Is it worse to steal money from a child than from a local business? This isn’t a random, ‘it’s 2 a.m. and I can’t sleep’ type of question. Instead, my thinking was precipitated by a video that just came to my attention, though it first circulated four years ago. At that time, two teenagers in...
___ Each week I write ThoughtTools® very carefully and review them diligently. This is why I was shocked to discover what a bad mistake I made last week. I am grateful to those alert readers who wrote in to correct me and I feel undeserving of the kind tone they employed. I am blushing at...
In company with past presidents, President Obama has discovered that one can get elected by making glorious promises. Fulfilling them is quite another story. Whether it is classified security concerns that one only finds out about once in office or the reality that (despite over-reaching attempts) a president does not have absolute dictatorial powers, campaigning...
If only I had ______ (insert any resource you lack) I would ______________(insert any accomplishment you desire). Making excuses for ourselves, we loop variations of this audio clip in our minds. If only I had more patience I’d be a better parent. If only I had a car I would find a job. If only...
In the grand scheme of things, Ben & Jerry most likely didn’t notice when I stopped eating their ice cream. I didn’t walk outside their stores carrying a protest sign; I didn’t write a letter to the newspaper announcing my decision and I certainly didn’t suggest to elected officials that their stores should be made...
Barely a week goes by without my being consciously grateful for the preciousness of the Almighty’s gift of a weekly oasis, Shabbat. Last week I had the opportunity to be thankful for another of His gifts, one that is also related to seven days. My sister, Ellen, passed away on Sunday morning a week ago....
Usain Bolt set a new Olympic record in London for the hundred-meter race. Though true, it wouldn’t be particularly helpful if he advised aspiring athletes, “It’s easy; just move your legs faster.” Similarly, while true, it isn’t helpful to remind ourselves that success comes to those who do what they must rather than what they...
Many of us feel stressed by a visit to the doctor, even for a routine checkup. But how about the stress that doctors endure? Recently, the Mayo Clinic studied how stressed doctors tended to make more mistakes. The Journal of the American Medical Association published the results: stress was a primary cause of error. With...
