Over the years I have heard many descriptions of empathy and distinctions between empathy and sympathy. I recently came across a quote that I really like. “Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.” Now as you ponder that you will probably realize that it is a mixed bag. If the echoes I…
DetailsAs I ask that question, I sincerely hope that you have all of the loyal friends that you want. However, not everyone does. A recent Fox News Headline labeled millennials as “The Loneliest Generation.” A recent study found that “25 percent of millennials say they have no acquaintances, 27 percent say they have no close…
DetailsAs you read that title, you are probably thinking it is a typo and that I actually meant ADD. However, it wasn’t a typo. Dr. Charles Fay recently used this term in referring to kids who display, what he calls, “Honesty Deficit Disorder.” If you are like most parents, your response may be – “Oh,…
DetailsWhen is the last time that you woke up completely and totally refreshed? If you are like most of us, you may not remember when. All you may know is that it hasn’t been during the last decade. We easily find ourselves exhausted from: work, fixing meals, running the kids around (or chasing around after…
DetailsThat may seem like a silly question. I mean, if you have been alive any length of time, you have certainly been hurt by someone. It may have been a cutting comment, a rude response, a betrayal, and the list goes on. So, the obvious answer to the question is, “Yes, I’ve been hurt.” Perhaps…
DetailsIf you are breathing, you have at one time or another encountered individuals who get angry and fly off the handle at the slightest provocation – or maybe, seemingly, with no provocation at all. It may be a spouse, a child, a parent, a boss, a co-worker, or even a best friend. You may find…
DetailsHave you ever felt that way? You fell in love with this wonderful person. You liked their personality, their characteristics, their habits (well, most of them), and their interests. This was perfect. But then after a few years, something happened. You woke up one day and it dawned on you – there was a stranger…
DetailsDivorce can be such a disaster (most of the time it is). I know there are certainly occasions when it is unavoidable, but that is not the norm. And when children are involved, indications are that, for the most part. Everybody loses! I recently had a mother of two young children say to me –…
DetailsFor a lot of people, this question causes them to scratch their heads. If someone had asked them years earlier if they were investing in their fiancé or their boyfriend or girlfriend, it would have been much easier to answer. Because odds are, at that stage in the relationship, they constantly wanted to do things…
DetailsOver the decades, wedding vows have changed from pretty traditional and predictable to often very inventive. In the more traditional vows, the word “cherish” was often included. I still remember some of the lyrics of the song “Cherish” by the Association, performed in the 60’s. Cherish is the word I use to describe All the…
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