Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar at the Academy Awards last night for his role as a bearded frontiersman in "The Revenant." Many Leo fans are breathing a sigh of relief.  Over the years, DiCaprio nabbed Academy Award nominations for his stirring roles in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Aviator, Blood Diamond, and The Wolf of Wall Street, only to walk away empty-handed each time. But the 41-year old actor, who was catapulted to stardom as Jack Dawson in Titanic, finally ended his slump yesterday. In addition to Titanic, he has starred in a slew of fantastic movies he received no nominations for, including The Man in the Iron Mask, The Departed, Catch Me If You Can, and Gangs of New York. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, he tipped his hat to mentor Martin Scorsese and implored people to join the effort to combat climate change. Did you catch the Oscars last night? What's your all-time favorite Leonardo DiCaprio movie?

Have you noticed that our gut hardly -- if ever -- fails us? It's when I have opted to go against my better instincts that I've ended up regretting decisions. That's not to say our gut will never lead us astray, but that seldom happens. The reason why we should listen to our gut feelings is simply because no one knows us better than we know ourselves. Whenever I am prodded by other people to do something that goes against my very nature -- take a different route to the mall, drink a different kind of beer, try my hand at a new game -- something goes wrong. That's partly the reason I am resistant to change -- and to others' efforts to get me to do something I may not feel comfortable with. I have an acute sense of what I like and don't like, and it's only become sharper with age. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. I'm in no way insinuating that you should always object to trying out new things and experiences. But human beings are g...

This is an easy one to answer, at least for me. Anything that isn't intellectually stimulating tends to bore me, with exception to comedy movies and animals. Talk to me about the presidential election and I'm fully engaged. Talk to me about your neighbor's boss's husband's new lawnmower, and you'll have me zoning out in no time. Whether you call it small talk or chit chat, it's anathema to people like me with a perpetual thirst for knowledge. I often find greater company in a book or documentary. At least those things teach you something . What comes out of most people's mouths nowadays is mostly nonsense, or empty talk. I know that small talk is the name of the game in Corporate America, and one has no choice but to play along if they wish to keep their job. I do so rather grudgingly. So what am I trying to say?  That with exception to certain individuals, I find the vast majority of people I come across to be, well, boring. As I've stat...

Going through a funk right now in your life? Don't fret -- we've all been there. The beauty of it all is that we can always start anew the next day. Each day is a clean slate -- it gives us the opportunity to cancel out whatever hardship we confronted the day before and work toward reversing our fortunes. With a positive mindset, it can happen. Tomorrow offers limitless possibilities. I remember sinking into a deep depression during the throes of the Great Recession in 2008. News of widespread layoffs dominated the headlines, and I found myself hard-pressed to even find good jobs to apply for.  But I never gave up. Rather, I constantly reminded myself that tomorrow could be better. The promise of a better tomorrow was my glimmer of hope -- my light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel. And indeed, after much hard work and persistence, I wound up getting a job. Each day offers a fresh opportunity to rewrite your life's story. Just because things aren't...

Many people fear that Donald Trump has forever changed the political landscape in America -- and not in a good way. Yes, more people are turning out to vote in primaries and caucuses. But the fact that this brash and unfiltered real estate magnate and entertainer is dominating in the polls sends a clear message: That anyone who wants to effect change can run for office. Hip hop artist and producer Kanye West has already declared his intention to run in 2020. We can only imagine how many other singers, actors, and others from outside the realm of politics will follow suit. As we're seeing in this heated election season, Donald Trump is playing to people's emotions quite effectively. He's capitalizing on their hopelessness and promising to make a host of sweeping changes to "make America great again"  -- all while remaining thin on specific details. Many voters find themselves skeptical given his inability to provide concrete plans -- something that senators...

We all know about the myriad benefits of exercise, from helping us lose weight to lowering our blood pressure. A recent study in the journal  Psychosomatic Medicine finds that it also helps adults with high-anxiety sensitivity -- or fear of anxiety and related sensations like sweating, dizziness, or a racing heart -- quit smoking. By reducing anxiety sensitivity and depressive symptoms, exercise makes it twice as likely that these individuals will kick their smoking habit. I always encourage my friends and loved ones to exercise -- and with good reason. The benefits go way beyond the physical. When I go to the gym, put on my headphones, and blast the music while on the treadmill or elliptical, I feel fantastic. Not only does it melt away my worries, but it puts me in a good mood -- and I feel more energized (not less so, as contradictory as that may seem) once I get home. If you're not big on exercising, I recommend that you put in at least a couple of hours a week. (I aim to h...

If you didn't watch last night's Republican presidential debate, you missed a doozy. Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz came out swinging like boxers on a mission, challenging Trump on everything from his reluctance to release his tax returns to lawsuits and his traditionally left-leaning views on abortion. At times it felt like a 2-on-1 affair. Unfortunately, Cruz and Rubio may have awoken from their slumber a tad too late. It's jarring that it took these men ten debates to finally stick it to Trump. The fact of the matter is that, like many political pundits, the candidates (with the exception of Jeb Bush, who recently exited the race) underestimated Trump. They figured he would fizzle out eventually, so they never took his candidacy seriously -- that is, until he started racking up victories in the primaries and caucuses. Now they're trying to do anything they can to slow his momentum, but polls have him with sizeable leads in many of the states up for grabs o...

A recent study found that 40% of millennials prefer not eating cereal if it means having to clean up after eating it. Such respondents say they'd rather pick up a smoothie or protein bar instead. Now, I know this doesn't apply to everyone -- some of us are very diligent about washing the dishes, even if it's the last thing we want to do in the morning or evening. (I'm that way myself.) But those who do fall into this group seem awfully spoiled or lazy, if you ask me. Seriously -- how long could it possibly take to wash a bowl thoroughly? I'd say it can be done in 10-15 seconds, if that. Technology has made things so easy for people that many just don't want to lift a finger anymore. I suppose they care more about wasting time on their smartphones than being a responsible adult. And the worst part about it is that many people don't "outgrow" this. Many of these millennials will merely rely on their partners to wash the dishes for them. And o...

A beautiful person doesn't need to have great hair, gorgeous eyes, or a ravishing body. A beautiful person isn't necessarily the smartest or most self-confident of the bunch. While these attributes certainly enhance the overall appeal of a person, they don't make him or her beautiful . What truly makes someone beautiful is their inside . Beauty is only skin deep. I know there has to be some level of physical attraction, but society makes it out to be far more important than it should be. When you meet someone, ask yourself these questions: Do I see myself being with this person for the rest of my life?  Do I see myself remaining with this person even in our later years, when his or her good looks begin to fade?  (Remember, yours will too.) If you truly prioritize finding someone with a great heart above all else, the answers to the above questions should be no-brainers. A beautiful person puts others before oneself, remains positive under even the...