Welcome to My American Morning.
I'm Don L Turner.
This photo was taken in September of 2023
This blog represents my move beyond dealing primarily with recovering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the result of war trauma during my one year tour of duty as a combat infantryman in Vietnam. My old site (and first blog) at taomanna.com has been deleted. Much of my older writing and reader comments were lost during the transition to this new blog.
Born on September 10, 1948, I am the son of a sharecropper. Poverty shaped my view of what the future held for me and Vietnam wounded my body and my mind. IQ tests tell me I am considerably above average in intelligence, but my early history tainted my judgement and quashed my confidence, leading to some unwise decisions, undermining the life success I might have had, otherwise.
But I got some schooling and I worked hard at different jobs, culminating in an supervisory accounting position in the regional office of a large construction company. Unfortunately, the PTSD that had hindered me all those years suddenly got much worse, leading me to quit my career. With no regard for the future, I chose to live eight years in the darkness of avoidance and denial, spending all my saved and invested money, unwilling to seek help. That eventually led to a bungled suicide attempt in 2009, as I faced the loss of my home, where creditors hounded me, and utilities were being turned off for nonpayment. My sister and brother-in-law took me in and saved my life, helping me to get the therapy I needed.
This blog and my time on social media are all part of getting better. My writing, and my private study of that craft, represents my desire to have a meaningful life. My eventual goal is to write books. And I have a massive and very interesting book project that I intend to complete in my lifetime.
Currently, I spent most of my social media time at gab, a free speech site for which I have high hopes. My faith in the success and future of gab led me to become a Lifetime Patriot Pro member. I am also on thinkspot, currently in beta. My activities on facebook and twitter have halted for now; I’m still hoping those once great sites will come to their senses and stop limiting free speech by banning and shadow-banning folks like me.
My PTSD recovery is a ongoing process, and may likely affect my life indefinitely. I am no longer in therapy but I have to acknowledge it has helped me understand my symptoms and made me better prepared to deal with “triggering” moments. My willpower is sometimes weak when things get tough, but I try to live a healthy lifestyle, with nutritious food and daily exercise. My writing is a comfort to me. My time in nature is a comfort to me. My family is a great comfort to me.
I must admit to still living in somewhat of a protective bubble, minimizing the stress and anxiety that almost destroyed me. But I am much better now and ready to concentrate more on writing. I will continue my work with landscape photography and post some of my work here under the Portfolio section. I have written songs as a hobby since I was a teenager. My interest in writing songs still exists, but health (including tinnitus) and financial issues will keep me from recording and posting my music on-line. I also want to do video for YouTube but, so far, my brain cannot handle how that complicates my life. I'm not giving up on producing videos. I just don't know when I can make it happen.
I have recently begun writing background stories for some of my photos. You will find those stories in the Creative Writing section of my blog, along with poems and other stories, some true-to-life and some pure fiction.
The Personal Commentary section will have articles about my life, my struggle with PTSD and health issues, and articles about my writing, including what I've learned, how I learned it and will use it, and info about my writing projects.
The Political Commentary section will have articles about my political views and my transition from thoughtless liberal to a thinking conservative/objectivist. I may occasionally comment on current events and how a conservative/objectivist approach to America's problems might provide workable solutions. At some point I will explain what conservative/objectivist means to me. I believe that hybrid political philosophy is the answer to America's problems.
The Portfolio section will include some of my better photos. When I can, I go out to hike and take photos in local parks. If I capture something worthwhile I will add it to my portfolio, possibly writing an article on the story behind the photograph.
Thank you for visiting. I encourage comments, here or at the social media site that brought you here. I encourage you to click the little heart “like” button if you like my work on a particular article. And I want you to know this: I am a quiet and private person with a small cadre of family very dear to me; but I am like most folks; I am warmed and inspired by interactions on social media, and especially from you folks who visit with me here at my blog. That means a great deal to me, more than I can put into words. It makes me think, feel creative; makes me want to express myself, and that gives me motivation, pushing me toward the thing I want most in these waning years, to have a meaningful life.