‘Tis the week of Black Friday! Credit cards are polished and ready as rosy cheeked shoppers gleefully anticipate the thrill of Christmas shopping, 2012. Really? Even I can’t believe I just wrote that. What I usually hear sounds more like, … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful. That sounds very nice, but it’s a bit too general for my taste. I like to look at Thanksgiving as a time of perspective: To think about what’s right, both with the world … Continue reading →

If nothing else, events of the last month have increased stress levels for many people. Road closures and damage from Sandy the Annoying Storm, the passions surrounding last week’s presidential election, and the commitments of the upcoming holidays all remind … Continue reading →

It seems that we’ll never truly hear the end of the horrific case of Earl Bradley, the pediatrician who abused so many children at his office in Lewes, De. The entire situation is almost unthinkable, but it has generated many … Continue reading →

With all the political rhetoric about bullying going on here in Delaware, the subject recently hit a little too close to home. A good friend confided to me that his son — a smart, gentle and pleasant 11-year-old, was being … 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 →

The high holy days of masquerade are upon us, and rarely does a Halloween go by without my getting a few inquiries about the psychology of costumes and disguise. Ancient mystical beliefs held that if you disguised yourself on All … Continue reading →

Dear Dr. Hurd, In a recent Life’s a Beach column, you wrote, “The death of a beloved pet is certainly among the more difficult situations I face across in my office. I try to help people correct the mistaken belief … Continue reading →

A local reader tells me that he has been unemployed for four years. He goes on to say, ‘My odds of finding a job seem to decrease as time passes. A friend has offered to compose a fake resume and … Continue reading →

As the holiday season looms on the horizon, does the thought of walking into a crowded room or restaurant make you nervous? You’re not alone. Shyness, and the anxiety that goes with it, is a common psychological problem. Shyness doesn’t … Continue reading →

By the time you read this, the final notes of this year’s Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival will have faded away. What is the magnetic effect music has on us? From the amateur flailings of American Idol, to semi-sober karaoke, all … Continue reading →

Dear Dr. Hurd, I disagree with some of my friends regarding the upcoming election. And now the holidays are coming up and I have to be with them. Yikes! Because of my frustration over what they say and think, I … Continue reading →