by Nancy | Aug 5, 2020
I get it — silence is golden. I’ve heard that statement more times than I can count, likely because I talk a lot. I don’t take it personally because I have come to understand the impact of the pause. As a Mediator, my super-power is helping people...
by Nancy | Jul 29, 2020
I’m often asked if couples ever successfully reconcile. While it’s not my job to assist in this regard, I do occasionally see people who decide to stay together. They actually succeed sometimes, if they’re willing to do the work, and if they choose...
by Nancy | Jul 22, 2020
Are you a donkey married to an elephant? Do you engage in healthy discussions with your spouse, or do you have the discipline to simply “not go there?” We are living in an era of extreme partisanship, and tolerance isn’t always at the forefront,...
by Nancy | Jul 15, 2020
How do you start or restart a pendulum? You give it a hearty push and it goes all the way to the left, and then all the way to the right, and so on, and so on, until it settles in the middle. I use this analogy frequently in my mediation practice, especially when...
by Nancy | Jul 8, 2020
If you think the topic of communication is boring, redundant, or overrated, I’d like you to immediately find a bathroom and drop your device into the toilet. Seriously. I mean it. Now that I’ve weeded out the riffraff, permit me to state the obvious....
by Nancy | Jul 1, 2020
Raise your hand if you understand the difference between sympathy, empathy, and compassion. Congratulations! It’s not the easiest distinction to make, and it will likely come in handy the next time someone close to you is in pain. According to Dictionary.com,...
by Nancy | Jun 24, 2020
A couple of years ago, I posted a blog about having a positive attitude, and I think it’s appropriate to revisit this today. I previously shared an epiphany I had as a teenager when I realized that my dad was an optimist and my mom was a pessimist. I thought,...
by Nancy | Jun 17, 2020
As an expert on child rearing (joke — I don’t have kids), I understand that the time-out, the grounding, and the taking away of privileges are all ways to teach children about consequences. Hopefully, when you’re practicing consequence-teaching in...
by Nancy | Jun 10, 2020
Last week, I wrote about emotional support. I shared my opinions about the importance of providing it even when you’re not asked. If, on the other hand, you’re able to articulate your own need for emotional support, especially in times of despair, now...
by Nancy | Jun 3, 2020
Take a scroll through your contact list or, if you still have one, flip through your roll-o-dex. Is there somebody you know who lives alone? Do you have a friend whose mom is in an assisted living facility? Does your cousin’s step-daughter have an addiction? ...
by Nancy | May 27, 2020
Right now, there’s a monumental mess in our world and I don’t think anyone is embracing it. At least, I hope not. The mess started out with a conversation about a virus heading our way, and now it’s impacting us in all directions. I envision a...
by Nancy | May 20, 2020
I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called “Minimalism.” It’s essentially about two life-long friends who gave up their six-figure corporate positions to explore a lifestyle of “less is more.” They wrote a book, got rid of most...
