Florists, Chocolatiers, and restaurants gear up for the twenty–four–hour love-fest known as Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, young children are busy creating cherished heirlooms such as necklaces constructed out of painted dried pasta; photos with hand-decorated cardboard picture frames festooned with lots of sparkles and glitter, and, my personal favorite, gushy “Happy Mother’s Day” cards that get taped to … Read more
High Quality Connections (HQCs) serve as an anchor, making our lives more meaningful in a tumultuous world. These connections create upward spirals of positivity, where people communicate and receive mutual recognition, respect, and trust. When we prioritize relationships with family, friends, and ourselves—and nurture these connections—we actually rewire our brains for greater positivity. This Valentine’s … Read more
Chocolate-covered strawberries somehow tasted sweeter sharing them with my mother in the coziness of her apartment just days after she was released from the hospital. Watching my four-and-three-quarters granddaughter intently focused on making special Valentine’s cards for her mommy and daddy and of course beloved “GG” (aka great-grandmother) reminded me of the start of … Read more
This morning, I am sitting in the hospital waiting room while my mother undergoes spinal surgery in a pristine, state-of-the-art operating room two floors away. In the weeks and months leading up to this moment, both of us have experienced all of our emotions, although not necessarily the same ones at the same time. Working … Read more
In the second year of my MBA program, I put on my black jumpsuit and headed to the end-of-semester dance party to celebrate the completion of grueling exams and papers. At around midnight, I asked a handsome guy to dance, not knowing how this simple gesture would alter the trajectory of my life. Jacob was … Read more
I’ve never been a car person. But when I was in college, my parents bought me a used car. This is when I discovered how expectations play a significant role in how we process information. That’s because, before I saw the vehicle, my dad casually mentioned that it was a red sports car. Now, although … Read more
When high drama erupted in the swimming pool during the morning rush-hour, I was reminded of an ancient proverb from Rabbi Hillel, “In the place where there is no humanity, strive thou to be human.” Even with ear plugs and goggles, I detected significant turbulence in the raised voice and frenetic arm gestures of an … Read more
When my family gathered for the Passover Seder in 1998, I didn’t know it would be the last time I’d see my younger brother Gary alive. Fifty-one days later on the second day of the Jewish holiday Shavuot, I received a phone call at four in the morning telling me that he had died suddenly … Read more
A few years ago, a friend of mine explained the concept of humility in an entirely new way to me. She shared the following joke to illustrate the concept of minimizing our ego and sense of all-knowingness: Q: “What’s the difference between God and me?” A: “God doesn’t think he’s me!” Through 12-step recovery programs, … Read more
What is an energy vampire? When watching a B-grade horror flick the ominous music always alerts the audience to the fact that a vampire is afoot. Within moments, the vampire pounces on their unsuspecting victim as blood gushes from the neck. Ouch! However, in real life, energy vampires often hide behind a veneer of charm … Read more