December 2010

What Books Did You Get?

Every Christmas, I give books to my family. The clan knows the books are coming and each gift is almost always tailored to the recipient’s interest or personality. For example, last year, I gave my Dad A Little History of the World. This year, my Mom got Audrey Niffenegger‘s latest and my three brothers, well, [...]

December 29, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

On Crafting Constructive Resolutions & The Do More Great Work Giveaway

Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.  ~Hal Borland As expected, there’s a ton of chatter this week about what we’ll be doing better and more of next year in order to improve our health, lives, jobs, etc. It [...]

December 28, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

70 Ways To Say Merry Christmas

This morning, we were watching the footage of millions of people around the world descending on Jerusalem for the Christmas season. The reporters interviewed a woman from Georgia (Russia), the U.S., Nigeria and the Philippines, asking them how to say “Merry Christmas” in their language. My family and I started quizzing each other to see [...]

December 25, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

12 Quotes On How To Be Happy

Do you often find yourself getting caught up amidst the chaos of work, life, chores, appointments and banter? No matter where you are in the world, these 12 timeless, meaningful and inspirational quotes can bring you back to the basics that matter. I’ve been re-reading Business and the Buddha: Doing Well by Doing Good by [...]

December 18, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

3 Books To Help Defer The Cost Of Therapy

A friend once told me that every time he went into Barnes and Noble or Borders that he’d ultimately end up in the self-help section. You may be able to relate. These crazy holiday times can leave us stressed, broke and yearning for less family dysfunction. Combine them all and some might just need a [...]

December 11, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

(w)Here In The World: Barcelona’s Brilliance On Thanksgiving

Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.  – Maya Angelou I spent this past Thanksgiving in Barcelona – my fifth year in a row abroad on the [...]

December 8, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

From The Experts: 5 Juicy Tips For Writers Everywhere

I don’t take notes; I don’t outline, I don’t do anything like that. I just flail away at the goddamn thing. I’m a salami writer. I try to write good salami, but salami is salami. You can’t sell it as caviar. – Stephen King Have you ever struggled with how to get started as a [...]

December 4, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

What I’m Watching, What You’re Watching

Every great film should seem new every time you see it. – Roger Ebert As many of you know, I don’t watch TV, other than replays of The Office and 30 Rock when I’m on American Airlines. I lost the habit of watching TV years ago and while sometimes I wish I was back in [...]

December 2, 2010 CONTINUE READING →