Noted educator Maria Montessori once said, “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” This beautiful statement has many implications for children and for education in general. I’d like to generalize a bit more … Continue reading →

Remember “The Dog Whisperer” on National Geographic Channel? It featured the celebrated dog behavior specialist, Cesar Millan. His common-sense approach to controlling the conduct of dogs worked unfailingly, time after time. Interestingly, in every episode it quickly became obvious that … Continue reading →

We should be careful about the way we phrase things when talking about ourselves or others. And “being nice” has nothing to do with it; the way we phrase things has an impact on how we view them, and sometimes … Continue reading →

I appreciate your many responses to last week’s column! Shortly after I moved here, an associate from my former practice in Washington, D.C. likened resort dwellers to “outlaws.” I took it (and she meant it) as a compliment. Resort living … Continue reading →

Well, the new year is upon us. Did you eat your black-eyed peas and turnip greens? Apparently, peas and greens bring financial luck in the coming year. Furthermore, they’re good for the digestive system. (The correlation between digestive health and … Continue reading →

For many people, the new year brings a bit of soul-searching and an objective look at where your past decisions have brought you today. An old friend of mine once told me that people who live full-time at a seasonal … Continue reading →

Champagne and too many of those little quiches can result in some pretty outlandish new year’s resolutions. It’s tricky to say what you mean and mean what you say when you’re counting backwards from 10 and balancing a lampshade on … Continue reading →

The new year brings all sorts of resolutions and promises, and one of the most popular is to get things clean and in order. People often ask me if it’s obsessive or neurotic to enjoy cleaning, and I have good … Continue reading →

The seasonal pressure to make everything (and everybody) instantly cheerful and merry can be stressful. The timeless words, “I’ll be home for Christmas” can sometimes set the stage for tension, particularly among family and between married couples. Couples fight for … Continue reading →

So there it sits, buried under crumpled Frosty the Snowman wrapping paper and pine needles: The gargoyle ashtray from Aunt Mimma (you haven’t smoked for 43 years). Not to mention the deviled eggs glaring back at you from the dark … Continue reading →

Several readers asked me to clarify the difference between short-term compromise and all-out self-sacrifice. More than one Life’s a Beach! column has emphasized that the latter should never be part of a marriage, or any partnered relationship. A short-term compromise … Continue reading →

It’s never a good idea to mix business with friendship. It may seem perfectly natural to go into business with, or to employ (or be employed by) your friend, but those who have actually done that know that both relationships … Continue reading →