage Boy

by Bill Brenner October 19, 2010 Addiction

My old friend Clarence liked the post I wrote about him awhile back and jokingly asked me to write another one. OK, buddy, but you’re not gonna like this one. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72rWAe0pUdQ&fs=1&hl=en_US] Note: I’m keeping your true identity out of this, so your anonymity is preserved. I meant everything I said in that post. In fact, I cherish your friendship a lot more than I did even then. But you have a special challenge…  [Read More]

Broken Souls, Emotional Breakdowns

by Bill Brenner October 19, 2010 Fear and anxiety

I’ve been in a strange place lately. I’m fine and all, but I’ve been around a lot of broken people, and that has an impact on you after awhile. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3px0m1Y9Tuc&fs=1&hl=en_US] I can’t get into the stuff that has brought these friends to the brink, but I can say there’s been a lot of crying. Given my own trouble with tears, it’s rather funny that I’d be in this position. But I’ll do anything…  [Read More]

Joe Zippo Throws a Party

by Bill Brenner October 17, 2010 Music therapy

Some thoughts on the benefit show last night for Joe Zippo… Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbr2PxWUMLM&fs=1&hl=en_US] The best part of the night was meeting Joe’s parents. It was an honor, really. You can really see Joe’s personality and heart in them. It was great to see so many old friends. I saw Christian Campagna for the first time since we worked at Rockit Records. We’ve kept in touch through Facebook, but it’s not the same as seeing…  [Read More]

Depression and Being Gay

by Bill Brenner October 16, 2010 Depression

One of the big debates that has always irked me is about whether homosexuals are born that way or if they just wake up one morning and decide to be that way. Having a gay sister, aunt and cousin-in-law, I have something to say about that. I’m sure there are a few people who decide to give it a try as a lifestyle choice. That’s their business. But every gay person I’ve ever met didn’t…  [Read More]

Rock It For Joe Zippo

by Bill Brenner October 15, 2010 Gratitude

Rarely do I use this blog for an announcement like this, but Joe Zippo was a special guy and he’s worth the exception. Tomorrow is the Joe (Kelley) Zippo Memorial Show in Salem, Mass. I usually avoid Salem this time of year because of all the touristy Halloween mania. But for him I’m going in. So should you. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpMt_YqVbhw&fs=1&hl=en_US] All of the show’s proceeds will go towards Joe’s headstone and plot. Details: Time Saturday,…  [Read More]

Dysfunctional Love Songs

by Bill Brenner October 14, 2010 Mental health

I’ve had love on my mind this week. Some of that comes from the Cursillo weekend I just experienced. Some of it might be that I’ve been letting myself love other people in ways I never thought I could.  That doesn’t make people any easier to love. Truth is, some of the people I love the most make me want to push my head through a glass door. In keeping with the advice of a good…  [Read More]

Looking for Grace

by Bill Brenner October 13, 2010 Faith

In church we hear the word Grace a lot. But it’s taken me a long time to get what it really means. I’m still working on that. But here’s what I got so far. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puGGaFdyx5g&fs=1&hl=en_US] I like to think of Grace as the treasures I don’t deserve. I have many of those. If you want to get technical about it, Grace is a gift from God, freely given. It’s a gift people refuse…  [Read More]

Do it for the Kids

by Bill Brenner October 13, 2010 Children's issues

When I was a kid my parents were always trying to get me to join different organizations: The Jewish Community Center off of Shirley Ave. in Revere, Camp Menorah, etc. I rebelled against all of it. Now here Erin and I are, pushing Sean and Duncan into the Cub Scouts. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7exeJblR0&fs=1&hl=en_US] My parents were right to push these things on me. I was in the fourth grade and they had just gotten divorced. It…  [Read More]

OCD Awareness Week

by Bill Brenner October 13, 2010 OCD

UPDATE: If you’ve struggled with OCD, you should listen to Radio Boston at 3 p.m. People will be calling in to share their personal experiences. You can call 1-800-423-TALK or tweet @radioboston #OCDawareness! Given all the sharing I’ve done on my struggles with OCD, it would be downright criminal of me not to spread the word that it’s OCD Awareness Week. The International OCD Foundation has done a lot of stellar work to break down the…  [Read More]

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