Today is July 1st, which means we're halfway through the year! Doesn't time fly? Feels like we were just celebrating the holidays. I'd like to think of the first day of the month as affording us another opportunity to start fresh -- to press the reset button, if you will. If you have any goals you've been putting off -- whether it's to go on a diet, write a book, earn a promotion, spend more time with your kids, or go skydiving -- July makes a great month to begin working toward them. That way, when the holidays come rolling around, you'll be able to assess your progress after 6 months. I've lost 5 pounds in recent weeks and aim to lose another 15 by year's end. What's more, another goal of mine is to write and read more with each passing month. What do you hope to achieve in July and before the end of the year? Share your thoughts and goals -- we'd love to read and comment on them! For earlier posts, please click here:  How to Unders...

As noted in prior posts, I've worked with a couple of guys who have hooked up with co-workers and gone on to marry them. In such cases, everything panned out, but not everyone who chooses to become romantically involved with someone at work ends up with a fairy tale ending. The risks inherent in mixing business with pleasure are quite obvious: If the relationship goes awry, being around each other at work might get awkward Rumors might swirl when other people you work with get wind of your office romance, i.e., that you're getting special privileges from higher-ups (especially if the other person is one of them) Your relationship problems may spill into the workplace If you plan on dating a co-worker, I suggest you do your best to keep it private. If you're not sure you can do that, your options are as follows: Carry on with the relationship and hope no one at work finds out One person leaves the company so as to avoid any workplace drama  End the relationshi...

I know this is largely subjective, but judging from all the media attention these women get, I'd say they are the cream of the crop right now: 1. Kim Kardashian 2. Taylor Swift 3. Beyonce 4. Rihanna 5. Iggy Azalea If I had asked this question a year ago, perhaps Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj would be on the list, but they don't seem to be in the headlines as much in 2015. The same goes for Lorde, whose ubiquitous song "Royals" was one of 2013's biggest hits. I think we can all agree that Kim Kardashian is the undisputed winner, seeing as how she's in virtually every news story that outlets like E! and Cosmopolitan put out. Taylor Swift, for her part, has earned the 2 spot. Her decision to break from country music and go into pop to appeal to a wider audience has paid huge dividends -- her popularity has soared to new heights, as has her net worth. Beyonce and Rihanna are always making the rounds for one reason or another -- whether it's a new so...

Most of us have been there: We unexpectedly run into an ex boyfriend or girlfriend in a public place -- be it the grocery store, gym, or dry cleaners. It can be hard figuring out what to do in such an awkward situation. Some people feel the urge to say "hi" and then go about their business, while others might feel compelled to ignore the person completely. I once ran into an ex girlfriend inside the library of a local college. I felt the need to be courteous, so I said "hello" and proceeded to sit at a table to catch up on my reading. I think most people in this situation would want to be polite, but they'd stop short of actually engaging the ex girlfriend or boyfriend in conversation. People might be afraid, and reasonably so, that chatting the person up might send the wrong signals, like a desire to be friends, or, worse -- to get back together! My recommendation is simple: Either greet the person, or pretend you didn't see your ex and just keep ...

If you had the opportunity to meet anyone -- dead or alive, past or present -- who would that person be? I would probably pick a historic figure like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, or Abraham Lincoln. I think it would be fascinating to ask the individual what it was like to live in his day, through events that forever changed the course of history, such as The American Revolution and Civil War. Even better would be the ability to go back in time to Colonial America or the mid-19th century (Back to the Future, anyone?) and spend a day walking the streets and chatting with people from those eras. But that's just my my nerdy pick. I eat, sleep, and drink history, so there's no way I'd pass up the opportunity to meet a Founding Father or Honest Abe himself, for example. At least there's always a slim possibility you could still meet a living person. What's your pick? Who would you opt to meet? For prior entries, please click here:  How...

Relationships can be an exciting time. We've all been there: Butterflies in the stomach, hormones on overdrive, your special someone pervading your every thought. Unfortunately, though, it is also during this exhilarating stage of our lives that we can make decisions we later come to regret. I've narrowed down the biggest relationship mistakes we can make to four: 1. Cheating: It doesn't get any worse than this. Cheating is the utmost form of betrayal. Even worse is committing the act and later trying to hide your tracks. If you don't feel you can remain loyal to your partner, don't get into a relationship. Think before you act! A few nights of pleasure aren't worth the feelings of heartbreak, jealously, and resentment that will ensue. 2. Having unprotected sex: Is it any wonder there are so many unplanned pregnancies in the United States, let alone the world? People get in the heat of the moment and forget to properly suit up for the ride. Whether it...

These days, the popularity of television series is quite remarkable -- the likes of which we've never quite seen before. Whether it's friends, family, or co-workers, it seems everyone watches at least one TV series. Among the most popular ones are: The Walking Dead Game of Thrones Empire Breaking Bad True Detective Sherlock  Now, I've never been one to watch these kinds of shows, but when I first saw True Detective being advertised, it looked interesting -- and so I figured that watching one episode couldn't hurt. I became instantly hooked! It was only then I understood why so many people I know become so enthralled by these shows.  I started thinking about the reasons why these shows resonate so closely with us, the viewers.  Here are a couple of reasons that may explain their surge in popularity in recent years: They distract us from our daily lives : Considering that our lives seem to be getting busier and more stressful by the day, these shows ...

It seems that breast implants are all the rage these days. I know five women who have gotten a boob job in the last three or so years. Why has this become a huge fad? Who do women really get boob jobs for? Themselves? Their husbands? Society in general? I'd say the answer is probably: all of the above. The funny thing, though, is that not all men are "boob guys." I am actually partial to rear ends. But that's just me. It could also be that many women take their cue from Hollywood, which seems the propogate the notion that plastic surgery is a requisite for being beautiful. I believe that women are beautiful just as God made them, and there's really no reason for enhancements. If a man isn't content with your body, I say: Kick him to the curb. Some guy out there will appreciate you for who you are! If it's you who takes issue with your body, you have every right to do with it as you wish. But don't get your boobs done just because a man or s...

Have you noticed that when certain people prod you to do something or go somewhere you may have little interest in -- say, babysit for them or join them on a road trip -- they expect you to follow through, but when it's you making the plans, they suddenly feel they have the flexibility to duck out on you? I've noticed a lot of people I know -- some close friends, even -- do this quite often.  Double standard, anyone? These people do to others what they don't want done to them -- a clear violation of the so-called Golden Rule. What's most frustrating is that many of these people assure us it "won't happen again," and yet they never seem to kick the habit. "Fool me once -- shame on you. Fool me twice -- shame on me." If a person continues to leave you hanging, you really have two options: (1) Tell him or her that if she doesn't start honoring commitments -- like you do for your friend -- you will cut the cord on the friendship. Make...