I once held a $200,000 lottery ticket. It was many years ago. A friend of mine ran a work pool that would regularly buy Powerball tickets … and one time, one of the group’s tickets matched 5 numbers in the Powerball lottery. At the time, the payout was $200,000. When he told me this story,…
At our core, most people want to be seen as good with words. Some people want to be valued for their kindness and compassion. Some people want to be appreciated for their knowledge and expertise. Other people want to be welcomed for their charisma and presence. And other people, still, want to be known for…
Have you ever been in a conversation — maybe an argument, maybe just a talk — and felt like the other person was hearing something different than what you were saying? Worse still, did they accuse of you of not listening to them even when you were listening, and even when you could recite what…
I think that most parent-teacher interactions are positive. Teachers generally care about students, parents generally care about students, and when there is a misunderstanding or concern, it can usually be sorted out with a little communication. But just like the world has many kinds of people, so, too, are there many kinds of teachers. And…
“I keep warning you. Doors and corners, kid. That’s where they get you.” — Abaddon’s Gate (The Expanse, Book 3), by James S. A. Corey Most people don’t go looking into novels for life advice … and, generally speaking, that’s probably for the best. A novel is primarily about telling a good story, and…
Marriage is one of the more unique and, in some ways, mysterious things humans do. For those who are religious, it is a covenant before God, a commitment until, as the officiant says, death do us part. But for the religious and non-religious alike, it also represents a great many other things: a pairing between…
There are a lot of gurus out there advertising total money makeovers and financial freedom through radical life change. There’s a place for that, but not everyone is ready for a total lifestyle change. Or, in some cases, not everyone needs a total lifestyle change. Sometimes just a few small things can start to add…
The following is a list that most people would say are good things. Putting your children in organized sports. Volunteering to coach organized sports. Attending PTA meetings. Volunteering to be the president of the PTA. Serving on a church committee. Volunteering to teach a church study. Volunteering to work at a church function. Volunteering to…
This post contains affiliate links. Contact lens care has come a long way in the last few decades. While some people do (and have to) use saline, there are now a number of other options available, including a variety of multipurpose solution formulas that are gentle on the eyes while also effective at keeping the…
On a cold Saturday morning, my first grade daughter set out to spend some money. She’d come into a decent haul from grandparents during her recent birthday, and she’d decided she wanted to put it to use at Build-A-Bear Workshop, a popular place where children can assemble and accessorize their own stuffed animals. My daughter…
