I read last week about an open letter written by parents of the 16 high school classmates who were killed on that horrible Germanwings plane crash back in March.  The devastating loss for these parents and their community is unfathomable. 

I decided to read the letter in German (I am bi-lingual) to understand where the parents were coming from. Translations sometime lose the essence of the message.

The letter was addressed to…

I couldn’t help but chuckle when I read about Ariana Grande’s latest flub a couple weeks ago. But, it did give me something on which to reflect, so I say “thank you, Ariana!”

Let me set the scene for you: According to media reports, she was in a doughnut store with a friend and decided to lick a plate of doughnuts that were sitting on the counter. Yes, tacky and gross. However, what really got the media in a firestorm was what she did next. Allegedly,…

A little snippet posted on the New York Times website caught my eye the other day … because it was about something that I wish I could do.

And that’s nap.

I have never been a napper. I envy people who are. And now there may be even more reason than ever to start getting into the habit.

A recent study, which appeared in a journal entitled “Personality and…

So, in my former life, a.k.a. before I became a therapist, I was in television as both a reporter and meteorologist (quite a change, I know!). And, since most people in Hawaii know me as a television personality, I’ve been approached by a few people to help with producing, writing, etc.

Since my license hasn’t transferred yet, I’ve taken PBS Hawaii up on the offer to co-produce a weekly current events show, and, frankly, I’m really enjoying it!What’s really great is that I’m getting…

I have been a solo operator for a long time. I started my company in late 2000 and have spent the last 15 years working for myself. This week, I am hiring my first full-time employee, which made me realize that things are gonna change.

There will be more responsibility along with lots of benefits.

But, more importantly, I wondered about the kind of boss I would I be?

It’s been a while since I had someone reporting directly to me.

I…

I get it. We’re all busy. A lot of us are overworked. But, really, can’t we just be nice to people?

That was the focus of a recent article in the New York Times called “No Time to Be Nice at Work.” The author studied the topic and writes that more than half of people aren’t nice at work because they’re “overloaded.” More than 40% aren’t nice because they don’t have the time.…

Over the weekend, we celebrated the 4th of July … a time to reflect on our nation and our heritage, in addition to eating a hot dog or 2. And while enjoying an extra day off, I wondered … how on earth did our forefathers arrive at the structure for our government?

Since it’s been quite a long time since I sat in history class, I did a little research. And it turns out there was a “compromise” which is always music to a mediator’s heart.

It was called…

As a parent of three in 2015, I constantly struggle: do I go “old school” on my kids and assert my authority or do I allow them to be a “partner” in family debates over…well…everything?

Even though I’m considered a parenting “expert,” I still flip-flop between the two and wonder if I’m making the right decisions. It’s exhausting.

However, one writer thinks he’s figured things out. Family psychologist John Rosemond says “because I said so” is a…

Some of my favorite posts springs from the ideas of others. This week’s thoughts are brought to you by my friend, Catherine.

Catherine has a delightful spirit filled with wonder and creativity. She is an artist and when you visit Catherine’s website, she proclaims: “ok, you spent years learning how to do this painting thing, now unlearn it…

Now that summer is upon us, my children and I have had a lot of “together” time, to say the least. And, as wonderous and adventuresome the time can be, it can also be a challenge, as my three children would all be considered “high-maintenance.”

At my wit’s end, I drew up what I consider my “parents bill of rights” and, to be fair, I allowed…

The old Virginia Street is currently being demolished. The grand dame of Reno has been working hard since 1905, allowing traffic to cross the Truckee River for over 100 years!. The bridge was showing signs of extreme wear and it needed to be replaced for safety reasons.

The bridge was on the National Registry of Historic Places and as such, the project to replace it…

There’s a new movie out–it’s called, “Aloha,” and I can’t wait to see it. After all, I love a good Hawaii movie, even more so now that I live here. Plus, it stars Bradley Cooper, and he’s kind of easy on the eyes!

So, you can imagine my horror when I heard that “many” people who live in Hawaii were offended the director chose the name, “Aloha” for the title of the movie. Then, a cultural advocacy group was offended there weren’t enough Asian Americans in…

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

There is a traditional Chinese character for the word “ting” which means “to listen.”

Its component parts exemplify the essence of good listening. That’s what I love about it.

First, there are the ears. You can hear without them. It’s more than just the words, though. What is…

I read an interesting book lately that turns a lot of parenting theories on their heads. And, one of the most compelling chapters had to do with tattle-taling (is that a word?)What I learned went against everything I used to believe as a parent. I was told that a parent shouldn’t allow tattle-taling at all. If a child is prone to tattle-taling, then, I have to shut it down. It’s wrong, I was told. And, I believed it.

However, the book really made a good…

I read an interesting article last year about women and decision-making.

Turns out that when stress levels are low and easily managed, men and women make decisions involving risk in a similar manner. They gather information, assess costs and benefits and choose a path of action.

This similarity takes a different turn when you throw them both in a pressure…

We all know that pets provide companionship and unconditional love. But, did you know they can be ideal confidantes, too?

A recent article in the Deseret News cited a U.K. study showing that children facing a crisis at home are more likely to speak to their pets about it instead of with their siblings or peers.

Matt Cassels was the researcher behind…

This topic is so important, I decided to devote three posts to it. How do you overcome resistance to caregiving? Click here for Parts 1 and 2.

• Explain your needs – You get so wrapped up in the needs of your loved one, remember you have needs to. Gently remind him/her that you worry about their {insert or…

Last week, I posted Part 1 of a short series of the challenges of being a caregiver. We want to give. Why does someone else not want to receive?

This week, we explore ways to overcome the resistance with a new perspective – after having walked a mile in the other person’s…

So, here are a few “no-no” phrases never to use when those conflicts do arise, courtesy of an article by Georgia Lee for FAMILYSHARE.

•  Profanities

Don’t fire back when your child hurls these at you. In the end, you are the adult and everything you do is teaching your child how to behave when he reaches adulthood.

• “You’re/You’re a (insert any insulting label here)”

Part of fighting fair is…