Fun times at the Guyandotte Civil War Days

It was nice to see some of you at the Guyandotte Civil War Days, it was also thrilling to meet people who have read my work and had comments on it. Being a part-time writer, it is nice to get out for a day and focus solely on meeting my readers and talking to them about history. I will be doing another book event later this month in Huntington, WV, please keep an eye out for date and time.

CKMS Wonders News

Exciting news for all the people of the Ceredo-Kenova community; we have begun a youtube page for our media club. We produce a program that airs every Friday morning, and past episodes are available to watch anytime. We appreciate the support, and if you wish to contribute so we can buy supplies to make props and other items, please send it via check made out to the school. You guys are awesome! Thank you

So you love somebody with depression

I have been very open in the past about my struggles with depression and my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I have been that open because I feel that to end the stigma and the negativity towards people with these types of issues we must talk about them and not be afraid to share our experiences. There has been something that has been bothering me lately, and I was trying to figure out a way to turn the negativity I am feeling into something that could potentially be positive. The idea came to me to form an open letter, and hopefully, this is something that many people can benefit. I have been feeling much guilt over the last year or so because, as my kids grow older, I see how my moods and my bouts of depression can affect the people that I care about. Instead of moping around even more when writing this, I decided to give the people that care about me a little insight, and my sincere hope is that this short essay can help others that I don't even know through internet shares.

                                   "I wish I could be who you deserve."
The title may seem melodramatic, but hear me out, I am not trying to sound woe is me or anything of that nature, this is truly how I feel when I am dealing with a particularly powerful episode of depression or if my OCD is a little out of wack. When I was just a teenager, and the onset of OCD and a melancholy disposition began, I was completely lost. I was terrified to talk about my issues because of the stigma of mental health in our country and popular culture, and I was scared. As I wrote last year, I am very proud of the fact that I have now grown into a man that doesn't shy away or hide my issues, I hope that by being outspoken I can help just one person deal with something they may be struggling with. But, accepting my issues doesn't make everything ok.
The ancient Romans believed that having a melancholy temperament was a positive situation for a man because they were realists and could deal with the negative side of life. I agree with this to a point, those always smiling sunshine up your ass folks just resonate fakeness in my eyes. But, that is the cynic talking, I am sure there are people out there that have a sunny disposition 99% of the time, and I applaud you. This essay though is meant for loved ones of the guys and gals that have a less cheerful side. I have tried t narrow down what I feel a majority of people with mood disorders or mood issues would want their loved ones to know.

1. We really, really wish we didn't feel the way we do.
Depression is all-encompassing, it hurts in ways that I have yet to be able to explain for over a decade. I see happiness all around, and I want to be happy, I have three beautiful children and a wonderful wife that loves and supports me, but even thinking about all those wonderful things can't break through when the depression is severe.

2. We are sorry you have to deal with us
Listen, I would like to think that I am a lovable guy, I love to have a good time, crack jokes and be liked. I actually stress out if I think you don't like me, but at home, when I am my most vulnerable, and depression sets in I suck to be around. All people with these issues wish we could just snap out of it and not feel this, but we do, and we are sorry for the extra burden.

3. It isn't all the time
Hell, it's not even 10% of the time for me, but I have mild OCD and depressive tendencies. There are many people in the world that have a level of depression that I can't even begin to fathom. For people in my shoes, I want my loved ones to know that I will eventually be ok, just give us the time to deal with our issues, and it will be ok.

4. I may push you away, but I need you more than ever
This is the big one in the Perry household; I try to push my wife away because I feel guilt and anger over the issues that are causing my mood. I know you may be angry with your loved one at the time, or confused or just have a feeling of hopelessness, please just understand that maybe all we need is to feel your presence next to us or a simple cuddle or hug.

Last but not least, #5
We will not be defeated
This is a manifesto that I have tried to live by over the last few months. This section is for all the people out there that may feel hopeless at times or hurt don't be defeated. There are so many people out there that give up, and the pain that it causes is immeasurable. Do not become a slave to your mood, from the mildest cases like mine to the most severe, whatever it takes to overcome; you must give it your all. Writing things such as my books and this essay help me cope when I feel down, I know it may seem hard to see the light, but there is always a positive. In my teaching career, I feel that I have helped countless students deal with their personal issues and down moments in their lives because I have the experience of a person that knows how much depression can hurt. One of my driving forces daily is to learn to overcome and help the kids that come to me overcome. Find what works for you, some of the most beautiful songs, works of art, movies, etc. have been created by people in the pits of depression that used their negativity in a positive manner.

