Here’s a bit of what I have learned from readers, friends and clients:

Parenting (including active-duty grand-parenting) is always interesting and challenging—and that we all need to encourage one another and share useful, inspiring information.

Anxiety is epidemic, and our modern lifestyles, with all the noise, rushing and endless electronic intrusion, seems to be a primary instigator or at least an aggravating factor.

Persistent unhappiness also seems epidemic. The federal government estimates 10% of American adults are on antidepressants drugs, but since these are also prescribed for PMS, menopausal hot flashes, anxiety, PTSD and even bereavement, it’s hard to draw assumptions about how many people are clinically depressed. Still, something is wrong with the way we live if so many people are miserable.

There’s plenty more time to do the things we really want to do…right there, behind the television set.

Envy uses up WAY too much mental space for a lot of people. Life is not zero-sum; if someone else is happy, that doesn’t mean there’s less happiness available for the rest of us.

Bad things happen to everyone, but some people manage to bounce back from adversity. Even people who are not “naturally” resilient can learn to be.

Subsequent posts will address these problems in practical/what-t0-do terms!

Have a wonderful day –

Dr. Lori Puterbaugh