Make people feel valued with little memories
Last Tuesday, I ran into Lucy at the coffee shop, whom I hadn’t seen in months. She lit up when…
Relationship Hacks
The 30-Second Rule to Win Every Conversation
Across the room stood Martin, a guy from accounting whom everyone crowded around. Martin, who wore mismatched socks and laughed…
How to make someone feel seen and heard
I once watched my six-year-old nephew have a complete meltdown over a broken toy car. His parents tried everything: they…
The 5 Love Languages
I used to think showing love was simple. You say “I love you,” you buy gifts on special occasions, you…
Start a Standing Order Social Event
For years, I watched my friendships fade one by one. Not because I stopped caring, but because coordinating calendars became…
The 4 Parenting Styles
My mother and I couldn’t be more different as parents. When my son refuses to eat dinner, I offer alternatives.…
The 8-minute phone call
Who calls without texting first? What emergency prompted this? My mind raced through worst-case scenarios as I answered with a…
The circle of hell test
For years, I failed the circle of hell test without even knowing it existed. I’d see someone hovering at the…
Read fiction to improve your social skills
Today, I watched my daughter fight a dragon. She sat cross-legged on our porch swing, book propped open, completely still…
The 90-10 Rule of Conflict
Scientists who study couples in conflict labs have noticed something strange: partners rarely fight about what they think they’re fighting…