You may have already heard or read that the Powerball lottery now sits at a whopping $800 million. It's reasonable that anyone would intend to use some of that money on some pure indulgences, from resplendent mansions to luxurious jewelry. What disturbs me, though, is that I've hardly heard anyone say they'd use some of the money toward noble causes, like: Donating to charities  Donating to schools Helping preserve historic buildings and monuments Building new schools, hospitals, and other facilities  Creating new jobs for thousands of people Repairing and rebuilding crumbling infrastructure  Instead, all I hear is talk of using the money to buy lavish things that none of us really need. The world has gone to hell in a hand basket. $800 million is far more than any one person or family would ever need. I hope that whoever wins will put truly needy people before themselves. I'm sure a good chunk of that payout would do organizations like St. Jude Chil...

Whether you work in nursing, finance, or teaching, expecting your job to bring you fulfillment isn't always the best way to go about it. Read on to learn why you should instead strive to start a business of your own or cultivate hobbies outside of work. Expecting your job to fill a void in your life is a surefire prescription for trouble. Why?  From tyrannical bosses and untrustworthy co-workers to red tape that utterly stifles creativity, there’s simply too much going on at our jobs that is beyond our control . And when there’s too much beyond your control, it’s hard to fulfill your goals and make as big an impact as you desire. This is precisely what prompts many of us to hop from one job to another in search of conditions that are better aligned with our goals. Still, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I currently work as a writer in the travel industry. (That’s my day job;  I also write articles for websites and maintain this blog.) You would think I’d h...

I think we'd all agree that certain topics and people get far too much news coverage these days. In this post, I'd like for everyone to list a few things you feel should be toned down. Here are a few that come to mind: The Kardashians, especially Kim Kardashian and Caitlyn Jenner Bill Cosby Donald Trump Murders and crime in general Riots Race issues What do all these have in common?  They're negative and thus more likely to garner higher ratings. Is it any surprise the news outlets are all over them? Here are a few topics I would love for the media to focus on more: Humanitarian efforts Charities Pets People who have overcome long odds to become successful in their careers Families Other "feel-good" topics Which stories are you tired of, and which ones would you love to see in the headlines more often? Please check out prior posts by clicking here: How to Understand People