I have a friend who, when confronted with something he did wrong, often ends his explanation with, “Well, it’s not an excuse, but it IS a reason.” Though it always gets a chuckle, the expression doesn’t really resolve anything. A … Continue reading
As couples get more comfortable in therapy sessions, the subject of nagging sometimes comes up. I think we can all agree that few things are more annoying than being nagged (except perhaps being accused of it). Nagging stems from the … Continue reading
In spite of the summer hustle and bustle of our beautiful Delaware beaches, there’s still that “off-season” time of year when our resort yet again becomes a small town. This is when I start hearing one of the most common … Continue reading
As the summer season approaches, many of us will have increased interaction with clerks in stores and servers in restaurants. Most of us know how to conduct ourselves in public, but I often hear about people who take the opportunity … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: My husband disagrees with everything. If I say the sky is blue, he will engage me in a battle over “how blue.” If a friend gets a new car, he’ll launch into a lecture — in front … Continue reading
All this talk about the Pope and Catholicism got me thinking about the subject from a psychological point-of-view. Then, lo and behold, I received this email from a reader: Dear Dr. Hurd, My sister is a Catholic. Several years … Continue reading
Barely does a sitcom or TV talk show go by without the word “passive aggressive” popping up. Despite its overuse, it is a very real behavior. Do any of these situations sound familiar? A friend assures you that he’s happy … Continue reading
Dealing with couples’ conflicts can be stressful for everyone involved. One of the questions that parents often ask me is whether it’s right or wrong to stay together solely for the sake of the children. Their premise is that their … Continue reading
Not a day goes by that social media isn’t whining and kvetching about bad experiences with service providers. But when I look closer at some of the individual situations (it’s what I do, after all…), I begin to see a … Continue reading
One of the issues that comes up most often in my office is money. In fact, it’s one of the top reasons for divorce. From childhood we often hear, “Money is the root of all evil,” or, “Money can’t buy … Continue reading
A visitor to Bethany Beach emails that her next-door neighbor freely allows his dogs to do their “business” on her lawn and driveway, and makes no effort to remove it. The writer feels uncomfortable confronting the neighbor about it, and … Continue reading
“Say what you mean, and mean what you say.” This venerable and oh-so-true expression reveals a lot about the importance of integrity, honesty and keeping your word in your day-to-day life. Years ago, I had a neighbor who felt it … Continue reading