Published in Change Your Mind Change Your Life·Jan 17Member-onlyWe Heal Ourselves and Others by Fictionalizing Our Pain, Expressing It, and Overcoming It in Our StoriesHuman beings have two core needs: to be seen and heard, which allows us to express our authentic selves — As in real life, modern heroes are complex characters with flaws and problems to which all of us can relate. In stories, the heroes typically don’t go on a physical quest; their quest is more internal. The deeper we’re willing to go, and the more we’re ready to explore the…Fiction5 min readFiction5 min read
Published in Politically Speaking·Jan 10Member-onlyWhat Kind Of Person Do You Need to Be To Fabricate a History of Lies?Lies are dangerous; missing them is like ignoring the warning sign about a cyclone ahead — Lately, we’ve heard a great deal about the newly elected Long Island Republican George Santos (R-N.Y.), who faces numerous investigations about fabricating critical details of his personal and professional life. But he is not the first candidate running for office charged with lying. Yet, many appear to act as if…Politics6 min readPolitics6 min read
Published in Politically Speaking·Dec 29, 2022Member-onlyHow to Make the World Better When Criminals Run Amok. Or Can We?Crime is complicated, and attempting to isolate a single factor to explain crime trends, would be a mistake — After a long drop, violent crime in America is soaring again. The other day, a friend asked me if I was afraid to walk the streets of Manhattan at night. Surprised by the question, I didn’t know how to answer. Because I never thought about it before. Her question was…Politics7 min readPolitics7 min read
Published in Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Blogs·Dec 17, 2022Member-onlyCan I Have Your Attention, Please?We are all here today to realize something special. Something so worthwhile to celebrate. — Dearest me, I congratulate myself and wish me a happy birthday for growing a year older. It is always nice to be in my company because I am such a fun-loving person. It amazes me how I can perfect the art of putting smiles on the faces of people around…Humor2 min readHumor2 min read
Published in Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Blogs·Dec 16, 2022Member-onlyWhat We Have to Look Forward to in 2023We have many beginnings, and there are more to come. The beginnings are what we look forward to. Or do we? — The coming year ushers in uncomfortable news. As we look forward to 2023, the domestic economy’s health lingers as high costs linger, hiring slows, and salaries stagnate owing to supply chain problems, the war in Ukraine, China’s ambiguous post-pandemic direction, and other factors, leading to high inflation.News5 min readNews5 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Dec 5, 2022Member-onlyA Call for Transformation and the Demon of ResistanceThe return with the elixir is the ultimate bonus earned on the hero’s journey — From the moment we arrive in this world, we have already learned that we have begun trudging through the mud bequeathed by our long-dead ancestors before we can even take our first step. We all know myths and legends that begin with: “once upon a time, there was a person that had an okay life but felt a desire and wishes for change and adventure.”Change6 min readChange6 min read
Published in Publishing Well·Nov 20, 2022Member-onlyHow I Build my Novels from the Ground UpPlot points bond the story together by forming the most important links of its structure — World-building is an integral part of any novel, and A story is unlike real life. Often, real life feels directionless. Unplanned stuff happens, and plans don’t always work out. But no matter how alien your writing world is, the emotions you are writing about are human. The reader yearns to…Books4 min readBooks4 min read
Published in Change Your Mind Change Your Life·Nov 11, 2022Member-onlyWhy I Stopped a Friendship With a Compulsive Attention-SeekerFeeling obligated to give attention instead of providing authentic responses without being provoked to do so is forced and painful — Everyone needs attention like we need to breathe, and it is human nature to want to be treated with kindness, taken seriously, and loved. So in a positive way, attention-seeking behaviors come from a place most of us can understand. As neuroscientist Billi Gordon writes in Psychology Today, “Getting attention…Friendship4 min readFriendship4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Nov 4, 2022Member-onlyShut Up and Let Me TalkConstant interruptions show a lack of respect — What is it about you that you need to be the center of conversation? Are you not aware that I am not finished talking yet? Don’t you know that interrupting means cutting me off when I am in the middle of speaking? Don’t you know that when you interrupt, you…Communication2 min readCommunication2 min read
Published in Politically Speaking·Nov 2, 2022Member-onlyDracula and the Cultural Concept of Monster Lore Grow into Modern-Day Story TellingFear is a dominant political tool used to influence and manipulate society — Scary stories are more than a series of books to tell in the dark. They cultivate a generation obsessed with horror. I was first introduced to them at a young age, and my imagination was always going. Growing up in Israel, we often congregated around a roaring fire, sat in…Culture5 min readCulture5 min read
