human interest: How To Talk To A One-Upper Without Losing Our Minds!
- 05/01/26 12:44 PM
This article really struck a chord. The premise is that if we have a friend, colleague or relative who constantly brags and tries to top our stories, here's how we should respond.
The article begins by noting that we all know someone: the one who one-ups us in conversation every chance they get. Sometimes it’s a co-worker or family member, but what they all have in common is that anything we can do, they can do categorically better.
Example: Going to the Amalfi Coast for our vacation next spring? Sweet! They went there years ago, before it got super touristy. They can send you a … (2 comments)
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human interest: Are You Guilty Of 'Conversational Narcissism'?
- 04/01/26 01:26 PM
I recently read an article that described some conversations as less like a back-and-forth and more like a hostage situation where no matter what you say, the other person finds a way to make it about them. It turns out, the author says, there’s a term for this phenomenon: conversational narcissism.
“While it’s not a clinical term, we use it in everyday conversation to describe when a dialogue turns into a monologue,” said Dr. Sue Varma, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at New York University Grossman School of Medicine and author of “Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being.” … (4 comments)
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human interest: People Are Refusing To Buy Anything New In 2026
- 03/02/26 09:17 AM
Okay. A recent post says I might have heard of the “Buy Nothing” movement, (I haven’t) and then asks if that is actually possible. The answer is yes, according to the post, which then explains why. In simple terms, the Buy Nothing movement is not about actually buying zero things, nor is it about going without or living off the grid.
With this trending movement, we’re told, many are skipping new purchases in favor of borrowing, thrifting, and sharing. Instead, it’s about choosing not to buy new stuff or finding other ways to get what we need. Or, better yet, becoming more aware of … (1 comments)
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human interest: How Do You Text?
- 02/01/26 05:27 PM
Just read an interesting article about texting, which seems to be a major part of most people’s lives these days. Even if we don’t personally text a lot, seems we’re all on the receiving end of these communications.
I never really thought about texting “styles” but apparently there are some. The article begins by noting Emmanuel Jamir, a sketch comedy content creator from New York, is a proud member of the “paragraph texter” club.
The article says we’ll know Jamir has arrived to the group text when we receive long, big blocks of prose. For him, sending jumbo texts is just about efficiency.
“Paragraphs … (7 comments)
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human interest: Do 1 Small Thing in Every Conversation to Be Instantly Likable
- 01/01/26 11:42 AM
According to a recent report quoting a communications expert, most people don’t bother, so if we follow this advice, we’ll stand out.
The premise is that there are times we may have the aim to make ourselves instantly more likable to our clients, colleagues or new acquaintances. Or maybe even just the people we interact with every day. We’re offered what is said to be a simple and powerful tip from author and communications expert Lorraine K. Lee: Make them feel seen by remembering something about them.
As an example, the report sites someone who recently climbed the Space Needle for a charity event and posted … (4 comments)
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human interest: Rude Behavior When Giving A Gift
- 12/07/25 01:21 PM
‘Tis the season… and with it comes advice on gift giving. Not what to buy, but how to actually give the gifts we bought.
A recent article reminds us that we all know that gift giver ― the one who hands us a present and immediately mentions how hard it was to find, how expensive it was or how long the shipping took. Etiquette experts, the author states, say behaviors like this can make a kind gesture feel uncomfortable and even rude.
“In an idealized world, gifts are a tangible expression of your love and esteem for someone else,” Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette … (8 comments)
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human interest: 'JUST BE YOURSELF' IS BAD ADVICE?
- 11/01/25 10:09 AM
Really?!? So all the time we’ve spent examining how we actually manifest and then attempting to be true to ourselves – that’s all been a waste? At least that’s sort of the premise of a recent article by an “expert”.
According to the article, from childhood classrooms to corporate boardrooms, we hear: "Just be yourself." We’re told authenticity is the key to connection, career success, and a meaningful life. We’re reminded that in an age of AI therapists and robot baristas, our humanity is our greatest currency.
