Energy-draining people can’t be avoided altogether. We all have to see them, hear them, or interact with them in some way if they’re in our lives at all. It is often the people we must deal with on a regular…
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June 5, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
If the number of years married make a person an expert on this subject, I qualify. I’ve been married to the same man for 43 years now, and I’ve been both happy and unhappy. I know well what makes a…
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Storing summer clothing is, for some people, an unpleasant but necessary fact of life, especially when there’s a lack of space in closets and other storage areas. You can do it in a neat and organized way that makes good…
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This title could be interpreted in a couple of different ways. Let’s look at the one that is more difficult to discern and that was probably intended – In person, someone who is lying is more easily detected, of course….
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“Mom, what on earth am I going to find to talk about?” She still asks me these things, which makes me both happy and amused. Having things to talk about was my daughter’s concern when she was going out with…
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Dear Young Man – That very cute girl you’ve been trying to impress has probably noticed you already. The fact that you’re looking for ways to improve yourself is impressive in itself. But there are some simple guidelines that can…
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The news on TV at 5:00 wasn’t good. Reports of a car accident on I-95 drew Greg’s attention away from the journal he’d been reading. His wife Bonnie would be late tonight if that accident happened before she got to…
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I was one of those shy kids in elementary school. I didn’t like going to school because it meant spending time around all these other children who weren’t at all shy. I had to learn how to act with my…
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Those of you who are pencil-thin and petite, or pencil-thin and tall may not need to worry about this “dressing thinner for Christmas” issue at all. You can get away with wearing almost anything and you’ll still look like you’ve…
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When we’re depressed, we don’t make the wisest choices or the best decisions. During this time, we’re vulnerable and easily swayed in our thought processes. We may be confused, disoriented, misguided, or misled. It’s not a good time to date….
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Many people engage in an extraordinary amount of sexual activity to fulfill needs they can’t fully understand or explain to others. Men often fill up the gaps in their lives with sex. While they may say they want a committed…
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Gifts for bridal attendants would include tokens of appreciation for the Maid of Honor, bridesmaids, and flower girl. If there is a gift attendant or guest-book attendant, those people would be included, as well. These are the ladies who attend…
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Rather than get too technical about the choices of earrings for sensitive pierced ears, I’ll tell you a bit about my experiences as a pierced person. In the end, you’ll see it all comes down to this – you have…
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I’ve never had an “ex,” but someone dear to me has one. Her stories of their “new” friendship are numerous and fascinating. When their divorce was in progress, I wouldn’t have imagined they would ever be on good terms again,…
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You’ve been apart for a while now, but nobody else has come along who could replace your ex, and surprisingly, your ex is still alone, too. Would it be worth another try? You do miss one another, that’s obvious. You…
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The elegantly simple engagement ring my husband bought me in March of 1964 is still on my finger, and I can’t help remembering the fuss that was made about his purchase. Family members could not understand his eagerness to buy…
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Shyness can be a slight annoyance, or it can be a crippling disorder and one that can limit lifetime experiences and make those undertaken a painful and discouraging memory. The following story was told to this author by a dear…
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This article is not one with much actual advice about removing warts, but it was too good a subject for me to pass up. Please forgive the levity of something that is, for many people, quite an embarrassment and a…
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March 11, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
To answer the question of whether or not a person should be dependent on a partner, it is necessary to define “dependent.” What does it mean to be this? Dependent in a relationship means not being able to exist without…
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March 11, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
Do you recall that terrible feeling you had when you heard someone scratching their fingernails over a blackboard? That cringing, wincing, grimacing reaction of yours? Are you remembering it so well as you read this that you’re almost feeling it…
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Late summer 2010 may have its fashion trends, but even more importantly, we have our own. Our preferences depend on how classic and traditional we are, or how trendy and up to date we think we are. That decision depends…
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Dear Teenager: I am going to offer some advice that is often considered old-fashioned in this day and age. While the trend has been “whenever you’re ready,” there is research that shows young people are making wiser decisions about sex…
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February 26, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
Fortunately, I’ve never had the experience of trying to catch my spouse cheating, but I know people who have had to devise plots and schemes to catch their spouse in the act. Everyone has friends or relatives with horror stories…
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February 16, 2015 Communication
The wisdom of always telling the truth benefits humanity in so many ways that it would be impossible to cite them all within the confines of a briefly written work. To simplify it at the outset, truth telling is a…
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February 16, 2015 Communication
Have you ever taken notice to who seems to get the most attention and respect in a business meeting or seminar? Is it the shy person sitting at the back of the room, very busily writing or hiding behind a…
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Big-box stores, boutiques, shops, and even thrift shops this fall, are layering items of clothing. Every mannequin or real-life model, it seems, is displaying the layered look. If pieces aren’t actually layered they’re still using the layered look by featuring…
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January 21, 2015 Friends and Peers
I had a very pleasant and comforting friendship with a lady from my church. She is one of those “go to” people, one very knowledgeable about our faith. As time went on and I became more active in the church,…
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Unfortunately, this is a subject about which many women have experience and a little too much knowledge. You may wonder why not “fortunately,” but only if you’ve experienced the hassle of an overabundance in the chest area can you appreciate…
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January 15, 2015 Crisis Support
The silence is almost deafening, but it is necessary. It is punctuated by soft sobbing and sighs. Your friend is in pain, and it is a pain that will take time to heal. She’s lost someone very dear to her,…
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I hope that if and when that time comes, you will give your child credit for being able to make his or her own choices in life. It’s not an easy part of parenting to part with the dream of…
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