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Browse every published article connected to Phyllis Goldberg, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
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Browse every published article connected to Phyllis Goldberg, or search within this exact expert archive.
As a Baby Boomer, are you in agreement with the results of an American Association of Retired Persons' position paper - that the definition of work in retirement will be uniquely yours? Fully 80% of those who responded to the survey expect to continue some type of work after they reach ...
In any media frenzy lately, Britney Spears is at the top of the list when it comes to celebrities and controversy. What do you think – is she a puppet of the press or does her public humiliation reflect the downfall of our society? Erratic behavior, such as shaving off her hair, attacking the ...
We can say without a doubt that intimate friendships have always been important to women. But have you noticed that they've become even more so as you face the transitions of children growing up and parents growing older? Findings from a recent MacArthur Foundation Study indicate that the ...
There have been non-stop tributes to Tim Russert - from erudite political friends to strangers traveling long distances to pay their respects. He was the toughest interviewer in broadcast jou alism and few had come even close to rattling him. He clearly understood how the media game is ...
The 19th century English poet, Lord Alfred Tennyson, put this universal truth in writing: "In the spring, a young man's fancy lightly turn to thoughts of love." And there's no better time of the year for a royal wedding! Apparently the April 29, 2011 marriage of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton, at Westminster Abbey with 1900 guests, will be watched by almost 2 billion people worldwide. Their long walk to the altar will be one of the most viewed TV events of the century.
Although the 2013 Academy Awards are history, one gem - Amour - will continue to shine. This heartbreaking and unflinching movie was painful to watch but it stimulated conversations with more questions than answers. As the people we love decline, how do we deal with the inevitable suffering? Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke tackled this subject and won the 2013 Academy Award for best foreign language film. The leads, vetera French actors Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva, play a vital Parisian couple in their 80s whose happy marriage gradually unravels.
You know what they say if something is moving along without any major hurdles - ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ But your marriage may not yet have reached its full potential. Believe it or not, you can change boring routines and improve your relationship. According to the field of interpersonal neurobiology, our brains are constantly changing. And that is impacted by how we interact daily. Loving relationships can alter the brain circuits that shape memories and emotions.
The meltdown in the economy and the crisis in confidence couldn't have come at a worse time. Have you been feeling stretched by the financial pressure? If you're facing tough buying decisions, the responsibilities of the holiday season may even be getting you down. These are challenging times. ...
We all know about the importance of play for the emotional growth and development of children. It can enhance their imagination, increase social skills and boost self-confidence. So why don't we place more value on play for ourselves? According to a recent study by the Families and Work Institute, one half of American women don’t have enough time to spend on themselves and the activities they enjoy.
The new Pew Research Center Social and Demographic Trends survey measured dissatisfaction and pessimism in close to 2500 participants. The data indicates that Baby Boomers worry more than any other generation. And a recent study from the University of Chicago suggests that the boomer ...
Are you tired of the celebrity driven circus revolving around Paris Hilton? Does the hotel heiress deserve to be behind bars for her flagrant disregard for the law? As a popular media figure, should she be responsible to set an example for the impressionable teenagers who emulate her? The ...
Now that we're well into 2010, how are you doing with your New Year's resolutions? Setting goals in the love department is just as important as losing weight or getting your finances in shape. So even though you may already be working on other resolutions, don't put your relationship on the back burner. Instead of accentuating the positives, the advice from couples' research often focuses on minimizing the negatives - don't nag, don't withhold sex, don't overreact, don't try to control. But why not focus your love resolutions on the do's instead of don'ts?
Not since the Great Depression have so many fledgling adults moved into the empty nest with mom and dad. This cyclical trend has accelerated along with the economic crisis. Faced with school loans, debts or no job, it makes sense to head for home - with its emotional security and financial safety net. If you're a member of the Sandwich Generation, caring for parents growing older as well as kids growing up, adding a boomerang kid to that mix can increase your stress level.
