Guess which famous person was born today...

I'll give you a few hints:

He was born in 1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky
He grew up a member of a poor family in Kentucky and Indiana
He attended school for only one year, but thereafter read on his own in a continual effort to enhance his mind
Standing a whopping 6'4," he was a popular wrestler in Illinois
He entertained friends and strangers alike with his folksy wit and sense of humor, which helped him conceal bouts of depression
He was quite the animal lover
As an adult, he lived in Illinois and performed a slew of jobs before entering politics, including stints as a surveyor, postmaster, surveyor, and shopkeeper
He served in the Illinois legislature from 1834 to 1836, and then became an attorney
In 1842, he married Mary Todd, with whom he raised four sons
He became leader of the new Republican party
Known as the Great Emancipator, he signed the Emancipation Proclamation
He warned that "a house divided against itself cannot stand"
He guided the United States through the bloodiest conflict in U.S. history
He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth

Any idea who it is? Hopefully the last couple of bullets gave it away.

If you guessed Abraham Lincoln, you're correct! The man they called "Honest Abe," arguably one of the best presidents in U.S. history, would have turned 207 today.

There's no denying that the United States -- and the world as we know it -- might have been a lot different today if it hadn't been for the 16th president's wide-ranging contributions.

Comments

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca...

How To Understand People

Search This Blog