I've been giving something a lot of thought lately, and have decided to share it with you - to influence you (if you're not already) to open up to friendships. Deborah Tannen, the linguist, recently wrote a piece published in The New York Times which discussed some research which indicated that people with sisters are happier than those without them.  Her point of view was it isn't women who talk better than men, it's that they talk more often - even if it's not about problems.  The very act of just communing is beneficial to both. More >>

As a "family member" and longtime listener, I was touched by the call from a woman afraid to inform her brother of his positive test results for a devastating disease (Huntington's). In your compassionate, firm way, you rightly said her brother must be informed despite the caller's fears of his committing suicide, adding you regret you have no magic wand. More >>

There are lots of ways to show others disrespect.  One very typical example of disrespectful behavior is being chronically late.  Oh, people have lots of excuses:  the dog, the computer, the kid, the traffic, the moon spots, and, of course "stuff happens." I'm not talking about an isolated event.  I'm talking about a pattern of behavior.  Being chronically late not only messes up plans, it hurts feelings.  I believe more often than not, chronic lateness is passive-aggressive behavior.  More >>

...I have a few girlfriends who are thirty-something and they dread their birthdays because they feel their best days are behind them (even the ones married with children). I think this is so sad because at this point, a thirty-something woman should just have begun her journey as a successful, mature woman with her best days ahead. More >>

When asked what makes them happy at school, kids most often answer: friends! Children have better attitudes about education and learning when they have friends at school... More >>

After almost 30 years of following the popular phrase "be yourself and people will like you", I have finally realized that's a complete lie. What precipitated my complete change of view is that I went to a get together at a park. More >>

Social isolation [loneliness] is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, being an alcoholic, not exercising, and twice as harmful as obesity. Bottom line:  The lack of social support should be added to the short list of risk factors for an early grave.  More >>

When you're the new kid in town, or the new family on the block, there's a way to overcome the awkwardness of not knowing anyone... More >>

I want to make a public statement about Sarah Palin; former Governor of Alaska and candidate for Vice President of the United States.  More >>

A few weeks ago, I participated in a 45 mile ocean race with 6 other crew members and a 33-foot boat.  There were 10 other competitors in our class.  One of them - a very fast boat-had a handicap rating, which meant that we had to beat them by 20 minutes (in a 61/2 hour race). More >>