By the time you read this, the final notes of this year’s Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival will have faded away. How can music (nothing more, really, than periodic variations in air pressure) make us crave the presence of those … Continue reading →

Dear Dr. Hurd, I really liked your article about being suspicious and jealous of your husband or wife, even though there’s no evidence that he or she is having an affair. But what, exactly, is ‘evidence?’ Should I get suspicious … Continue reading →

‘I can’t wait ’til I retire!’ ‘Ahh, retirement—no more commute, no more taking orders, no more responsibilities!’ We hear comments like these all the time from hard-working people. Indeed, the ‘holy grail’ of retirement is, and should be, the ultimate … Continue reading →

‘Empty Nest Syndrome.’ What a great name! Despite the cute avian overtones, numerous websites and support groups devote themselves to this traumatic condition that arises for parents when the kids finally leave home. Though I’ve talked to many moms and … Continue reading →

I hear it every day: ‘A good marriage requires hard work and compromise.’ ‘The secret of our relationship is’ sacrifice.’ Blah, blah. Well, I have a different take on the subject. It’s not that I’m against compromise altogether. Life as … Continue reading →

A woman who visited the beach this summer sent me an email in which she admits that she constantly feels jealous and threatened by her boyfriend’s popularity with other people, especially women. She goes on to say that it’s painful … Continue reading →

As kids begin to settle into the school year, the subject of bullying inevitably comes up. Parents, teachers and kids ask me what makes bullies act the way they do. Well, there are competing theories, and I could probably write … Continue reading →

I’ve always liked the old proverb, ‘If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.’ Whenever I hear it, I immediately want to follow it up with something like, ‘So you’d better be ready for whatever … Continue reading →

Dear Dr. Hurd: I saved your article from last year about facts vs. fears. I still read it from time to time, but I can’t seem to get past my biggest fear: Flying in an airplane. Every little bit of … Continue reading →

‘An apology is a good way to have the last word.’ If this old saying is true, then why is it difficult for many people to apologize—even when they know they’re wrong? I believe a lot of the problem starts … Continue reading →

Though it sounds sort of magical and mysterious, the ‘power of suggestion’ can often be a part of your everyday life. For example, let’s say you mistakenly drink a caffeinated beverage close to bedtime, but don’t realize it until the … Continue reading →

Dear Dr. Hurd, My sister is a Catholic. Several years ago she married a wonderful man who happens to be Jewish. I don’t think I’ve ever known a happier couple—until now. She is pregnant, and they’ve started to argue constantly … Continue reading →