The literal meaning of “normal” is nothing less than, and, regrettably, nothing more than “average.” When people tell me they want to be normal, I cringe. After all, why do they aspire to just average? I can understand how being … Continue reading
Category: Life’s a Beach!
No Matter What You Think: Controlling Others Will Not Work (DE Wave)
At the end of a holiday season, one topic that sometimes comes up in my office is the issue of control. As families and friends spend more time together, tension and hurt feelings can be caused by somebody who has … Continue reading
Being Organized: Not a Skill, But a Mindset (DE Coast Press)
The new year can be an occasion for people to organize their schedules and prioritize their goals. But some tell me that they sometimes make their schedules too inflexible. It is true that an organized schedule reflects an organized mind. … Continue reading
Pay Off Your Sleep Debt (DE Wave)
I’ll bet that many of you can remember the childhood thrill of going on vacation. The preparation, counting the days — and the getting up at 3 or 4 in the morning to leave. Through the fog of fitful backseat … Continue reading
The Joy of “Regifting” (DE Coast Press)
So there it sits, buried under Scrooge McDuck wrapping paper and pine needles: The gargoyle ashtray from Uncle Hiram (you haven’t smoked for 43 years). Not to mention the dented cheese log glaring back at you from the refrigerator. But … Continue reading
Why New Year’s Resolutions Crash & Burn (DE Wave)
I think pretty much everyone will admit that most New Year’s resolutions fail. In spite of the best of intentions, most are destined for disaster. Why? Because they’re artificial. You can’t resolve to do something just because it happens to … Continue reading
To Like/Love Someone, You Have to Respect Them (DE Coast Press)
The holiday season is intertwined with warm feelings of love and romance. But in life – holidays or not – it is important to know that to genuinely like or love someone, that person must first earn your respect. The … Continue reading
Can Forgiveness Ever Be Unhealthy? (DE Wave)
All the holiday talk of good cheer and good will sounds great, but the fact remains that certain transgressions or betrayals can be impossible to forgive and forget. People often ask me if it is unhealthy to just NOT forgive … Continue reading
Fascination With the Mystical (DE Coast Press)
According to a Gallup Organization survey, 20% of Americans believe that it is possible to communicate with the dead. Films such as “Bless the Child” and “Sixth Sense,” along with TV shows peddling self-proclaimed mediums like John Edward, continue to … Continue reading
When Holiday Gift-Giving Becomes a Burden (DE Wave)
‘Tis the season! Credit cards are polished and ready, as rosy cheeked shoppers gleefully embark on the adventure of Christmas shopping 2014. Really? Even I can’t believe I just wrote that. What I usually hear is, “The holidays are so … Continue reading
What Makes a Person a Perfectionist (DE Coast Press)
I often speak to people who proudly describe themselves as “perfectionists.” However, after we talk for a while, it’s interesting how many of their anxieties appear to stem from that very description. Though the word has a virtuous ring to … Continue reading
ADHD: the Party’s Over (DE Wave)
For two decades I’ve been questioning the concept of the alleged disease of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Suddenly, mental health professionals are beginning to say the same things I’ve been saying for a long time, and one of those professionals … Continue reading