Mark McDonald, M.D.

02/24/2026

America’s children are addicted so IG. https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/play/225570/2651029f-f354-42f6-8d7d-e195cb77f537

02/19/2026

I've been thinking about how sometimes intelligence can come with the painful cost of never enjoying the moment.
I believe that while those who don’t overthink life may find contentment in simple pleasures, my own mind—and that of many brilliant friends—tends to dissect every experience, pulling us away from living fully in the present.
I see how our constant need for understanding only uncovers more questions and prevents us from ever feeling truly satisfied.
It often feels like the beauty of life is obscured by an irresistible urge to analyze and improve every moment, leaving us with a persistent, underlying discontent.

Is it true that the stupid are happier?

02/12/2026

I've been reflecting on how our culture wrongly elevates ugliness over beauty, accepting what is broken as more genuine when, in fact, true beauty requires discipline, skill, and a vision for something higher.
I see this trend in architecture, music, fashion, and art, where the ease of the crude replaces the aspiration of the refined.
I've noticed that social media amplifies this dynamic by prioritizing provocation over thoughtful engagement, leaving us focusing on what we despise rather than what we can create.
I believe that acknowledging pain is necessary, but building our identities solely around it only decorates our wounds rather than healing them.
For me, striving for beauty means recognizing that even in decay, there is a remarkable resilience—a single flower emerging from a crumbling wall—and that is the truest expression of life.

We have been sold an unhealthy, pernicious lie

02/06/2026

I've been thinking about how drastically the pandemic has reshaped our human connections, both intellectually and physically.
I recently spoke with a friend who, after a lifetime of vibrant relationships, now struggles to find partners who value thoughtful conversation and physical intimacy.
I can't help but see the impact of those two years of enforced isolation and propaganda that not only stifled our critical thinking but also criminalized our natural need for touch.
When I travel, I notice a return to genuine, spontaneous interactions—a stark contrast to the virtual, detached connections that have become the norm here.
It leaves me wondering if we've permanently redefined what it means to connect, and whether the deep, natural bonds we once shared are now forever lost.

How the propaganda machine redefined our relationships

02/03/2026

I've been thinking about the true meaning of community and how our current definitions often fall short.
We celebrate communities for providing support, meaning, and identity, yet many are built around arbitrary or even superficial traits.
I struggle to see how labeling groups solely by factors like sexuality, race, or shared activities constitutes a real community when it doesn't foster accountability, shared history, or genuine interrelatedness.
Where urban America is fragmented into factions and individualism, I find that traditional, rural, or religious communities, built on authentic shared values, seem to be the only ones left.
Frankly, the term "community" has been diluted to the point where it now seems like a cover for exclusionary or even destructive behaviors that really do more harm than good.

This is what passes for community today

02/03/2026

I've been reflecting on a conversation with a friend who, frustrated by his own failures in finding a deep connection in Los Angeles, argued that many local women seem locked into a fantasy of unattainable wealth and security.
I believe that the lack of vulnerability and the prioritization of financial self-protection have stripped our relationships of true romance and intimacy.
It troubles me that economic pressures have led women to shy away from risk, ultimately leaving both partners without the courage to foster genuine emotional bonds.
In my view, this modern tragedy diminishes the possibility of building meaningful partnerships and nurturing the kind of trust that is essential for growth and the continuation of life.

The foundation necessary to establishing romantic relationships no longer exists

01/20/2026

I've been reflecting on the sad reality that many relationships today are nothing more than sponsorships masquerading as partnerships.
In Los Angeles, I see too often a transactional dynamic where financial gain and convenience replace genuine affection and shared values.
I believe that a true partnership requires real commitment, loyalty, and a mutual effort to support each other’s growth, qualities that are rare in the current climate.
It troubles me that what passes for a relationship now fosters cynicism and hedonism instead of lasting, generative bonds.
I urge everyone to look beyond the surface and consider if they are truly engaging in a relationship that builds both partners up for the long haul.

All relationships are not equal

01/13/2026

https://www.skool.com/liberated-man-academy-8296/mastering-masculinity-in-2026-from-wounded-disconnected-to-grounded-reconnected-man?p=f9b4c92e

01/08/2026

I've been reflecting on why we make New Year's resolutions and what they tell us about our need for growth and a better future.
I see that setting goals is a way to escape the pain of the present and alleviate the sting of past inachievement.
I believe that while resolutions are easy to create, they often falter because we mistake bursts of energy for lasting progress instead of embracing small, consistent steps.
I also notice that precise, measurable goals—like climbing a new difficulty grade or paying off a car loan—carry more promise than vague ambitions.
I find it fascinating how our resolutions not only reveal personal struggles and desires but also mirror the economic and emotional challenges that define modern society.

New year’s resolutions: Why do we make them, and how do we keep them? What do they reveal about us as a society? People are drawn toward growth. They need something to look forward to. To remain in the present is to be mired in it. Setting goals makes

01/01/2026

I had high hopes for 2025, believing that a revitalized government and ascending freedom would revive our battered economy.
Yet, the reality proved brutal as key figures were lost, gas prices doubled, and legislative action stalled under unified Democrat intransigence.
I witnessed urban America descend into chaos, with cities like Los Angeles spiraling into bankruptcy while Republican-controlled metropolises managed to thrive.
Skyrocketing costs, stagnant wages, and a healthcare system skewed by political interference left our nation struggling, even as our professionals—like doctors—abandoned their posts.
Despite Republicans seizing control of government branches, our future remains clouded by political obstruction and misguided voter choices.
This has led me to consciously filter out the urban riffraff and seek out the few exceptional Americans doing meaningful work.
With all that said, I welcome 2026 with cautious resolve, though I fear there may simply not be enough to save us.

Out with a whimper, in with a bang