As most people know today, emotional intelligence is a real thing. There are courses that are taught about it and many books have been written about it. It is no longer enough to just be intellectually ‘smart’—it has also become important to be self-aware and to be able to handle our emotions in healthy ways. What we’re seeing, however, is that there seems to be an increase in world leaders who don’t hold those values in high esteem. Perhaps the US’s most self-aware and emotionally intelligent … [Read more...] about Disagreeing without Being Disagreeable: The Grown-up’s Guide to Emotional Intelligence
senseless violence
Lassana Bathily – A True Hero
Just like everyone else in the free world, I’ve been increasingly disturbed about what’s going on. I, too, feel worried and apprehensive, with so many questions and very few answers. Mostly I wonder about how these atrocities could have gone on for so long now, with no one putting a stop to them. I’m wondering how much longer our politicians and world leader believe they can continue to assuage us with what now feel like empty words, such as, “We will catch them and make them pay.”“Pay”? What … [Read more...] about Lassana Bathily – A True Hero
12-Year-Olds Stabbing 12-Year-Olds: Are We Paying Attention Yet?
I read about this story early yesterday morning. And I thought about it often throughout the day, just shaking my head. I seem to be doing that a lot lately—and I don’t like it. But I have to admit, it took me a while before sitting down to write about this because I kept thinking to myself, “Should I write another piece that deals with the hideous violence we keep experiencing and hearing about day after day? What difference will it make if I do?” Now, the last thing I want is to … [Read more...] about 12-Year-Olds Stabbing 12-Year-Olds: Are We Paying Attention Yet?
Yet Another Shooting Spree: Will This Madness EVER End?
I saw the news today—oh boy…We are all shocked and outraged by Elliot Rodger’s shooting spree in Isla Vista, California—with 3 legally purchased handguns and over 400 rounds of ammunition. I can understand us being outraged—but shocked? Really??Two reasons we’re hearing so much about this shooting are: 1) the assailant’s father is the assistant director of the Hunger Games movies—unfortunately, a little celebrity seems to go a long way—and 2) the 22-year-old perpetrator was already known to have … [Read more...] about Yet Another Shooting Spree: Will This Madness EVER End?
More Violence—Over a 22-Cent Soda Tax! Whaaat???
This morning I heard about a man who was upset about having to pay a 22-cent tax on his bottle of soda. In a Chicago convenience store, he began to rant and rave about it before pulling a submachine gun out of his satchel. He threatened to kill everyone in the store, also telling a few customers that he was going to shoot each of them several times in the head. The whole incident was caught on the store’s surveillance cameras. Thankfully the police arrived in time to subdue him. Later it was … [Read more...] about More Violence—Over a 22-Cent Soda Tax! Whaaat???