Your Big, Fat Ego is Robbing You Blind
Sit down. We need to talk. This call waiting thing has GOT to stop. Honestly, expecting friends, colleagues and family, all of whom are as busy as you are, to listen to dead air while you tend to your imaginary popularity? Does it get any ruder than that? Oh, and by the way, I know you were talking to telemarketers. You gave that away with your annoyed tone and dismissive, “sorry, it was… nothing.” But as maddening as it is, waiting for you to answer all those survey questions, I am learning a lot about you. Sure, you’re self-centered—everyone knows that. Bu

Love Halloween? Make it your everyday
It was a late August afternoon and the heat was so thick, I was sure I was melting. Panting audibly, I popped into Starbucks®, paid my $1.84, and took a long gulp of cold water. As the cool slid down my throat, I walked to a comfy chair and plopped down. Staring at the for sale items on the shelf, I wondered if Howard Schultz would ever forsake his investment in coffee mugs for ex-yuppie soccer moms. After all these years, it seemed a sad omen. As my intellect gnawed on this and other important issues, a host of high-pitched cackles invaded my ear canal. A tad early for Halloween, I commented quietly. Just when t

Is Retail Therapy Worth YOUR 2 Cents?
It’s a perfect early August morning topped off with a big blue sky and a cool ocean breeze. I’ve just finished a relaxing beach walk, and am headed toward my car, enjoying every last ray of bright yellow sunshine. With my car in tossing distance, I press the remote unlock button, hop in, and flip on the radio. A reggae song is playing, and the uplifting, easygoing beat mirrors the day’s mood to a T. As soon as the song ends, a radio ad starts with “Don’t you hate knowing summer’s over?” OVER? I say out loud. Summer? What are you

Is Your Healthy Meal Happy?
It’s that single-serving Saturday morning when I get to sip strong coffee in bed while diving into a fresh pile of unread magazines. I’m awake, but in a joyful trance that blocks out pesky irritations like cell phones, calendar reminders, not to mention the dog’s untimely cry for a walk (spouses should be useful for something, no?) Flipping through my first magazine, I come across a health & nutrition column written by a well-known MD. One inquiring, if a tad obsessive, reader asks if there are nutritional benefits gained from eating green bananas, as opposed to riper yellow ones.