Maintaining connections with other people is a major factor in optimal aging. In this section, a number of contributors share their ideas and research on maintaining healthy relationships and establishing new ones.
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Children Who Marry Their Parents
by James N. Watkins
(August 11, 2023)
The psychology of courtship…
Truly Offensive Four-Letter Words
by James N. Watkins
(August 4, 2023)
The classic movie 'A Christmas Story,' reminds us that there are even dirtier words…
Race Relations by the Numbers
by James N. Watkins
(June 23, 2023)
Childhood memories from a trip to Florida and what public opinion polling suggests about the state of race relations in America today…
Happy Father's Day 2023!
by James N. Watkins
(June 17, 2023)
Jim updates his annual list of posts for fathers and parents in general…
25 Words That Don't Mean What They Used To
by Paul Anthony Jones / Miental FLoss
(June 17, 2023)
It's inevitable that words will change over time. In some instances, words gain new meanings entirely different from their original definition…
The Four Most Important Words to Say in a Dysfuctional Organization
by Richard Bergstrom
(June 3, 2023)
Everything about the organization was crazy-making…
A Plate of Rigatoni with Friends
by Garrison Keillor
(March 30, 2023)
True friendship means not feeling obliged to impress each other and so we don't. . . .we see that we're all in the same boat, the equality of old age prevails. Health is what matters, not money, not prestige…
You Will Get it Wrong . . . But You Won't Make it Worse
by Cariad Lloyd / The Guardian
(January 27, 2023)
16 ways to talk to people who are grieving…
I Am Giving Up Anger, So Should You
by Garrison Keillor
(January 26, 2023)
I am trying to give up anger. It’s poisonous and it has no effect other than to make the angerer feel bad and perhaps do something truly stupid…
Father Time Advises a Brown-Eyed Girl
by Garrison Keillor
(January 19, 2023)
Emily, God bless your idealism and the hard work required, but there has to be joy too. Nothing good can be accomplished without joy. I think Emerson said that. If not, he should’ve…
A Pleasant Night with Nice People in LA
by Garrison Keillor
(January 13, 2023)
People could go hear a lecture on the coming water shortage in the Southwest or come hear me tell you that life is pretty good and could be worse but even if bad things happen there is a great deal of kindness in the world…
A Rainy December Day, Long Thoughts Therein
by Garrison Keillor
(December 15, 2022)
I saw the phrase 'friendship recession' in a headline last week, which has a musical swing to it but refers to growing social isolation…
She and I and You and Us, All Watching TV
by Garrison Keillor
(July 15, 2022)
Personal identity is a complex matter and if a pronoun is all you need to validate you, fine. It’d help if you pasted your pronoun on your forehead, but if you feel that would marginalize you or stereotype you, I understand…
Happy Father's Day 2022
by James N. Watkins
(June 10, 2022)
To the father of my grandchildren…
LGBTQ(IA+) and B-I-B-L-E
by James N. Watkins
(June 3, 2022)
At the beginning of Pride Month, Jim revisits the issue of gender identity and what the Bible (not religious groups) says about it…
If You Want a Story, Sit Down and I'll FInd One for You
by Garrison Keillor
(May 20, 2022)
Storytelling is an art of necessity, which all of us engage in,, but not all do well…
Happy Mother's Day 2022
by James N. Watkins
(May 7, 2022)
Jim's annual update of columns and cartoons for Moms and parents in general…
Kindness: You Look and You'll See It
by Garrison Keillor
(May 6, 2022)
Finding kindness in the face of showboating righteousness…
Enough of That, Let's Talk About Happiness
by Garrison Keillor
(April 21, 2022)
To create laughter out of ordinary tedium is a privilege. There’s nothing better.…
Forget About Nut Cases, Let's Talk About What's Real
by Garrison Keillor
(April 14, 2022)
There’s a lot of gossip and envy and animosity out there, don’t kid yourself, so all the more reason to hold fast to your friends…