There's little doubt that social interaction, friendship, and companionship are vital to our mental wellbeing. Still, how do you know if your friends like you for who you truly are, or whether you've picked up some superficial friends along the way that are only there for the good times? Let's think about why superficial friendships can only ever make a half-hearted stab at…
Whether we like it or not, unfair, and often unfounded judgment is around every corner. It’s human nature to have opinions and unfortunately, some people struggle to keep those opinions to themselves when they aren’t wanted. We’re told that it's necessary to learn how to not care about what others think, but that’s easier said than done. Opinions surround us, especially with the…
With so many regular customs experienced at Christmas, are you missing out on more unique ones you haven't heard of? There are several Swedish Christmas traditions that are not as common as our traditional gingerbread houses and mistletoe. It is worth it, however, to become more familiar with these traditions as they could add to your enjoyment of the holidays. As great as…
Everyone is interesting in their own right, but it’s okay to want to be the most interesting person in the room. We are all interesting. We all have our unique interests, skills, and history, so don’t start thinking that you’re boring just because others are different from you. However, we all secretly want to spark interest in others. There are a number of…
People do not like an endless rundown of their shortcomings. That's why a lesson on how to deal with the different types of criticism is a must. Criticism comes in many forms, and happily, not all of them are negative. However, it can be pressurizing. Here is a presentation of the different types of criticism, and how to deal graciously with each one.…
When you meet a kindred spirit, you will experience a rare connection. Similar interests and standards will be a few of the indicators. I’ve met a few people who’ve felt like kindred spirits to me. It was strange in a way at first because the connection was strong, so strong it was hard to believe. Have I been wrong about some of these…
Life teaches us so many things, good and bad. Sometimes, children's books and cartoons provide some of the wisest of these life lessons. As a child, I watched Winnie the Pooh Friends, a cartoon from 1924. I marveled at the story and various characters. In those times, it was basically entertaining to a bored little girl. Now, I look at the stories and…
The truth is friends change. No matter how much you love and appreciate your acquaintances, they can still fade and disappear from your life. I remember having certain friends in primary school. Now, I never see these people, and rarely even think about them anymore. It’s sad, I know, but friends become different people over time - they inevitably change. The changes that…
Honesty is the best policy because it takes a thousand lies to cover a lie. Sometimes it's not worth it in certain situations. It doesn't seem like a big problem to say a little white lie, but in the long run, it brings a lot of pain and hurt. This is why honesty is the best policy. How do we identify an honest…
Family Christmas traditions are one of the best parts of the holidays, but no one’s Christmas is exactly alike. Everyone has their own family Christmas traditions, but around the world, everyone celebrates differently. At Christmas time, I think it is important to develop an understanding of each other. One way to do this is to understand how other cultures celebrate Christmas. Each country…