Welcome to the month of hopeless romanticism and hapless heartbreak. The retail world blushes all shades of pink, red, and lavender in an urge to sell us passion in packages. Singles resent the reminders of their isolation. Couples stress over how to avoid disappointing their beloved ones. Moms sigh over…
Chocolates bulge from store shelves this month. Sale ads urge us to procure these sweet pounds to show our love ... or adopt as our own. After all, who would leave a lonely velvet heart to languish in the clearance bin next week? The pressure to sprinkle sugar, flower petals,…
The ballerina pirouettes until stilled in her partner's embrace. With his support, she leaps toward heaven and floats to the stage. As the curtain swings to a close, she rushes in front of her partner to blow kisses at her fans. The audience acclaims her as graceful, flinging roses at her…
As mentioned in my post a few weeks ago, connections with life-giving people serve an important role in maintaining healthy personal energy. While some develop relationships with ease, others struggle to develop or maintain them. The difference might seem inborn, but the factors of a friend-attracting personality can actually be cultivated. If you'd…
Toothpaste rollers grate their teeth at the mid-tube squeezers. Confrontational people chase the withdrawn away. We self-protect, only to cause more harm in the end. Fear and conflict weave barbs into interpersonal dynamics throughout the world. It's amazing relationships have not dwindled to extinction altogether. Yet, even prisoners balk at solitary…
"Therefore put on the full armor of God,so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. . . . Take the helmet of salvation" (Ephesians 6:13,17). I enjoy a solitary day at the mall, unless I'm searching for…