Mark Neese of True North Counseling running in a race.

It’s Time to Take it to the Streets | Healthy Aging Series: S11 E19

“I am a jogger!” says no one today. OK, there was a time, many years ago that I referred to myself as a jogger. In 1978, I was attending college in Portland, Oregon and started jogging. Prior to that, I hadn’t even thought about jogging. I was a Long Jumper in high school and ran...

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Mark Neese of True North Counseling sitting in a camping chair in the woods.

I Have Wasted My Life | Healthy Aging Series: S11 E18

I was scrolling this morning, and I happened to see a reel from a therapist that had a list of things to avoid in order to take care of your mental health. The first one was: Stop scrolling first thing in the morning. First, I think he’s right. Second, it’s a little ironic that someone...

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Mark Neese, owner of True North Counseling, and his wife at Yellowstone National Park.

How to Find Your Voice | Healthy Aging Series: S11 E17

My very first trip out west was in January 1979. I was headed to college in Portland, Oregon. I was raised around a little snow in Southern Indiana, but I know it’s not Minnesota or the Rockies. I’d recently been discharged from the Air Force in September, spent six weeks visiting my parents in Southern...

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Mark Neese of True North Counseling hiking the Rim to River to Rim of the Grand Canyon with his son.

Confessions of a Former Couch Potato | Healthy Aging Series: S11 E16

It took 13 hours, but I finished my second Rim to River to Rim of the Grand Canyon. When I finished, the first thing I did was call my wife and tell her that I would never, ever, under no circumstances, ever do it again. “I know you Bear,” she replied, “Once you recover, and...

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Mark Neese hiking with his granddaughters. True North Counseling Blog.

How to Learn the Meaning of a Minute | Healthy Aging Series: S11 E15

I loved working at UPS. I was a load supervisor on the South Ramp. Mind you, that was 30 years ago. If you ever worked there, I know you would agree that the ramp was organized confusion. And yes, it was stressful. At any given time, there were dozens and dozens of aircraft, 747s, Airbus...

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Young Mark Neese of True North Counseling and his family.

Pope Francis and Religion that Heals | Healthy Aging Series: S11 E14

I’m not a Catholic, but I felt the loss of Pope Francis. I’ve been reading Thomas Merton lately, and I think Pope Francis was that kind of Catholic. They rejected certitude and coerciveness in religion. They supported a more tolerant and inclusive Catholicism. There was healing in their message, at least for me. Toxic Religion...

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