Her First Mistake Lyle Lovett The first time I heard this song I was driving in my car. Which is not surprising because in Southern California we spend a fair amount of time in the car listening to music, making phone calls, and trying not to text. I was channel surfing on the radio and not really paying much attention until I heard this verse: It was then I knew I had made my first mistake She did not even start to wait And as she turned around to walk away This is what she

Why can’t we reasonably and respectfully talk about things when we have strong reactions to those who experience things differently? And, more importantly, can we find a realistic way to manage our differences? As we come to end of this chapter of our political process, I want to offer some practical hope for the future. Most Americans (and good a portion of the rest of the world that cares to view our going-ons) think this is the most negative presidential race in memory. M

"Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.” Keith Caserta, Soul Searching I was driving and listening to an audiobook when I heard the above quote. I quickly repeated it and hoped I would not forget it by the time I was able to transcribe it. I kept repeating it to help me remember. And I worried I would forget it. My worrying about remembering the quote was the interest I was paying on a debt it may very well turn out I didn't owe. And yet I wasn't ready to q

This is a picture that I imagine is not too dissimilar from others found in homes with small children. It is a happy peaceful picture and one I would hope many children would be able to draw in their own way. I have another blog that has a picture of a T shirt that reads: I liked homework better when it was called coloring. Most children spend time coloring. For most kids it is an enjoyable process and continues to be for those adults who bring forth drawing into adulthood. A

I read on a friend’s Facebook page that if people in bars buy drinks for one another, why can’t people in bookstores buy books for one another. Some think your chances of getting lucky in a bookstore might exceed your chances in a bar. It is an interesting norm that has evolved over the years that people offer to buy another person a drink as an opening gesture towards exploring the possibility of ... It is not easy to reach out to a stranger and say you would like to talk wi

I have a twenty something man I see in therapy who shared this dilemma recently. His girlfriend was in another country for an extended period of time. They talked daily and everything felt very solid about the relationship. Then along came an annual celebration that he looked forward to every year. Among other things it involved a lot of partying and loosening up of one’s inhibitions. He wanted to go, but his girlfriend did not want him to go. He was caught between wanting to