One final thing, we love you, I hope that my kids never forget how much I love them even on days where it hurts for me to even get out of bed. It hasn't gotten much easier over the last decade or so, but I haven't always worked at it like I have the last few months either. I'm tired of being a slave to a "bad day," for my sanity and the joy and love of my wife and kids, I am determined to find my personal peace with my melancholy and learn to take it one step at a time and overcome the negativity.

Thank you

Happiness as Public Policy

A Short History of Happiness Measures on Public Economic Policy

By: Matthew Perry

Economists have long studied the effects that Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Product has on individual nations. It has been these two measurements that have been seen as the best window into the economic well-being and success of countries. There is a movement within many scientific and social circles to expand the view of economic well-being to include more aspects other than just raw economic data. While the GDP and the GNP do play a significant role in the overall economic well-being of nations, other aspects contribute to the welfare of countries as well. Beginning in earnest in the 1970’s[1] there has been a growing movement to include social factors such as health and happiness into the overall view of the economic strength of a country.

The focus of this paper is an investigation of the role of overall happiness of population when studying economic growth. To truly understand a country and their people, one must investigate the motives behind what drives an economy. If a community is happy and healthy, they will naturally bring more to the economy of their country. The movement is growing throughout economically powerful countries in Europe such as the United Kingdom. This paper will investigate the movement from its inception in a tiny Asian nation to the growth of happiness studies throughout the United Kingdom.[2]

The study of population happiness and well-being in regards to the economy has a unique and surprising history. In the small, land-locked Asian country of Bhutan, the King was concerned about the influence of outside cultures on his people. The King of Bhutan was worried that his people were out of touch with their culture and their faith. Bhutan has a proud history and is isolated from much of the outside world. The King of Bhutan was concerned about the implementation of television and western styles of clothing, so the King began promoting his now famous slogan, “we seek gross nation happiness not gross national income.”[3] The Bhutanese defined the pillars of Gross National Happiness as, economic self-reliance, environmental conservation, cultural preservation and promotion, and good governance.[4]

Bhutan is a unique representation of the study of happiness of public policy and economics. Bhutan is small and isolated, and the driving force behind their happiness initiative is a deep-seeded devotion to Buddhism. Many people that study social policy and the happiness of populations have been very active in promoting the idea of these types of studies in larger nations. The difficult aspect of this type of study would be taking the religious aspects out of the theory and studies, secular countries in Europe have begun to take the initiative and study the motives and needs of their populations.

 Many economists and sociologists have begun studying and researching if happiness can play a significant role in economic growth in secular countries such as the United Kingdom. In 2007, multiple agencies across Europe held a conference entitled “Beyond GDP.” The conference promoted the measurement of environmental and social indicators in economic policy. The United Kingdom took up the initiative asking the population, “what matters.”[5] The summary provided by the UK government is a well-rounded investigation of happiness measurements for the population. In 2014, the UK government released the findings of economic satisfaction, the study focused on many factors of happiness that included, relationships, health, location, personal finance, overall economic growth, education, government and the environment.[6]

The impressive aspect of the United Kingdom study is that fact that a large, economically powerful country is willing to adopt a philosophy that originated in a small, isolated Buddhist Kingdom. It shows that western governments are open to the idea of helping their population explore their happiness and motives behind what makes their economies thrive. It is vital to the overall growth of happiness studies and well-being investigations that large countries such as the United Kingdom have taken the initiative to study their population and examine the reasons behind economic growth and spending beyond traditional measures.

Works Cited

BBC News. Country Profile- Bhutan. Accessed April 4, 2017. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profile/54627.stm.

Government of Bhutan. n.d. Tenth Five Year Plan. Accessed April 3, 2017. http://www.gnhc.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2011/10thplan/TenthPlan_Vol1_Web.pdf.

Office for National Statistics. 2014. Life in the UK March 2014 Infographic. Accessed April 3, 2017. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-national-well-being/life-in-the-uk--2014/info-life-in-the-uk.html.

