February is heart month. It’s also Valentine’s Day. And at a time when the world seems more fractured than ever, I can’t think of a more important topic than love. While contemplating this, the words to the song What the World Needs Now filled my mind. Released in 1965 during the height of the civil rights movement, it was written and composed by Hal David and Burt Bachrach, and made popular by si... »
I often think that life would be easier if I didn’t have to deal with people. After all, the fact that each of us sees life from a different perspective can complicate things. But, when all is said and done, I find that people and their diverse perspectives serve as my greatest inspiration. I also know that it is only through my relationships with others that I can truly know myself. One of the mo... »
Being a patient is a humbling experience, as I recently learned in choosing to undergo spinal fusion surgery to correct a condition called spondylolisthesis, in which one vertebra slides forward over the one below it. It is especially humbling if you’re like me — impatient and grouchy when feeling incapacitated in any way. Surgery was the absolute last thing I wanted, so I drove myself and everyon... »
Clinical trials are important. People who participate in them help us find new cures treatments, and explanations for various behaviors. One recent clinical study conducted by University of California psychologist Dr. Jonas Kaplan, captured my attention. It turns out that there is actually a scientific reason why people are stubborn about their political beliefs. Kaplan and his colleagues studied ... »
Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth—Richelle E. Goodrich I don’t know about you, but I hate making mistakes – not mistakes like a typo, or burning something I’ve baked. (In my life, that’s pretty much a daily occurrence!) The mistakes that are really hard are ... »
May is Mental Health Month, and an important topic. The latest rage on Netflix is 13 Reasons Why. It’s about Hannah Baker, who takes her life after a series of hurtful incidents, brought on by individuals at school. It’s about bullying, hurtful rumors, and ways people hurt one another. It isn’t biographical, but it could be. After all, Hannah’s tragedy is all too common. After one mom watched it w... »
Have you ever wondered why couples often choose June to tie the knot? Certainly, June is often a beautiful and temperate month. But it also derived its name from Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, and people believed that couples who married in June would be blessed with prosperity and happiness. And during medieval times a person’s annual bath usually fell in May or June, meaning that June brid... »
Most of us can’t wait for summer to arrive, freeing ourselves from cumbersome clothing, and delighting in longer days filled with all that the season has to offer. So why does summer sometimes make us feel lethargic? What accounts for those lazy days of summer? According to Quartz Media, the answer simple, and scientifically-based: hot weather slows our bodies down. The hotter it is outside, the m... »
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts recently delivered the commencement address at his son’s ninth-grade graduation. And he surprised students with his message, saying, “I hope you will be treated unfairly, so that you will come to know the value of justice. I hope that you will suffer betrayal because that will teach you the importance of loyalty.” Justice Roberts also recited th... »
Publisher’s Letter August 2016 I am determined to get everything I possibly can out of this glorious summer we are having. Whether attending a craft show, swimming laps at the local pool, taking an outdoor exercise class, getting to a farmer’s market or festival, the possibilities are endless. Last week, I visited The Chautauqua Institution, where admission is free on Sundays. This non-profit adul... »
