Author: Overcoming Adversity | Buteau’s Odyssey

Two pronouncements by Martin Luther King Jr. are familiar. In the first, he dreams that his children “will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” In another, adapted from Theodore Parker, a 19th-century abolitionist preacher, Dr. King points to another aspect of his dream. King writes, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” The first quote points to individual behavior, the second toward social action. Dr. King didn’t emphasize one approach over the other. For him,…

President Trump early Saturday announced that U.S. personnel captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and were flown out of the country as the military carried out a “large scale” strike inside the nation. Explosions were heard in the early hours in Caracas, the nation’s capital, and some parts of the city reported being without…

Kevin Jennings threw for 278 yards, highlighted by an 80-yard completion on a razzle-dazzle play on the second play from scrimmage, and SMU beat No. 21 Arizona 24-19 in the Holiday Bowl on Friday night.Jennings completed 21 of 32 passes, and set up two touchdown runs by T.J. Harden and one by Stone Eby for the Mustangs (9-4). They snapped a five-game postseason losing streak that included a 38-10 defeat to Penn State in the opening round of last season’s College Football Playoff. Arizona also finished 9-4.SMU was up 24-0 at halftime, a big enough lead to overcome three interceptions…

Sometimes, when people don’t want to call a thing a thing (particularly with narcissism), you’ll hear them label someone “difficult.” The “difficult person” moniker has long served as a polite stand-in that lets the speaker avoid more accurate, evocative words that could get them in trouble. Don’t get me wrong, some people can be challenging to work with, befriend, or live with, and many episodes of difficulty are situational or context-specific. An artist may become exacting about a vision. An intensive care nurse supervisor may be meticulous about standards of care. A basketball coach may push for excellence. High standards,…

Former New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa (R) defended Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) ahead of his swearing-in, but described the recent meeting between him and President Trump as them being “actors” in a “love-fest.” Sliwa spoke for an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Monday. When asked if he would have other New…

Three generations have grown up with video games since home consoles with swappable game cartridges were first released in the mid-1970s. These systems brought versions of popular arcade games, such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man, into people’s living rooms. At about the same time, tabletop fantasy role-playing games, such as Dungeons & Dragons, made their appearance. This fantasy genre would also lead to the development of card-based games, such as Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon. At the turn of the millennium, simulation games such as The Sims and Animal Crossing became popular. And about twenty years ago, massively multiplayer online…

As we begin the year 2026, New Year’s resolutions abound, often centering on greater career success. For those grappling with this topic, you’ll find a relevant but little-known key concept in Maslow’s work: the Jonah Complex. His colleague, historian Frank Manuel at Brandeis University, formulated the initial notion, which Maslow found vital for understanding personal achievement—and its delay or absence. As he wrote late in life, “We have, all of us, an impulse to improve ourselves…toward self-actualization, or whatever term you like. Granted this, what holds us up? What blocks us?” The question is not only pertinent to New Year’s…

2025 has been a year of massive horror movie hits like Weapons and Sinner, alongside indie horror surprises like Good Boy, and the return of beloved shows like Stranger Things. It also marked significant anniversaries for many iconic horror films and many of my favorite horror films. 15. 60thAnniversary: Macario This horror movie is one of the most influential and iconic films in Mexican cinematic history. It was Mexico’s first film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Macario is a haunting tale about the peasant Macario, who makes a deal with death that has unforeseen consequences. I love how the story…

This is part 5 of 5 on modern perspectives on ADHD. Part 4: “What’s the Deal with Dopamine and ADHD” is available here. Is Medication the Only Option for ADHD? It should first be clarified that there are non-pharmacological ways of managing ADHD difficulties. For example, digital aids, including to-do lists, reminders, alarms, calendar and phone applications, can serve as an external working memory. This reduces the burden on an individual’s working memory, thereby increasing capacity for focus when required. Another way ADHDers manage is through fidget toys or stimming behaviours. For example, squeezing a fidget toy while reading or…

Self-abandonment rarely begins as a conscious choice. Instead, it is something that emerges gradually and is often disguised as selflessness, loyalty, or even emotional maturity. You learn to adapt, wait, explain, and constantly accommodate, not out of a lack of self, but because trying to maintain the relationship feels “safer” than letting go. Over time, this pattern quietly reshapes your inner world while conditioning you to believe your feelings are negotiable, your needs unimportant, and your emotions are “too much.” These can all leave your sense of self dangerously hinging on external validation, rather than focusing on your inherent self-worth.…