But it's bad advice the author says and points out she’s seen how often people struggle with what it … (4 comments)
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human interest: An 'Invisible Day' May Be What’s Needed To Improve Our Mental Health
- 10/01/25 03:20 PM
I think it would be cool to be invisible – at least for a brief period – so an “invisible day” sounded exciting. But it doesn’t really mean one becomes unseeable. It’s a whole different concept that therapists say it's an important way to reconnect with ourselves and help combat anxiety that many of us feel.
The report explains that current events may be weighing on our mental health. While it’s important to be informed about what is going on politically, it’s also necessary to protect our mental health so we are able to move forward.
While no single mental health intervention can … (3 comments)
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human interest: 'Pebbling' Is The Online Habit We Probably Do Every Day
- 09/01/25 01:51 PM
Honestly, this was news to me! According to a recent article, the latest friendship buzzword comes from an unlikely but rather cute source: penguins.
“Recently I learned that the act of sending your friends [and] family little videos and tweets and memes you find online [is] called pebbling, like how penguins bring pebbles back to their little penguin loved ones,” an X user wrote on the social media platform late last month.
The article notes that penguins may have the right idea: As we age, friendships become increasingly difficult to maintain. New responsibilities crop up ― families, more demanding roles at work ― pushing friendships … (13 comments)
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human interest: HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL
- 08/01/25 04:05 PM
How To Be Successful
According to a recent article, the most successful people are not the smartest—instead, they’re both ambitious and lazy. This insight comes from a career coach to the Fortune 500.
The article suggests that we forget grinding 24/7 or having the highest IQ in the room. The most powerful billionaires and CEOs know exactly when to cut corners—and how to use their time better than anyone else, the career coach to the Fortune 500, Bill Hoogterp, reveals.
We’re told Bill Hoogterp has spent decades advising celebrities, CEOs, and rising stars inside some of America’s most powerful boardrooms. It’s reported that through his coaching firm he’s helped … (1 comments)
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human interest: Try "Trampoline Listening" For Better Conversations
- 07/01/25 11:26 AM
According to a recent article, therapists agree that developing this skill helps others feel heard and supported. So if we want to have more meaningful conversations, we should try this technique.
Here’s how it works. When talking to a friend, family member, partner or co-worker, it’s suggested that we probably have our go-to ways of responding. Maybe we’re the “ride or die” person always on their side. Or maybe we like to brainstorm solutions. Maybe we think critically about what they’re saying and consider other perspectives.
All of those have pros, we’re told. But therapists also recommend another conversational style: “trampoline listening.”
The term was coined by … (4 comments)
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human interest: Am I An 'Echoist' Without Even Realizing It?
- 06/03/25 10:03 AM
I’ve always been drawn to articles, reports, studies, etc. that deal with human behavior. Maybe I should have been a psychologist. Or maybe that aspect is what makes the real estate profession so interesting – and challenging: the opportunity to deal with many different personality types and figure out the best approach.
A recent article with a provocative title discusses a term I hadn’t heard: ‘echoist’.
The article begins by noting that Narcissism ― the personality disorder that’s been a mainstay in pop psychology for decades now ― gets its name from Narcissus, a hunter from Greek mythology who was so handsome, he fell … (1 comments)
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human interest: Don't Be Too Nice At Work
- 05/01/25 10:02 AM
According to one psychologist we should stop being 'too nice' at work. Really? Is there such a thing as being too nice in our work environments? Apparently this phenomenon exists and we can combat this!
The psychologist offers several examples of what ‘successful’ people do to be more genuine and trustworthy.
The author of this recent article notes that social discomfort is so universal that social psychologists like the author have made careers out of studying it. They can find it almost anywhere, like in salary negotiations or small talk conversations that have one too many awkward pauses.
She goes on to say that almost everyone will at … (4 comments)
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human interest: This Toxic Mindset Can Destroy Your Mental Health
- 04/01/25 11:12 AM
A recent article suggests that the "all or nothing" mentality can ruin our mental health and hold us back from accomplishments. Experts explain why.
