Search Results for: blog men are not from mars

Men and Women Are from Earth

A study came out recently in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: “Men and Women Are from Earth: Examining the Latent Structure of Gender.” The central hypothesis of the paper is that men and women actually aren’t all that different.  Many of the differences that we might demonstrate have more to do societal expectations than inherent biology. This isn’t the first study on the subject.  I recently read the book “Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference,” by neuroscience psychologist Cordelia Fine.  In it she exposes noticeable trends in male vs. female psychology, both in … Continue reading →

Princess John Carter of Mars

This is the story of a guy called John Carter. He’s a protagonist from a series of Edgar Rice Burroughs science fiction novels. The first is called “The Princess of Mars” because the book is as much about Dejah Thoris, the titular princess, as it is about Carter. Today Disney releases its adaptation of the book, called “John Carter.” Wait, what? “John Carter” sounds like an Oscar-bait movie about an unassuming middle management guy who has a mid-life crisis and learns the meaning of family, or something like that. It definitely doesn’t bring the genre “space epic” to mind. So … Continue reading →

Not-So-Merry Christmas Traditions

According to my 7-year-old, the Grinch could take lessons from me on how to ruin Christmas. So, without further ado, here are just some ways to have an un-Merry Christmas: Lesson #1: No one in the house gets to open presents on Christmas morning until he/she eats at least a few bites of the special holiday breakfast Mommy lovingly prepares. Lesson #2: All family members must pose for at least one photo in front of the tree while wearing Christmas pajamas prior to ripping into holiday loot. Lesson #3: One (and only one) gift can be opened on Christmas Eve. … Continue reading →

Another athlete…another disorder

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As impressed as I was with an athlete coming forward with the news that he was suffering from depression, this week’s athlete coming out as being diagnosed with a disorder moved me even more. This week Brandon Marshall of the Miami Dolphins came out stating he had Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). He discussed his treatment, and his desire to be an advocate. He is shining a light on a disorder that many shun, and don’t like to talk about. Many in the mental health field would do almost anything to avoid working with a patient with BPD. Personality disorders are … Continue reading →

How Do You Show Your Commitment?

I admit, song lyrics make me stop and think, especially unusual ones. The other day, “Grenade” by Bruno Mars was on the radio. For those not familiar with the song, he talks about all the things he’s willing to do for her, including taking a bullet through his brain, but she won’t do the same. It makes him question the depth of her commitment to him—well, he actually tells her off, in the song, but we’ll phrase it more nicely here. As I thought about this, I wondered. When we list off all the things we’d do for someone, and … Continue reading →

The Field Marshal / Mobilizing Personality Type

The “Field Marshal / Mobilizing” Personality type, or the ENTJ personality type, describes a person who is an Extrovert (E), who perceives the world through their Intuition (N), who relies on Thinking (T) to problem solve and make decisions, and who views the world from the vantage point of Judgement (J). If you are an extrovert, you enjoy interacting with the outside world around you, as well as the people in it. You thrive from this interaction, and very much prefer it to being alone with your thoughts. You like to use your intuition to give you information that goes … Continue reading →

How To Handle Disagreements – Part 2

So, you’re finding yourself at odds with someone in your church, family or neighborhood. What can you do about it? Someone once said that ‘the faults we notice most in others are those we have ourselves.’ So before we start criticizing and trying to sort out the other person and their thinking and attitudes, it’s a good idea to look at our own lives and ask the Lord to show us what needs to be changed there. Too often we are reluctant to do that. But that’s what growing as a Christian is all about, changing to become more like … Continue reading →

She’s Just Not That Into Me

She loves me She loves me not She really loves me She really wishes I would move to another country, so she wouldn’t have to endure my constant nagging about picking up her toys… or they all go to charity. OH.YES.THEY.WILL. She is my five going on 15-year-old daughter. My precious piece of sunshine, who as a baby would squish her marshmallow cheek against my chest, as we swayed to the angelic sounds of Libera singing a haunting rendition of “Sanctus.” (I challenge you to listen to their version without tearing up.) Now she prefers the not so heavenly strains … Continue reading →

Ten Tips about Arguments

Yesterday we looked at the fact that disagreements are not always bad in a marriage. Here are some further tips for how to deal with those argumentative times. 1. Stick to the topic at hand. Don’t bring up past issues and arguments. The past should be a closed book with a sign that says ‘Do not open.’ Once it is over, leave it over. Don’t hark back to it. 2. Don’t attack your spouse. And avoid expressions like ‘You always do……’ or ‘You never say……’ 3. Do not resort to naming calling and using belittling words. Such behavior achieves nothing … Continue reading →

Making Cute Candy Snowmen

According to meteorologists, next week much of the nation will be battered with some of the most brutal winter weather of the season. For some parents that means preparing for a potential snow day. Hence this blog. With the kids home from class you’ll likely be searching for ways to ward off cabin fever. This next cute craft idea is ideal for keeping kids busy when they are stuck indoors all day. These Candy Snowmen are not only incredibly adorable (almost too cute to eat), but they are also simple to prepare, affordable (most of the materials are easily found … Continue reading →