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Persuasive People
“If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.” (Benjamin Franklin) We all like to say we make our decisions based on the facts. We carefully consider our options intellectually and choose based on objective reason. Or so we say. The truth is, self-interest almost always plays a much bigger role in […]
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When There’s a Will…
“Dwell not upon thy weariness, thy strength shall be according to the measure of thy desire. ” (Arab Proverb) “How-to” books are very popular. You can find one for practically any human activity. In order to get this outcome, do these steps. Simple formula. But the truth is, the best “how-to” books can only help if […]
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I Beg to Differ
“Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress. ” (Mahatma Gandhi) I’m convinced that despite what people say, pretty much everyone loves conflict. If not on the sports field, then we enjoy it on TV. Or in the political arena. See, we all love conflict, as long as it’s happening to other people. When it comes to […]
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We Can Hide, or We Can Heal
“When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability…. To be alive is to be vulnerable.”(Madeleine L’Engle) Somewhere, somehow, we men were taught that vulnerability automatically means weakness. Perhaps we got it from war movies, where opponents […]
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Smart or Wise?
“A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.” (Dutch Proverb) There are many lies that rule the world, but the lie of “knowledge” is among the most insidious of all. You know the one—that if we only knew better, we would do better. So, we emphasize knowledge. We seek after know-how. […]
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Costly Kids
“I could now afford all the things I never had as a kid, if I didn’t have kids.” (Robert Orben) Yep, kids are ridiculously expensive creatures. After you figure in food, diapers, clothing, doctor’s visits, braces, haircuts, birthday parties, and several trips to Disneyworld, the average American family spends close to the GNP of Guatemala […]
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Choose to Choose
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” (Dr. Seuss) Too many times in life, when we are faced with a difficult situation, we tend to think in extremes. We either shut down or we blow up. While this is definitely understandable, […]
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Inferior Interior
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” (Eleanor Roosevelt) I used to refer to Facebook as “Timesuck,” for obvious reasons. But I have to confess that lately I’ve been feeling even more animosity towards it and all other social media hubs. Perhaps I’m just doing it wrong, but rarely do I come […]
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Responsible to our Kids
“Parents are the last people on earth who ought to have children.” (Samuel Butler) Everybody is a great parent until they have kids. We all have great ideals about how we will relate with our kids; how we will give them both freedom and responsibility. How we will let them make mistakes so that they […]
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Your Stop Sign
“In the name of God, stop a moment. Cease your work, look around.” (Leo Tolstoy) I know that we are all busy beyond measure these days. If it’s not the office demanding your attention, it’s the laundry, or an aging parent, a needy friend, an empty refrigerator. But guess what – all of that will […]