Seventy-six years after the battle of Iwo Jima, a retired American diplomat and the Marine Corps University Press have recovered and published the World War II memoir of Chaplain Roland B. Gittelsohn, Pacifist to Padre. Gittelsohn was the first rabbi assigned by the Navy to the Marine Corps, and he ministered to Marines and sailors…
Anxiety is serious and perhaps more widespread than you might think. Unfortunately, social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common condition that has affected significantly more individuals over the last year, in part due to the challenging conditions caused by pandemic restrictions and disruptions. Pandemic-related issues are far from the only problem contributing to heightened anxiety…
My friend Mridula was visibly upset. We were at our school reunion but she was hiding in the corner taking a call. I know her as a vibrant girl who brings life to every party, and seeing her upset made me ask, “Is everything alright?” She replied with a trembling voice, “Rubi (her teenage daughter)…
In the past several years, people have been making it a priority to value sustainability and environmental activism. There are many inspiring examples of those who have taken this concept seriously and made a change. Some of the famous names include Wangari Muta Maathai and Greta Thunberg. This cause is more serious than ever, especially…
By Ken Seeley, Founder, Mental Wellness by Ken Seeley Image Licensed by Adobe Stock Life in early recovery involves a lot of mopping up. Indeed, there are many aspects of life in need of restoration after a bout with substance addiction. Whether rebuilding life in recovery involves improving physical health, tending to mental health, fixing…
Savoring happiness and prolonging positive experiences is key to enjoying life. Over the years, we humans have developed a unique skill; unique and, quite frankly, a little annoying. It’s called hedonic adaptation or the “hedonic treadmill.” Basically, it’s our ability to get over things quickly. You get a promotion, celebrate, then return to baseline happiness. You have…
Social cues are an unspoken part of virtually all interactions, and while they’re common, we all recognize them to varying degrees and sometimes interpret them differently. Here, we dig into a number of social cues and what they mean, plus how you can get better at reading them. Social cues are the nonverbal aspects of…
If you have perpetually cold hands and feet, you likely know how frustrating the sensation can be—especially when gloves and socks don’t provide adequate relief. It turns out, though, there may be a remedy for icy extremities that doesn’t include any outerwear; rather, you can regulate your circulation by changing the way you breathe. If…
The greener the city, the healthier its people. That’s the conclusion of most studies on how urban green space (urban forests, backyards, parks, etc.) influences mental and physical health. But considering that a lot of this research has been done in wealthy countries, can we really say their findings are universal? A new study in…
Your brain and your skin are connected; this we know to be true. If you’re not taking care of your mental health, your skin will suffer the consequences (as will many other parts of your body, we might add). Perhaps one of the most notable and insidious aspects of this conversation? Stress. Yes, stress does…
