Anger:  Good or Bad?  (Three Minute Read)

Anger: Good or Bad? (Three Minute Read)

Ever since Bruce Banner was accidently exposed to gamma rays, he turns into the Incredible Hulk when he gets angry.  And he’s not the only one.  There are a lot of angry people out there.  I know this because I deal with them almost every day in my mediation...
What’s Your Next Chapter?  (Three Minute Read)

What’s Your Next Chapter? (Three Minute Read)

This pandemic is forcing people to rethink what comes next.  My next chapter started years ago after my husband died and I needed to find a way to earn a living.  Maybe you’re simply tired of your job.  Regardless of the circumstances, considering the options...
Flaky People (Three Minute Read)

Flaky People (Three Minute Read)

Has anyone ever flaked out on you?  Do you have friends who say they’ll help out, be there, do something, and then they don’t? I call them “50:50 no-shows” and sometimes I think I’m being a bit too generous. It’s frustrating,...
Silence is Golden (Three Minute Read)

Silence is Golden (Three Minute Read)

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...
Better Together or Apart?  (Three Minute Read)

Better Together or Apart? (Three Minute Read)

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...
Partnerships and Politics (Three Minute Read)

Partnerships and Politics (Three Minute Read)

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,...
The Pendulum Push (Three Minute Read)

The Pendulum Push (Three Minute Read)

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...
Communication in the Age of Covid-19 (Three Minute Read)

Communication in the Age of Covid-19 (Three Minute Read)

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....
Is Your Glass Half-Full?  (Three Minute Read)

Is Your Glass Half-Full? (Three Minute Read)

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,...
Talking About Consequences (Three Minute Read)

Talking About Consequences (Three Minute Read)

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...
Accessibility (Three Minute Read)

Accessibility (Three Minute Read)

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...