We often think of compassion as only a one-way street. A virtue that travels from ourselves toward another. The ability to feel sorrow over another person's suffering, and to express that sorrow in a way that is intended to alleviate that suffering. Unlike pity, compassion does not suggest any feeling of superiority to the suffering [...]
Since the summer of 1958, when Eddie Cochran first sang “there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues,” many other artists (from The Who to Alan Jackson) have covered the song and kept it a staple on the radio. But what are the “Summertime Blues,” and is it really true there is no known cure? [...]
If you made it through high school English Lit, then you may remember it was Shakespeare’s Hamlet who said: “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” The “Bard” was wise about many things, even 400 years ago. And he was spot-on here. In fact, today’s leading psychologists remind us that [...]
If the last year and a half has taught us anything, it’s the fact that a spirit of buoyancy can truly help us adapt and cope with adversity and distress. History continues to show us the seemingly miraculous power of resilience. And by building up more resilience within yourself, you can tap into a great [...]
It’s no secret that cold, wet noses make us happy. Ask anyone with a dog and they won’t hesitate to share just how much joy their tail-wagging companion delivers. Countless surveys confirm that dog parents believe it is actually easier to wake up in the morning because their dog is there to greet them. You may [...]
The pandemic has driven up rates of anxiety and fear. It has also created more “free time” than most are accustomed to. But what to do with those extra precious hours that aren’t spent commuting or traveling or visiting? Some will hide under covers – literally. Others will figuratively do so – by reading more [...]
It’s interesting to think of the time and effort we put behind cherishing and preserving and restoring (and appreciating!) artwork in museums and private collections. Meanwhile, our precious elderly are suffering from isolation, loneliness and neglect. And their value to us is priceless. Certainly, the pandemic has made a bad situation worse for seniors. The [...]
Ancient wisdom tells us that there is strength in numbers. Our grandmothers taught us “many hands make light work.” We would do well to revisit the sage advice of our Elders. Theirs is often a hard-won form of common sense, good judgment and prudence. And it all ladders up to the notion that seemingly monumental [...]
We’ve been told that “life is hard.” We’ve been told that marriage is “hard work.” We’ve been told that “nothing ever comes easy in this world.” Truth? Or self-fulfilling prophecy? It’s probably more accurate to say that an easy life can be elusive, but that’s quite a bit different than saying it is strenuous or [...]
Kids are so great at counting. They still tell you their age in fractions. “I’ll be 5-and-a-half tomorrow,” you’ll hear them say. They are masters of anticipation. “Christmas will be here in only six more sleeps.” Some even “track” Santa on the Radar. Somewhere along the line, we lose this notion as we get older [...]