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A childhood friend recently shared that she’s feeling very lonely. It’s understandable since her former husband, with whom she had developed a good relationship, recently died, her only daughter is grown and getting married, and several of her closest friends have moved away. I sympathized and was so glad she was willing to be open so I could try to help. So many feel it’s a failure to admit such feelings. In this case, I quickly jumped in and shared that I would try to include her as much as I could in social situations, and she should come visit...

Most of us have experienced this sight: you’re in traffic at a busy intersection and a down-on-his-luck-person in torn clothing sometimes limping or using a walker is zig zagging up and down and through the lines of cars and asking for money. Most of us ignore the person because we feel uncomfortable or annoyed. It’s easy to become inured to their plight. Occasionally, someone will give by reaching out a window dangling a dollar bill or loose change. Some people even hand them food.  It was a searingly hot, humid St. Louis August morning when I recently was driving into...

A paper trail can be useful when you need proof of a purchase, want to save a phone number or address or keep something kind or special someone has written to you. There’s a downside, however. Sometimes, the written word or more likely words that touch on touchy subjects or unclarified plans may lead to misunderstandings, hard feelings and worse—even the end of a friendship or relationship. It’s hard to take back words once put down on paper or in an email when written with an angry edge--or an edge that’s interpreted that way.  When two people speak on the...

Nobody likes a snob—except, perhaps, other snobs. Yet, on some level, there’s a bit of snobbery in each of us.  The topic came up after Margaret reread recently Little Dorrit, a Dicken’s novel that satirizes the British class system with its hierarchy and titles. This got us thinking about what it means to be a snob. Down deep, we think snobbery is borne of insecurity that surfaces as the “I am better than you” syndrome. Put someone down and maybe you feel better. Or do you?  Snobs come in a variety of shapes, sizes and forms. There are wine snobs....

Have you ever been with someone—perhaps a person you haven’t seen in ages—and all they do is talk about themselves? They never stop long enough to ask you anything about you.  It seems we've experienced more me-isms of late. Although we’re good listeners who typically don’t like talking about ourselves, except when our books require touting, we really enjoy hearing about you and what you're up to. Honestly. But please. We’re not invisible.  A couple who met Margaret and her then new boyfriend--post her late husband’s death—spent the entire evening blabbing about themselves, their business, their kids and grandkids. They...