We’ve often been told that appearance is linked to success: first impressions stick and they affect how we’re treated.  Women tend to take these admonitions seriously.  After all, so much of their place in history has been the consequence of their looks.  Promise a woman a “f

Cognitive dissonance is a term psychologists use to explain how the human mind protects itself from its inherent contradictions. Smokers deny a link between cancer and cigarettes so they can go on smoking, for example. (Blogs 3/17/16, 3/17/16)  We all behave the same way.  We’re h

WEIRD is how someone might describe Sherlock Holmes.  The term is psychological parlance to describe people who think logically when problem-solving.  (“The Science of How We Vote” Scientific American Mind, May/June 2016, pg. 8.)  15% of the world’s cultures think WEIRDly, mo

When my dad wanted to break the tedium of life, he’d get in his truck and drive off to the nearest sporting goods store.    Two or three hours later he’d be back home with a new fishing rod or reel that put a smile on his face.  I suspect many men have worn a similar smile, ha

There must have been a time when I cared about my wardrobe, but that was too long ago to remember.  In college, I wore levis and sweaters.  Later, as I travelled the globe, my wardrobe remained the same.  Being elected to public office required some refinements.  I bought pantyhos

     Alex Trebek, longtime host for the popular television game show Jeopardy, after having been told he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer, announced, recently, his chemotherapy treatments have brought him near to remission.  More and more, people like him, are fighting their

When I was in high school, I had a counselor who referred to me as her late bloomer.  I suppose it was because I never had a date in those days, though I had friends enough.  At least, I seldom sat alone at lunch in the school cafeteria. Even so, I’ve never felt in sync wi

I  heard it again today.  “Oh, I never read fiction.  I prefer non-fiction.” My molars dug into the side of my cheek so that I could hold my tongue. People who make this remark seem to imagine reading fiction is a frivolous pastime.  In my experience, men most often hold this

Probably, I should be embarrassed to admit I hate sports.  Any kind of sports.  If it involves competition and movement, I’d rather read a book.  When I taught school in Zimbabwe, I feigned enthusiasm for games because one of my duties was to chaperon the girls’ hockey teams to

Last week I laughed when my broker called with a stock suggestion.  Believe me, that’s no way to treat a person who has helped me survive my senior years with a modicum of security.  I apologized and told him I’d been thinking about selling the stock he’d suggested.  The comp