Sadly, people define us by this...

Whether we're at work or at the mall, people often judge us based on two criteria -- very superficial ones, I might add -- in our daily lives: (1) what we own and (2) what we've accomplished.

Ever heard the expression, "You are what you eat?" A more accurate version would be, "You are what you wear, what you drive, what you have in your wallet, and what you do for a living."

It's a testament to how shallow society has become.

Granted, your job is important in that it's part of who you are.

But I find it rather unsettling that people would measure others' worth based on what brands they sport and what their title is.

For example, a friend of mine is incredulous at the fact that I have no aspirations to become a vice president or CEO. I've told him repeatedly that managing others and spending most of my time in meetings doesn't appeal to me.

I'd much rather remain low enough in the food chain where I'm making a decent salary and still able to use the technical skills I've worked so hard to refine. I'd also rather work less so that I have more time for family, friends, and personal hobbies.

But not everyone thinks this way, and that's fine. Some people will stop at nothing to work in senior management, and if that's what they really want, more power to them.

But people should refrain from casting others in a negative light just because their goals may not align with their own.

There are snobby folks who don't associate with people who aren't in a high position or who don't sport certain brands.

There's one thing we should all keep in mind: No one is above anyone else, no matter their job, gender, skin color, religion, or political views.

What makes someone a good person? It's qualities like kindness, humility, integrity, and neighborliness. It's sad to see people in high-level positions get so caught up making money and trying to look good to others that they lose their identity in the process.

Some people opt to live the kind of life they think they're supposed to live rather than the one they really want.

It's important we take stock of our situation and ask ourselves whether our lifestyle truly reflects our core principles and innermost desires.

We may realize that we're spending far more money than we really want to spend on expensive clothing, or working for companies whose missions run contrary to everything we stand for.

At the end of the day, we all go to the bathroom, we all struggle, and we're all going to die -- no matter our station in life.

Instead of judging others by the clothes they wear or the position they hold, we should aim to treat them with the same level of respect we expect in return.

When others define you by how much money you have or what you do, just know deep down that there's something that means far more -- character -- and on that score, they are definitely poor.

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

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Misconceptions about quiet people

Earlier today, I came across a Facebook page that features motivational quotes intended to improve people's moods and enhance their overall self-esteem. Interestingly, I noticed two quotes that focus specifically on quiet people: "Be afraid of quiet people; they're the ones who actually think." "The quietest people have the loudest minds." I've observed that most people's views of quiet individuals can fall under one of two categories: 1. The ones who say quiet people are antisocial, suspicious, snobbish, and/or full of themselves. 2. The people who say their introspective nature and propensity to be deep in thought makes them smarter than their more garrulous peers. The quotes above speak to this mindset. As an introvert known to be quiet at work and at social functions where I might not know anyone, I feel I'm well positioned to dispel any inaccuracies surrounding quiet folks. First of all, the above statements misguidedly put

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