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It is axiomatic. When Noah took two of everything on his ark, it reinforced the notion that people should go in pairs. We agree. We live in a couples' society. It's great to have a significant other, plus a bestie or two. Scientists say it helps us live longer to have companionship and connections.  However, we have discovered from time to time, an outing alone can be rewarding, and a refreshing change of pace when all we pay attention to our own set of eyes and ears. We have found it incredibly healthy to do so and learn who our...

  We’ve been watching lots of TV over the two-plus pandemic years, some for pure enjoyment and entertainment and some to keep us abreast of world and national events.  Among the longest running series we’ve sat through, Grey’s Anatomy has given us enough medical knowledge almost to earn our M.D.s. (Full disclosure: Barbara watches the series religiously, nightly, while Margaret has seen only a few episodes.) Regardless, as a result of watching the show, we’ve  both become quasi knowledgeable about livers, brains, hearts, appendages and what to do if legs or arms must be amputated. It’s also heightened our awareness...

  Fear is no fun, but it can also be a gift. We dislike the feeling of fright when watching a TV show or movie. We want to cover our eyes. But that isn't the kind of fear we're addressing here. This is fear that lingers and involves major life decisions. It can make us anxious for days, churn our stomachs and cause us to wonder how we'll get through it. But we do. We can conquer it, or it dissipates. A friend told Margaret when waiting for skin cancer test results, "The only way to deal with fear is...

A decision can be a collection of disparate ideas with very different consequences. How do we bring the two together? This can be harder for some than others.  You're thinking ahead to fall and winter. Maybe, you need a new warm coat and have options based on size, materials, warmth, cost, reliability. You narrow it down to a puffer coat since it's cold where you live in winter. You want black but who needs Canada Goose that costs a small fortune. You go online and choices bubble to the surface; reviews of puffer coats are mixed. You still can't decide....

"Try before you buy." This is a smart tactic not for investing in stuff but when considering a new relationship, romantic or platonic. When you meet someone for the first time, how do you dig deeper to break the ice and find out more personal information that may help you decide whether you want to get to know them better? At the same time, most of us want to avoid being too intrusive initially.  An article titled, "Cold Open: Break the Ice by Looking Inside Someone's Fridge: How your leftovers can spark a meaningful conversation" (March 01, 2022) by Kevin...