The Lost Art of Civic Discourse Parts of today's blog was published on an online opinion site, Fulcrum. I revisit some of the points made in light of what happened last week when Melania Trump was booed by a roomful of students in Baltimore when she took the stage to... Read more →

Let’s Make 2020 a Qualitatively Better Year I’m reminded of a quote by former President John F. Kennedy. JFK said: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Such a true statement. We are judged... Read more →

A Philosophy for Life George Carlin was an inventive stand up comedian and social critic of the late twentieth century. If you grew up laughing at his humor like me, you may not be aware that he had a philosophic viewpoint about life that resonated with many people. Today's blog... Read more →

Is There a Link Between Ethics, Happiness, and Meaning? I’m often asked whether ethical behavior can lead to a happier, more meaningful life. The answer is “yes!” That’s why I wrote a book on it – Beyond Happiness and Meaning: Transforming Your Life Through Ethical Behavior. Of course, many people... Read more →

The Do’s and the Don’ts The ethics of being a responsible writer are the same as for any activity. In this post I deal with works of nonfiction. Basic Ethical Standards First, treat the readers the way you would wish to be treated. Most people want what they read to... Read more →

Regaining Civility in Society I have previously blogged about the decline of civility in society and rampant unethical behavior that has created conflicts everywhere we look. It seems we no longer know how to disagree with each other without being disagreeable. In short, we have lost our moral compass. One... Read more →

Don’t Forget To Take Care Of You, Too Developing ways to take care of yourself can help prevent burnout. School counselors have their own ways of doing so and include supporting emotional wellness, fostering good relationships, maintaining physical health and developing meaningful relationships outside of work. The following blog was... Read more →

Going Beyond Happiness and Meaning in Life Two recent surveys suggest that Americans are becoming more unhappy with each passing year. The 2019 World Happiness Report says that the U.S. is ranked 19th in happiness, a decline from previous surveys. A General Social Survey ranks public opinion by country from... Read more →

Giving, not Receiving, Makes for Kind and Generous People We’ve heard it many times before. This person is kind. That person is generous. But, what do these terms mean and what is the relationship between them? What is their role in ethical decision-making? Kindness is generally thought of as the... Read more →

Why You Should Reach Out and Touch Someone I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal by Elizabeth Bernstein that contends sometimes a stranger – not a loved one – can significantly improve your day by having a pleasant encounter that creates a connection and provides feelings of... Read more →