To all my readers in the United States and around the world, I'd like to wish each and every one of you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Let me start off by saying that I'm grateful for the people for whom I passionately churn out content every day: you . This two-year-old blog -- nearly 1,100 posts and 212,000 views later -- wouldn't be what it is today without your support; I'll forever be indebted to everyone who takes the time to read, comment on, and/or share my posts. I look forward to writing more content in the coming days, months, and years that will continue to stimulate the substantive conversations my readers and I have on Google+, Facebook, and within the comments section of each individual post. It's obvious that many of you share my passion for so many of the topics I cover on this blog -- from psychology and human behavior to politics and history -- which is a real treat for someone like myself who has an insatiable appetite for learning. That sa...

After being off from work three days last week -- including Thursday and Friday -- I felt the urge to complain about having to go back to the office today. I stopped myself just in time, though, and I'm glad I did. I reminded myself that there are many people out there -- whether sick, disabled, or unemployed -- who would do anything to be in my shoes. And how about all the people who've passed away and wish they could be working if it meant they could be alive and breathing? It's so easy to take life for granted and complain about the smallest things. I thank God for all my blessings, from my ability to see and hear to my family to having full use of both legs. I know many people out there are in worse shape, and I only pray that things get better for them sooner than later. I try to do whatever I can to help out, whether that's holding a door or donating money to charity. Life isn't perfect, but it could be a lot worse. The next time you feel the impul...

Unfortunately, Christmas is often associated with shopping and presents in the minds of many consumers -- and not much else. In this materialistic world we live in, far too many people have lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas. To me, Christmas is really about: The birth of Christ Spending time with loved ones Giving to the less fortunate Being thankful for what I have Being nice, noble and helpful Thinking about others before myself We should be mindful of these things year-round, but at the very least we should prioritize them this time of year.  Gifts come and go. They depreciate and are eventually discarded or replaced. Such is not the case with our friends and family, who most of us would deem irreplaceable.  Christmas is more about giving than receiving. It's about spreading a little cheer to those who sorely need it -- the poor, the sick, the injured, the elderly.  Christmas is about love. It's about neighborliness. It's about being...