Graciousness is a difficult word to define. But we all know gracious people when we meet them. Over the years, I’ve met people who I considered to be exceptionally gracious. These individuals had impeccable manners. They were the kind of people who rarely criticized others but instead focused on appreciating…
Often, we mistakenly think that communication is about expressing ourselves. It’s not. I know that flies in the face of what every communication expert will tell you. But the point of communicating with others is not to share your every thought and feeling. Rather, the point of communication is to…
One of the most difficult questions we face in life is this: What are our ethical obligations to other people? For instance, what do you ethically owe to your parents? What obligations do you have toward your adult children, siblings, neighbors and friends? Do you have certain responsibilities to other…
There’s a funny little comment that my husband makes from time to time. He’ll say, “So-and-so can’t get out of their own way.” What he means to say is this: That person has everything that he or she needs to succeed in life. There’s nothing wrong with that person’s circumstances. …
Why is it that some people become personally and professionally successful in life, while others don’t? For instance, I know folks who’ve been given everything. They’ve been given top-notch educations. Life has given them good opportunities. And they come from nice families. Yet, their personal relationships are a mess, and…