Definition of good neighbor: someone to be trusted; a courteous, friendly source of help when help is needed; someone you can count on; someone who cares. –Edward B. Rust Jr. Being a reliable, contributing or (at least non annoying) member of a community or neighborhood is another essential element of…

Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall asleep with a mosquito in the room.—The Dalai Lama To paraphrase former President Kennedy “Ask not what your community can do for you, but what you can do for your community.” Know where and…

Online life is so delicious because it is socializing with almost no friction—David Brooks Community is not necessarily where we live, but where we belong. Our sense of connection and community has been steadily eroding. We moved from gathering with neighbors on our front porch to circling around the radio…

Sometimes you just need to invoke the baseball rule – three strikes and you are out. When you are ready you will know. There is strength in leaving. Get started and keep going. Leave with your dignity intact. With most relationship endings there is a mix of emotion. Feelings of anger, guilt, fear,…

Etiquette is really about being respectful and honest with individuals and speaking your truth. –Elaine Swann Texting has become our “go to” for more informal means of communication. It is easy, and if it is short (as it should be) takes less than a minute. A reply takes ten seconds. Less…

Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering. –AA Milne from Winnie the Pooh Doing nothing by choice can be a very potent option. There is power in not responding. Think of it as being a Zen…

For every complex problem, there’s a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong. –H.L. Mencken When it is time to address issues in your relationships your choices come down to three basic options: do nothing, communicate or leave. Within each are infinite variations. Before you explore your options decide: Am…

All relationship is a reflection of your relationship with yourself. –Deepak Chopra Self reflection takes courage. It’s tough, and it’s important. It keeps us from being a victim. We may discover we have more power and choice in determining the direction of a particular relationship than we thought. We realize…

The red flags are usually there, you just have to keep your eyes open wider than your heart. –April Mae Monterrosa A colorful and experiential way to assess the health of a relationship is to create your own mini flag display. It is especially handy when dating. Make a handful…

Visualizing concentric circles is a useful tool for defining or accepting the limits of relationships. You might think of it as your “inner” “middle” and “outer” circle of people in your life. Outer circles are casual acquaintances, middle for those with more interaction, and inner for those close to you. …