United Kingdom Neighbourhood Statistics. n.d. Measures of National Well-Being. Accessed April 3, 2017. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/HTMLDocs/dvc146/wrapper.html.

Weiner, Eric. n.d. BBC Travel. Accessed April 3, 2017. http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20150408-bhutans-dark-secret-to-happiness.

United Kingdom Office for National Statistics 2014

---

[1] BBC News. Country Profile- Bhutan. Accessed April 4, 2017. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profile/54627.stm.

[2] United Kingdom Office for National Statistics 2014

[3] BBC News. Country Profile- Bhutan. Accessed April 4, 2017. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profile/54627.stm.

[4] Government of Bhutan. n.d. Tenth Five Year Plan. Accessed April 3, 2017.

[5] United Kingdom Office for National Statistics 2014

[6] ibid

Back to Writing.

Hello all!
Thanks for checking out the blog, I know it has been a few months since I have written, but that is common during basketball season. Being a full time teacher,coach and father of three leaves little time for my creative side, but now that spring is near, it is time for my writing to pick back up again. I thought I would write about a topic that often goes overlooked when people study the American Civil War, winter campaigns. I have just recently finished my latest book about the Bloody Seventh West Virginia Infantry and they fought at one of the most famous winter battle of the war, Fredericksburg. It is that battle that I would like to investigate and discuss today.
19th Century warfare did not lend itself to winter campaigns, it was difficult enough to get thousands of men from point A to B in perfect weather, let alone in the wet winter season. Usually, an Army would enter Winter Quarters around late autumn and would mostly stay in that area until March or April. The most interesting, and ultimately fool-hardy, exception to winter action was the aforementioned Fredericksburg.
After the tactical draw at Antietam, Commander of the Army of the Potomac, George B. McClellan, refused to pursue the beleaguered Army of Northern Virginia. McClellan's refusal to take the fight to the enemy ultimately cost him his command. Lincoln finally fired McClellan for that second, and final time in November. Lincoln pegged General Ambrose B. Burnside as McClellan's replacement. Burnside was under pressure to act and begin a campaign immediately. It didn't matter to Lincoln and other politicians that it was November. Burnside designed an offensive and picked a strategic town on the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg. Burnside ordered his army to head south towards Falmouth, Virginia, a town adjacent to Fredericksburg.
Burnside's plan called for pontoon bridges to be sent from the War Department, and hopefully, arrive in November, but Head of the War Department, Henry Halleck, drug his feet on Burnside's request. Burnside's Army would wait weeks in Falmouth for the pontoons to arrive, and eventually, the Confederates start amassing an army on the heights above Fredericksburg. Burnside's initial plan was not a bad one, but the failure to beat Lee to the punch and cross before the Rebels could re-enforce killed the plan. Burnside showed a major command flaw, he refused to change his initial plan, even when it became obvious that the attack should not be made.
The Army of the Potomac spent the first week of December on 1862 waiting for the pontoons to be built and trading with the Rebels across the river. Both sides knew that death and suffering was imminent, but they chose to put that aside on an individual level and meet for little swapmeets and other exchanges.
Finally, the Union Army crosses into town and sets about burning major structures throughout the area. All of this angers the Rebels on the heights and draws the ire of Jackson and Lee. When Burnside does order his attack of the Heights, it becomes a wholesale slaughter. Wave after wave of attackers are mutilated by entrenched rebels and, time and again, Burnside refuses to change the course. Burnside continued pushing the fight until, finally, he was convinced to call off the waves of attackers and quit for the night. Laying on that frozen battlefield, men were forced to use corpses of their comrades as protection and warmth from the elements.
Burnside failed miserably, but compounded the failure by forgetting it was winter. He immediately orders a march away from Falmouth, and the roads are so wet and terrible due to the season, that his wagons sink in the mud. It was this "mud march" that would destroy Burnside for good and cost him his command.

Book review

Blogger Mark Mason has written and funny and honest view into human foibles entitled The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life 

I found it An honest, and funny view of life and all the mistakes we have made. I love his scientific investigation of the failures of participation trophies and positive thinking. Sometimes we fail, sometimes we are assholes, and sometimes we overcome, it is the journey to overcoming our shortcomings that make us human and help us grow.

Audiobook

Audiobook was just approved. Will be available on audible.com within the next 24 hours. I will be having a giveaway over the next few days for a free copy. I appreciate the support with my writing!