Apparently, it’s OK to eat anything we want—anything—just so the eating is done under certain specific conditions. As part of my weekly effort to enlighten and stimulate, I will try to itemize—and attempt to analyze—a few of these (allegedly) … Continue reading →

I would be willing to guess that you know at least one person who likes to disagree, simply for the sake of disagreeing. That person is easy to identify: disputing minor facts such as the weather, carrying on an argument … Continue reading →

  I received an email from a Wave reader who tells me that her best friend is unhappy in her marriage. She writes, ‘It really pains me to see her this way. I think she’s sort of looking for someone … Continue reading →

How often have you heard somebody say, ‘He’s not a bad person—but I still don’t like him’? So, what’s missing? In a word: Respect. To genuinely like—or even love—someone, they must first earn your respect. Like beach erosion, the loss … Continue reading →

  A visitor to my website writes:  Dear Dr. Hurd, I recently fell in love with someone fourteen years older than I am. We have been going out for nearly a year, and it’s getting more serious. In the past, … Continue reading →

Columnist Robert Fulford, writing for Canada’s ‘Globe and Mail,’ coined the phrase, ‘To kill a critic: the fantasies of authors.’ Just about everybody hates a critic—not only in the context of plays, books and movies, but also co-workers, friends and … Continue reading →

One of the biggest mistakes parents can make is to tell their young kids to not get “a big head”—implying, “Don’t think too much of yourself.” Then, years later, they’re surprised and disappointed when their children lack the ambition to … Continue reading →

It’s hard to believe, but (for those of you who are counting), this is my 100th column for The Delaware Wave! Though you’d be hard pressed to find a nicer bunch of folks than the Wave staff, I’m equally gratified … Continue reading →

Are you a ‘worry wart?’ If so, then read on. If not, then I wouldn’t worry about it—unless you’re worried that you might miss something good’. Life can occasionally be difficult, and worrying seems for the most part to be … Continue reading →

I continue to get reactions to my article about the Virginia Tech killings. In that column, I stated that a criminal mind, capable of committing—and justifying—such terrorist acts, was almost certainly beyond ‘help.’ While administrators and mental health workers sat … Continue reading →

Stress reduction is not necessarily about doing less in your life. In fact, many people become depressed or anxious simply because they don’t have enough to do. (Just ask anyone having a hard time adjusting to retirement!) It really boils … Continue reading →

Celebrated songwriter Neil Sedaka wasn’t far from the truth when he co-wrote the hit song ‘Breaking Up is Hard to Do.’ The emotional impact of a breakup can be devastating, with feelings ranging from bewilderment to shock, from hurt to … Continue reading →