Rebuilding Rob

  • Strong Enough to Sob

    Strong Enough to Sob

    Can a superhero movie or a 90s tear-jerker actually define your philosophy on life? From the heroic end of Tony Stark to a ‘George Costanza’ moment during Home Alone, I’m looking at the father-son dynamics that shaped me. At 51, I’ve realized that being ‘strong enough to sob’ isn’t a…

  • The Architecture of Hypocrisy: Cheap Labor and Heavy Hands

    The Architecture of Hypocrisy: Cheap Labor and Heavy Hands

    As federal enforcement escalates in Minnesota, we must look past the headlines at the architecture of hypocrisy: the demand for cheap labor versus the violence used to “remove” it.

  • From Nottingham to the Mitten: What Happens When the World Discovers America’s ‘Third Coast’

    From Nottingham to the Mitten: What Happens When the World Discovers America’s ‘Third Coast’

    Why does it take a stranger to show us the beauty of our own backyard? From the viral sensations of British travelers Josh and Jase to the iconic “mitten point” of the Motor City Machine Guns, discover why Michigan is truly “America’s Third Coast.” A personal reflection on the geographic…

  • 50,000 views

    50,000 views

    Rebuilding Rob just hit a massive milestone: 50,000 all-time views! 🚀 Even more incredible? 70% of that traffic arrived in just the last two years. Whether you’re new here or a long-time reader, come see which posts are driving the momentum and join the journey as we keep building toward…

  • Beyond Inflation: The True Cost of Regret and the Art of Balance

    Beyond Inflation: The True Cost of Regret and the Art of Balance

    Everything is getting more expensive, from the price of bread to the cost of living. But as an old Van Halen video famously pointed out, nothing is more expensive than regret. This week, I’m looking at the economics of the heart—and why “Option C” is the one investment you can’t…

  • The Only Good Reason to Get Married (12 Years Later)

    The Only Good Reason to Get Married (12 Years Later)

    Twelve years after first sharing Kelly Flanagan’s famous letter on marriage, I’m revisiting the theory of “dismantling the ego.” Is total vulnerability a beautiful goal or a dangerous risk? From the perspective of “Option C,” I’m looking at why true connection feels like capturing lightning in a bottle and what…

  • Embracing the Suck

    Embracing the Suck

    Dealing with the “polar vortex” in Michigan requires more than just a shovel. From using UV lamps for seasonal depression to the “unexpected win” of a unified co-parenting front, this post explores how to embrace the sucky elements of winter—and life—to find a “good kind of tired.”

  • 11 Degrees: Survival Mode and the Myth of the American Dream

    11 Degrees: Survival Mode and the Myth of the American Dream

    At 11 degrees, survival is not a metaphor. Explore a Realist perspective on the homelessness crisis in Ann Arbor, the myth of the American Dream, and why 59% of Americans are closer to the street than to a billionaire CEO. A deep dive into systemic failure and the ‘Option C’…

  • Staying in the Room

    Staying in the Room

    Staying in the Room” explores the reality of pet loss, the “luminous” soul, and the courage to face life’s biggest goodbyes—and the solitude of 51—alone.

  • Choosing to Be the Villain

    Choosing to Be the Villain

    What do you do when you’re forced to choose between a dying parent and a pregnant partner? In this reflective look back at a 10-year family rift, I explore why I chose to be the “villain” in my family’s story to be the hero in my own home. A story…