Taking Charge of Conflict: 4 Ways to Start from Within
Do you feel society is becoming more divisive than ever? Are you tired of conflict souring the mood at home or in the workplace? Neuroscience sheds light on why conflict goes hand in hand with the human experience—and what we can do about it. Because human beings have emotions, we act and react in ways…
Read MoreSoccer Players and the Adventures of Tarzan: My Life in Libraries
Even as a child, I have always been curious, drawn to learning about the world around me. Possibly because I was born outside Haiti—I came from the outside, so I was constantly aware of a world beyond my community and home. At my elementary school, my French and Canadian instructors exposed me to other worlds…
Read MoreDid Voodoo Kill My Father?
It was mid-afternoon, the air humid and hot, but the sun cast a somber shadow on the white front porch of the hospital room when I finally summoned the courage to walk up to the bed. The man lay motionless on his back with his eyes closed. Tubes ran from his nose and mouth like…
Read MoreBeing Connected: How Living in a Diverse Community Can Change Your Life
In today’s interconnected, interdependent world, we don’t exist alone in our families and communities. Life is globalized: Our food is influenced by diverse cultures, our clothing and household goods are produced or sourced from other areas, and our finances are affected by global markets. Even our vocabulary is imported. And that makes it all the…
Read MoreMy Mother’s Dream: Finding Optimism and Resilience in Life’s Challenges
“I knew that he was going to die.” That is what I heard my mother say one warm, humid Sunday afternoon three weeks after my father died. “I had a dream, and I knew.” Ms. Vivian had come over to visit with Mother as they had done for the past three years since…
Read MoreIs Loneliness Making You Sick? 5 Easy Ways to Improve Social Connections for a Longer and Happier Life
Did you know that loneliness is now considered a chronic illness? Because we are naturally social beings, we need others to share in our joys, accomplishments, and particularly our crises. It is well documented that isolation and lack of social interaction, which lead to anxiety and chronic stress, have been associated with higher risks for…
Read MoreReady for Spring? Five Ways the Season Can Make You Happier and Healthier
Excited by budding trees, puffy white clouds, and the return of sunshine? You’re not alone. Spring is a powerful physical demonstration of renewal in nature because all living species are growing and thriving again. It’s a chance for us to grow and thrive too, even if the weather does remain chilly for a few more…
Read MoreI Died a Little: Finding a Place to Fully Belong on the Road to Self-Discovery
I died that day. That is what happens when an earthquake destroys what was once your childhood paradise. When Mother Nature paid a visit to Haiti in 2010, I died inside, as I wondered how many others would die with me that day. But what I did not expect was to also experience the cycle…
Read MoreHow to Live Your Best Life: The Three Essential Tools for Emotional Wellness
The seat of everything in the human world is the brain. Not just by our thoughts, but also in the way we gather information through our senses and react to situations and encounters. When we hear stories in the news, when we see a pair of shoes we would like to wear, when we look…
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