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Cherished gifts from my dad: A Father's Day tribute

Posted by Dan Barry on

Cherished gifts from my dad: A Father's Day tribute

“The worst misfortune that can happen to an ordinary man is to have an extraordinary father.” –Austin O’Malley Cherished gifts from my dad A Father's Day tribute from Marc Skid's Founder First, let me tell you a little about my father. His Irish heritage and the Marine Corp are probably two of the most cherished things in his life. But don’t ask about them -- you’ll need to cancel all your appointments for the day! He's led an amazing life. By far, his best accomplishment was finding my mother (because that’s how my 3 sisters and I came to be). Dad, from what...

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A Memorial Day Tribute

Posted by Dan Barry on

A Memorial Day Tribute

“On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation!” – Thomas William Parsons   One of my favorite things about growing up in south St. Louis was Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The hallowed ground sitting along the banks of the Mississippi was a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by our veterans and how fortunate we all are because of their service to our country. It was much deeper than an appreciation, it was a reminder that I wanted, and perhaps needed, of the greatest purpose -- sacrificing one’s life so that another generation to...

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The journey to understanding Mom's unconditional love

Posted by Dan Barry on

The journey to understanding Mom's unconditional love

The journey to understanding Mom's unconditional love 51 years of trying to understand a mother's unconditional love. For me, it happened on May 23, 1966, at St. Johns hospital in St. Louis, Mo. It was that day that I was given the greatest gift of my life, being born the son of Joan Margret Barry. And, oh yeah, the son of Philip Barry (but, come on Dad, this is about Mom). For as great of an honor as it was and has been to be the son of Joan, it has also been a somewhat frustrating and mysterious privilege. There's this...

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Why gardening is bad a$$

Posted by Dan Barry on

Why gardening is bad a$$

Why gardening is bad a$$ It's not just your grandma's hobby.  Gardening gets a bad rap, but when you think about it, it's a really cool concept. You can literally sustain yourself. Live off the land. Create sustenance from what was once nothing. But gardening also has a pretty cool history. During WW1, Europe's farmland and agricultural workforce all became products of the war. Crop fields turned into battlefields and workers were recruited to military service. People got hungry, fast. So the burden of feeding millions landed on the U.S. and it was up to citizens to step up.  People...

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Yes, laughing is actually good for you. Here's why.

Posted by Dan Barry on

Yes, laughing is actually good for you. Here's why.

Yes, laughing is actually good for you. Here's why. You know the cliche, "Laughter is the best medicine". Yeah, it's hard to believe. But! It is rooted in truth. (Mayo Clinic even says so.) Here's what laughter truly does for your body. Decreases stress. A good laugh actually gets your stress response going and then slows it down, resulting in a relaxed feeling. Boosts immunity.  Laughing literally increases infection-fighting antibodies and immune cells. Soothes tense muscles. Circulation is improved by laughing, which aids in muscle relaxation that can last up to 45 minutes after a good laugh.  Releases endorphins. Yeah, you...

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