The Japanese art of kintsugi offers a lovely metaphor for human growth and relationship repair. Broken pottery is repaired with gold-dusted lacquer, creating gold seams in place of the original cracks. The resulting piece is more beautiful than the original. Kintsugi (“joined with gold”) may have originated in the late 14th century when shogun Ashikaga…Read more
Turned Off by the Shutdown? A Mental Health Perspective
The Washington Post called to interview me this week on how a marriage counselor sees the Congressional impasse. When it comes to major conflict, both couples and government officials are most effective when they: 1. Refrain from blaming; 2. Focus on creating a shared future; 3. Avoid seeking advice from people who are more likely…Read more
The 4-Minute Work Break: Give Yourself a 12-Month Summer Vacation
If you liked The 4-Hour Work Week but still have a regular job, listen up: You’re spending way too little time on vacation. Some of the most stressed-out people I know weekend in lovely settings out east or down the shore. They remind me of prize fighters who retreat to the corner of the ring for a quick…Read more
Why Gatsby and Daisy Aren’t Soulmates
Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” got me thinking about what makes a soulmate. Picking out Daisy’s green light at the end of his dock, Gatsby has “orgastic” dreams of romping “like the mind of God,” of listening to “the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star.” Daisy, in Gatsby’s mind, is his soulmate. She catches…Read more
New this Fall
Sharp pencils, shiny shoes, different teachers: fall will always mean the first day of school to me, with all its promise of a fresh start and new things to learn. Perfect time to introduce my redesigned website and new blog, created to make it easy for you to find lots of helpful information and for…Read more