Life Gets Better

Ethics and Morality

Dog-Eat-Dog or Civility? On the Road and in Life, You Choose

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on May 15, 2024

Personal Perspective: Life can be more than continually grabbing as much as we can for ourselves. Let's fight back with courtesy and respect the needs of others.

Personal Perspective: Life can be more than continually grabbing as much as we can for ourselves. Let's fight back with courtesy and respect the needs of others.

Environment

Hope Requires Energy—But It Is Necessary

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on February 13, 2024

The voices of youth must be heard in order to gather up hope for all of us.

The voices of youth must be heard in order to gather up hope for all of us.

Grief

"I Don't Have Time to Grieve"

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on November 9, 2023

Grief can grab us in the car on the way home from work, in the shower, or when walking the dog.

Grief can grab us in the car on the way home from work, in the shower, or when walking the dog.

Appetite

How I Got Used to Fasting for 16 Hours a Day

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on August 10, 2023

A Personal Perspective: We may have evolved to go without food for long stretches, but imposing it on ourselves is another matter. Here's how one faster managed it.

A Personal Perspective: We may have evolved to go without food for long stretches, but imposing it on ourselves is another matter. Here's how one faster managed it.

Friends

The Weather Is Good and I'm Feeling Bad

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on May 8, 2023

Personal Perspective: Seeing others reveling in the beauty of a sunlit day can cause you to plummet into the trap of comparisons.

Personal Perspective: Seeing others reveling in the beauty of a sunlit day can cause you to plummet into the trap of comparisons.

Attention

Can We Still Pay Attention to Each Other?

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on February 8, 2023

Personal Perspective: Many of us can't recall how it feels to give or receive undivided attention.

Personal Perspective: Many of us can't recall how it feels to give or receive undivided attention.

Sleep

When You've Tried Everything and Still Can’t Sleep

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on November 6, 2022

So many things can get in the way of sleep that it's best to try many strategies at once, perhaps in unique ways.

So many things can get in the way of sleep that it's best to try many strategies at once, perhaps in unique ways.

Beauty

The Legacy of Growth

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on August 1, 2022

A Personal Perspective: I’ve not forgotten what I understood during my time of travail and I don’t want those perceptions to fade.

A Personal Perspective: I’ve not forgotten what I understood during my time of travail and I don’t want those perceptions to fade.

Spirituality

How to Throw Things Away

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on March 30, 2022

A Personal Perspective: What if I got rid of my various accumulations? Would I regret throwing so much away or would I feel lighter and unburdened?

A Personal Perspective: What if I got rid of my various accumulations? Would I regret throwing so much away or would I feel lighter and unburdened?

Cognition

The Bright Side of the Virtual Classroom

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on January 2, 2022

I had no idea that there would be valuable benefits for me as a teacher as well as for my students, advantages that will be missed in returning to the in-person classroom.

I had no idea that there would be valuable benefits for me as a teacher as well as for my students, advantages that will be missed in returning to the in-person classroom.

Anxiety

An Ode to Worry

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on October 13, 2021

Evading worry brings quick relief but can also increase the weight of our burdens. Embracing worry is a life skill that pays us back many times over.

Evading worry brings quick relief but can also increase the weight of our burdens. Embracing worry is a life skill that pays us back many times over.

Identity

Making the Most Out of Our Recent "Pause" in Activity

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on July 19, 2021

The COVID lockdown was challenging, but there are advantages to having been disrupted. We just need to notice and examine them.

The COVID lockdown was challenging, but there are advantages to having been disrupted. We just need to notice and examine them.

Friends

Taking Things for Granted No More

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on May 4, 2021

Taking things for granted is a kind of mental dullness applied to the ordinary. We will surely succumb to it again unless we fight hard against it.

Taking things for granted is a kind of mental dullness applied to the ordinary. We will surely succumb to it again unless we fight hard against it.

Friends

Crossing the Divide

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on February 5, 2021

Trying a different approach is better than losing friends, distancing from relatives, and giving up talking with anyone whose views seem outlandish or offensive.

Trying a different approach is better than losing friends, distancing from relatives, and giving up talking with anyone whose views seem outlandish or offensive.

Gratitude

The Power of Kindness

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on November 6, 2020

Our immediate sphere—that’s where our power is. A circle of influence radiates out from our individual conduct. This is where the impact of decency flourishes and abides.

Our immediate sphere—that’s where our power is. A circle of influence radiates out from our individual conduct. This is where the impact of decency flourishes and abides.

Attention

Time Out of Time

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on August 6, 2020

Hours of life have been returned to us that were previously filled to the brim with going here and there, doing this and that. Now we have more time, but are we doing less with it?

Hours of life have been returned to us that were previously filled to the brim with going here and there, doing this and that. Now we have more time, but are we doing less with it?

Fear

Ways to Feel Better in These Times

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on May 9, 2020

We have all been deprived of many sources of calm and renewal. Here's what you can do, whatever your circumstances are.

We have all been deprived of many sources of calm and renewal. Here's what you can do, whatever your circumstances are.

Relationships

10 Things to Talk About Before You Get Married

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on February 10, 2020

The question is not how many differences a couple has but whether there are frictions that could erode the relationship over time. It's better to face these before marrying.

The question is not how many differences a couple has but whether there are frictions that could erode the relationship over time. It's better to face these before marrying.

SSRIs

How to Deal With Winter Blues

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on November 10, 2019

When the sun is out, my spirit soars; when the day is gray, with a ceiling of dense clouds, my energy is low and my outlook leans accordingly toward the dim. It's embarrassing.

When the sun is out, my spirit soars; when the day is gray, with a ceiling of dense clouds, my energy is low and my outlook leans accordingly toward the dim. It's embarrassing.

Sport and Competition

The Comparison Trap

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on August 12, 2019

Something good happens when we catch ourselves doing comparisons and stop. We create an interlude of relief where we let ourselves be. The depth of the relief is instructive.

Something good happens when we catch ourselves doing comparisons and stop. We create an interlude of relief where we let ourselves be. The depth of the relief is instructive.