A man goes to his Psychiatrist. He says, “Nobody listens to me.” Doc says, “NEXT!”
This classic Henny Youngman jokes keeps coming to mind lately as the perfect metaphor for on-line dating. You put your best self out there, eagerly waiting for someone to connect with the wonder that is you. But each time you log on, you see exactly how many guys (or girls) have viewed your profile and said “NEXT!”
Now to be fair, every one of us on these sites does plenty of blowing through profiles. Yet somehow, that doesn’t lessen the impact of this peculiar form of rejection. Then add to the mix the ones you reach out to who never respond, and the ones who contact you, who you have no interest in. Not to mention all of the dead-air phone calls and non-reciprocal in-person experiences. And suddenly, you’re back in Mrs. Pierce’s 6th grade homeroom, gazing at Tommy McGillicutty who you find totally dreamy but doesn’t know you exist; while fending off Ned Schmidt who you find totally annoying but keeps asking if he can walk you home. Not that this has ever happened to me… Read the rest of this entry »
Does all of the family togetherness around the holidays sometimes make you feel like shouting from the rooftops? And I don’t mean ho, ho, ho. If your extended family is less like a Norman Rockwell painting and more like Munch’s The Scream, then you’re in good company. It is estimated that 75% of people have at least one family member that gets under their skin. It is also estimated that the other 25% are lying.
Of course we love our families, but at least some of the time, they do have an uncanny ability to push our buttons like no other. Sure you can limit your visits or artfully dodge certain people, but are there other ways of dealing with difficult people and familial tensions at the holidays? I think so. So, before you head home to face your Aunt’s disapproving glances, your Mother-in-law’s not so subtle critique of your parenting skills, or whatever gets your goat, here are:
3 New Strategies for Dealing with Difficult People at Family Gatherings Read the rest of this entry »
So you’ve heeded the warnings and cut down on junk food. That’s great. But how are you doing on something equally toxic for your health, something known as “Junk Food Thinking”? Also referred to as “Stinkin’ Thinkin”, it’s a distorted way of thinking that increases our stress and saps our mental and physical well-being. And I would guess that we all “go there” from time to time.
There are many sub-categories of Junk Food Thinking but here are the 5 main types and how to defeat them. Read the rest of this entry »
