Intelligence Is More Than What You Know A kind person is not automatically intelligent, and an intelligent person is not automatically kind. What interests me is the role empathy plays in understanding. Empathy allows me to consider what another person may be thinking or feeling without requiring me to agree. Some people are brilliant with
Smart in the Head and the Heart Read More »
Everybody Around You Is Not Good for You I have learned to be careful about who I allow into my space. Some people can leave me feeling drained through constant complaining, conflict, jealousy, or drama. Folks sometimes call them energy vampires, and I understand the feeling behind that phrase even if I do not take
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The Meme Is Modern, but the Idea Is Old The saying that hard times create strong people, strong people create good times, and comfort creates weakness sounds ancient, but the familiar wording is modern. Novelist G. Michael Hopf says he developed the version that spread online while writing his 2016 novel Those Who Remain. The
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When a Belief Feels Personal I once believed that enough facts would eventually change anyone’s mind. Life has taught me that belief is more complicated. Some beliefs are tied to identity, family, values, community, and a person’s understanding of who they are. Challenging them can therefore feel personal even when the disagreement is about facts.
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Attraction Is Personal Attraction is deeply personal. The same man may strongly appeal to one woman and barely interest another, and that does not mean anything is wrong with either person. Attraction can come from appearance, personality, chemistry, timing, values, confidence, and shared experiences. Sometimes it happens quickly, while other times it grows slowly. What
Attraction Should Not Have to Be Purchased Read More »
My Parents Will Not Be Here Forever One of the hardest truths of life is realizing that my parents were growing older while I was busy growing up. When I was young, they seemed permanent. Age teaches me otherwise. Eventually I notice the slower walk, the tired eyes, or the need for help with things
Five Hard Truths I Have Learned to Make Peace With Read More »
When Attention Feels Too Rare to Risk Losing A man who has gone a long time without romantic attention may begin treating ordinary affection as something extraordinary. Being chosen can feel like something he cannot afford to lose. That fear may cause him to commit too quickly, give too much, or excuse treatment he would
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Grief changes not only what we say but how we say it. I can speak casually with someone for years and suddenly sound almost ceremonial when death enters the conversation. Words such as departed, passed on, and deepest condolences appear even when they are not part of my everyday speech. Much of this is simply
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Character Without an Audience Some of the clearest evidence of character appears when nobody is watching. It is easy to seem generous when generosity brings attention or to appear honorable when honesty earns praise. The harder test comes when doing the right thing offers no public reward. Nobody congratulates me, and sometimes nobody even knows
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What Gaslighting Actually Means The word gaslighting is now used so broadly that almost any painful disagreement can receive the label. The term comes from Gas Light, a 1938 play about a husband deliberately manipulating his wife into doubting her perceptions. Gaslighting is more than a disagreement, a bad memory, or an insensitive remark. It
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