I love it when I hit a nerve. I continue to get emails and calls regarding my comments several weeks ago about ‘poseurs,’ false pride, and mistaken ‘short cuts’ to self-esteem. Many of your responses centered on whether it was … Continue reading →

Talking to people about problems related to their childhood has taught me a lot about what kids need from their parents—in particular, what they got, or didn’t get (emotionally speaking), while growing up. It’s quite a challenge to guide an … Continue reading →

‘I’m sick of the traffic! I can’t wait until summer’s over!’ ‘What? More construction? Things sure aren’t what they used to be!’ We all feel this way sometimes, especially if we’re residents. Who hasn’t sat on Route 1 and patiently … Continue reading →

A visitor to my website writes that her ‘friend’ only calls her when he wants something, like free tax advice (she’s a CPA) or whatever. He rarely asks how she’s doing. She sees his behavior as selfish and morally bad. … Continue reading →

  When a child covers his or her ears so as not to hear what you have to say, most of us can’t help but think of it as ‘cute.’ But when an adult evades, denies or ignores something significant, … Continue reading →

  A Wave reader in Fenwick Island writes: Dear Dr. Hurd: Your column about argumentative and contrary people really hit home! My husband disagrees over everything. If I say the sky is blue, he will engage me in a battle … Continue reading →

  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 →