David C. Sarnacki has published Cry, Smile, Wonder, poems about our collective joys and struggles of being human. The poems touch on such subject matters as: relationships, things Thrivers tell Survivors, friendships, love and divorce, family, parents and children, adoption,…
Springing into action: helping make unhappy holidays better
USA Today offers us tips for helping our family and friend dealing with the Holiday Blues. Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant [the the authors of “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy”] write (excerpt): First: . . .…
Being disgusted with-or kind to-your partner: the top risk factors for divorce
CNN features a Thrive Global item on the predictors of divorce. The item references five correlations between individual factors and the end of a marriage: age, demographics (education and religion), neuroticism (emotional instability), infidelity (affairs), and contempt (hostility). Drake Baer…
Rule One: Understanding your kid is a copycat!
CNN references a Rule 1 for one aspect of parenting: modeling good behavior. Ask yourself: Is there some aspect where this Rule 1 would not apply? Kelly Wallace writes (excerpt): Rule No. 1 seems simple enough but is too often…
How to handle difficult people? Simple strategies starting with listening and understanding
The ABA’s Law Practice Today offers advice on dealing with difficult people. Matt Potempa explains his top six tips (excerpt): 1. Listen. . . . Try to understand the source of their frustration while avoiding the temptation to interrupt and…
From pain to future: grieving into a new life
On Being shares an extraordinary letter offered up to a stranger, the “unknown friend.” Kao Kalia Yang writes (excerpt): From somewhere in the high heavens, the places I could not see, far beyond my gaze, there was a future floating…
How to avoid raising spoiled kids: Just say no
The New York Times reminds us of something the Rolling Stones told us years ago: “You can’t always get what you want/But if you try sometimes well you might find/You get what you need.” In today’s research, showing our children…
Keeping your inner peace
The recent article on finding the calm in your chaos reminded me of this quote attributed to Saint Francis de Sales: “Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace…
Living with the chaos inside of you: How to find calmness and manage stress
CNN shows one approach to finding your calm in the storm. Jessica Ravitz writes (excerpt): “Chaos is not outside of us; chaos is inside of us,” [Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji] answers. “In the chaos also you can find calmness. In the…
Counseling for serious relationship issues: communication and commitment
Dear Abby responds to a reader’s letter inquiring about the marriage counseling (excerpt): With a troubled marriage, a counselor can often facilitate broader communication than couples can achieve on their own. However, like most relationships, marriages can be “saved” only…
The inner life of teen boys: loyalty, friendship, protecting those they love
The Washington Post offers us ways to stay connected with teenage sons. The ideas flow from Kenneth Ginsburg, author of “Raising Kids to Thrive.” Phyllis Fagell explores these six ideas (excerpt): Focus on loving, high-yield interactions Tackle stereotypes about masculinity…
Can’t get no satisfaction?: Become a millennial father
CNN Parents declares “The path to happiness for millennial men.” According to a report by the Boston College Center for Work & Family, it’s having children and becoming an active, egalitarian father. Compared to single men without kids, millennial fathers…
Relationship advice: 11 words, 4 sentences for living and loving
On Being with Krista Tippett recently reminded us of her 2013 interview with Dr. Ira Byock. The expert in palliative care and hospice shares the core statements for any relationship and for what to say when you don’t know what…
Parenting in 10 words or less: thought-provoking compassion
Love & Logic posts as a handy refresher its one liners for getting children to think and to stop arguments. Jim Fay’s reference list includes these 5 favorites (excerpt): “Probably so.” “I bet it feels that way.” “What do you…
Extracting lies, with a little help from your mother
Craig Gray, a truly brilliant Renaissance man (and Grand Rapids’ own Krav Maga master), posted an effective tip from his PeaceWalker Program. “The Lie Detector” was inspired by the look given by a mother, and you too can use it…
Love stories: bold, sweet, hopeful, lifelong . . .
CNN Living offers up “A sweet assortment of love stories” to get us in the mood for Valentine’s Day! They asked people to leave voicemails telling their love stories and then created a multimedia page for us to share in…
Harsh parenting: bad grades, riskier behavior
CNN Parents highlights the dangers of harsh parenting: over-reliance on peers, more sexual activity, more delinquency. The study published in the journal Child Development was led by Rochelle Hentges, a postdoctoral psychology fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. It focused…
Staying happy: 5 tips for no matter what happens
CNN’s Health section highlights five coping strategies from the Dalai Lama, including being gentle with yourself, making time to reflect, keeping compassion at hand, helping, and being playful. Jen Christensen writes (excerpt): First step, work on compassion and start by…
If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter? The way to improving your life and your relationships
Psychology Today shows a method for improving relationships and marriages with its “The Tao of Improv: 5 Rules for Improvising Your Life.” Giving up control in favor of adopting with a more generous, supportive and organic mindset leads to a…
What is the secret of love? Science says a spirit of goodwill
The Atlantic went to the core of relationships and the science behind lasting relationships. So how do we make our marriages and relationships better, more enjoyable, happier, more workable, lasting? Emily Esfahani Smith writes (excerpt): There are many reasons why…