“Ahh, retirement—no more commute, no more responsibilities. I can’t wait!” The holy grail of retirement is the reward for a lifetime of accomplishment and faithful employment. But for some people it doesn’t quite live up to all it’s supposed to … Continue reading
I got some interesting responses to my recent column about the negative aspects of lying. A mother of three writes, “I’ve tried to impress on my children that lying is more than just ‘bad’ or a ‘sin,’ and that the … Continue reading
We all tell lies at one time or another. Most are little white lies to spare somebody’s feelings, or to get out of a commitment that we wish we had never made. The majority of people feel guilty after telling … Continue reading
It’s a simple fact, and quite true: Stress is part of the price we pay for living. And stress, like living, is here to stay. The challenge is how to manage it. Though helpful lists in newspapers can sometimes be … Continue reading
Most important jobs require training. We have to pass a test to drive; accredited education is required for health professionals, yet there is no testing process to prepare parents for the enormous responsibility of raising moral and well-adjusted kids. To … Continue reading
The season is in full swing and apparently y’all are getting chatty out there! This week I’ll answer a couple of interesting questions from faithful readers: Christa writes, “My husband and I have been together for ten years. We enjoy … Continue reading
For many, summer at the beach includes increased interaction with family and friends. That can be a lot of fun, but sometimes … not so much, when that interaction ends up in my office in the form of control issues. … Continue reading
The pleasures of summer are here, and for many of us, that’s why we’re living or vacationing at the beach. So it might seem kind of silly to write a column about smiling. But after doing what I’ve been doing … Continue reading
Protected by the privacy of a therapy session, clients occasionally admit to me that interactions with family, grown children, aging parents and old friends were often tinged with guilt. In spite of all the jokes (“What? You can’t call your … Continue reading
Well, it’s that time again. As we wade through caramel corn, pepperoni-topped slices, salt-water taffy and crab cake sandwiches, how can one possibly maintain one’s slim, trim, beach-ready figure? Isn’t there some sort of middle ground where we can still … Continue reading
Well, it’s that time again! Every year for the past 20 years that I’ve had the pleasure of writing for the Gannett Papers, I receive multiple emails and texts asking me to reprint this article. So May 2025 seems like … Continue reading
A website visitor writes, “Dear Dr. Hurd, I am afraid of blood pressure measurements. It started three years ago when I had a panic attack. My blood pressure was high, and the emergency medical team mistook it for a heart … Continue reading