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
Category: Life’s a Beach!
Say no to bullies!
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
Decide for Yourself
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
Learn to let go
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
Treat yourself to an apology
‘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
May I Suggest…?
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
Resolve Conflict by Changing Perspective
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
Beware of “Vacation Syndrome!”
I’d like to take a moment to thank those readers who email, call or write with comments and questions. As an example, every summer season I receive a significant number of requests from local readers to reprint this particular column … Continue reading
How much is your time worth?
After much study and research, I have come to the conclusion that there are basically two types of people in the world. The first are the people who can’t stand to move their car from a parking space until they … Continue reading
Depressed? Turn off TV news!
It amazes me how people can act like smart consumers in some situations, and like helpless pawns in others. Consider the way most of us handle the news—especially television news. I’m not talking about political bias here. I’m talking about … Continue reading
Can “closure” end the pain?
I received an anxious email from a reader who is seeking ‘closure’ from his girlfriend who recently dumped him. A vague (but popular) concept, ‘closure’ means seeking a neat, painless ending—along with the cool, detached perspective of time. Unfortunately, time … Continue reading
Don’t Take It Personally!
One of the things I like about living at the beach is the wide variety of restaurants (and, perhaps, the occasional bar, but only for research purposes, you understand’). Sometimes, though, the experience can be marred by bad service. It’s … Continue reading