We’re told that messages like “Go big or go home,” “Anything worth doing is worth doing right,” and even, “Do or do not. There is no try,” are meant to inspire us — but they often have the complete opposite effect.
This all-or-nothing mindset sets us up for impossible standards according to the article. Negative thoughts like “I’m not an athlete, so what’s the point in working out?” or “My first TikTok didn’t go viral, so I’m never posting … (1 comments)
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human interest: Micro-Habits: What They Are And How To Use Them
- 03/02/25 09:52 AM
A recent article referenced “micro-habits” a term I hadn’t heard before. So of course I had to read beyond the headline.
The article notes that If we’re like most people, we’ve probably tried to follow a new big habit just to find ourselves faltering a few days later. For example, we may have made it a goal to follow a plant-based diet only to find ourselves reaching for bacon at breakfast. Or maybe we promised ourself to read four books a month only to scroll social media instead.
According to the article, there’s a reason it’s hard to adhere to a new behavior. “Many people … (14 comments)
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human interest: EYE CONTACT - A LOST ART
- 02/01/25 11:16 AM
This recently published commentary is quite interesting , but probably does require that we buy into the main premise which is the title of the article.
The author suggests that If the title of this article caught our eyes, that's a good start—it might even help us reflect on where our eyes typically focus and where they don’t. He notes that eye contact, once a cornerstone of human connection, is becoming increasingly rare in our screen-dominated lives. The beeps, alerts, and endless digital distractions have shifted our gaze away from the eyes of others and into the glow of our devices.
And it’s … (6 comments)
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human interest: The "Cringe Attack" Experience
- 01/01/25 02:48 PM
Do you experience "cringe attacks'? My answer to this question posed in a recent article is definitely and emphatically “yes”!
The author notes that if we’re a human living on this planet, we’ve likely experienced a full-body shiver when remembering an embarrassing thing we did. We’ve probably even uttered the phrase “why did I say that?” many months after an awkward interaction.
The article clarifies that on social media and online, this experience is sometimes referred to as a “cringe attack,” which can be described as the “intense physical or emotional experience related to a past memory that causes feelings of embarrassment, distress, … (7 comments)
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human interest: How To Work With Winter Darkness (After Dark!)
- 12/01/24 10:01 AM
We’ve all heard about SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and some of us may truly suffer when the natural light gives way to darkness at certain times of the year. A recent article dealt with a particular “annoyance” that we may experience specifically when we leave our offices/studios/places of employment and it’s dark outside.
In the article, experts share how they find time to rejuvenate when they get home from work in the winter.
The article notes that If we work standard hours, the sky may already be dark when we leave our work space. It’s that time of year: The days are shorter … (3 comments)
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human interest: Traits Considered Positive That Are Really Anxiety In Disguise
- 11/08/24 05:33 PM
People-pleasing behaviors aren't necessarily helpful — for us or for the other person, according to a recent article.
People-Pleasing
We’re asked whether we feel anxious at the idea of making someone unhappy by not doing what they want? Maybe we push your preferences to the side and say “yes” to everything to avoid conflict? These are signs of people-pleasing.
People-pleasing behaviors aren't necessarily helpful — for you or for the other person. Do we find ourselves saying yes to everything? Maybe we worry that if we say no, the other person will be mad at us, or we’ll have FOMO later. Or more generally, we might feel like … (2 comments)
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human interest: The One Word We Need To Stop Using
- 10/01/24 03:59 PM
And we've probably said it multiple times today.
According to therapists, "shoulding" ourselves — or saying that we should do this and should do that — can lead to guilt and shame. If we’ve ever uttered sentences like “I should really spend some time cleaning,” “I should just get over this already” or “I should work on my presentation,” we may be “shoulding” ourselves.
“Shoulding yourself is a cognitive distortion, and ... so many of us often engage in it,” said Carrie Howard, a licensed clinical social worker and anxiety coach said in a recent article.
“I shouldn’t eat that cake” and “I should have responded differently … (1 comments)
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This article really struck a chord. The premise is that if we have a friend, colleague or relative who constantly brags and tries to top our stories, here's how we should respond.
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