All couples get angry and have arguments, so know that you're not alone. But remember, when resolving conflict, to keep your words sweet - you may have to eat them. When in conflict, you can minimize emotional overload by focusing only on the issue at hand. And try not to blame your partner ...
Ten Tips for Keeping Peace in the Family during the Holidays By Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. and Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. Media images of the holidays are often exaggerated and, before you know it, you're trying to conform to unrealistic ideals. Combined with the added pressures and demands on your time, this can lead to emotional overload. Just remember that nothing is perfect. Now that the holiday season is swiftly approaching, perhaps you're worried that your dysfunctional family dynamics will surface as soon as you get together.
Senator John Kerry said his remark, "If you don't study hard you get stuck in Iraq," was a joke gone awry. President George W. Bush was critical, commenting to the Associated Press that "it didn't sound like a joke to me. More important, it didn't sound like a joke to the troops." What did you ...
The thought of sleep-away camp may stir up anxiety and ambivalence for you and your kids. As in any new situation there are unknowns, and it's easy to let them get the best of you. Yet camp can be a great opportunity for kids to develop their strengths, interests and independence.
Would you like to spend less time racking up emotional debt and more time receiving dividends from your 'feeling better' bank account? Research findings show that the complex demands of family and work can really get you down. When inundated with a myriad of responsibilities, daydreaming ...
This Valentines Day, are you hoping that your sweetheart will finally write the love song you've been waiting to hear? Or are you taking a more proactive stance - busy shopping for the language of love that is bound to communicate the depth of your true emotions? How couples talk with each ...
Is your life an endless cycle, revolving around work and taking care of the kids? If so, you’re not alone. In a recent study by the Families and Work Institute, ½ of American women say they don’t have enough time to spend on themselves and to choose the activities they enjoy. We all know that saying ‘yes’ to more responsibility can make us feel safer with the boss and help us avoid conflict in the family. But too often ‘yes’ is our default mode with just about everything.
Do you want to know an unexpected finding from the Framingham Heart Study, a research project that has been conducted over six decades? Happiness is contagious and the secret may very well be in the connection. Social relationships correlate positively with happiness. That is, if your friend is happy, that increases your probability by 15%.
Are you wondering whether your longstanding family dynamics at the holiday dinners are going to scare off your daughter's new boyfriend? Do you want to take the family conversation up a notch or two this year and talk more than turkey? Are you tired of stuffing the bird and ready to pass the ...
Have you bought into the commercialism of Father's Day, thinking fancy ties and expensive tools would bring you closer - only to find that you still want better communication with your Dad? Are you not satisfied with just the occasional email from your brother or text message from your son? ...
Senator Ted Kennedy was the last of the Kennedy brothers whose power, challenges and triumphs dominated a generation of politics. He was eulogized as an inspiration to his family and to those in public service. His body of work toward progressive causes in the U.S. Senate was proof that he understood how policies affected people. Caring passionately about the people he served, he worked tirelessly on their behalf.
Are you and your partner worried about money in these uncertain times? During any economic crisis, couples have to face tough financial decisions. This can lead to an increase in stress and aggravate problems that already exist in your marriage.
The anticipation of the Beijing Olympics was palpable - and the spectacular opening ceremonies, at the impressive Bird's Nest, proved it was well worth the wait. Yet the ideals of the summer games are also well represented behind the scenes: 1. Lopez Lomong was elected by his teammates to be ...
These are unprecedented times. With the breakdown of traditional financial institutions, the wildly fluctuating stock market and the 700 million dollar government bailout, Americans are confused about how to respond. Some are in denial, not prepared to grasp the problems and potential ...
By now your college student has settled into the dorm and adjusted to campus life. Despite the relief you feel, are you surprised to discover that letting go is more difficult than you imagined? Even with the time constraints and daily pressures that you experience as a member of the Sandwich ...
Just hours after learning that her mother had died of a sudden massive heart attack, Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette was back on the ice. One of the favorites to win an Olympic medal, she practiced her jumps over and over again while her father watched with tears in his eyes. Joannie's fellow athletes concurred that she was doing the right thing by staying in the competition. They spoke about her inner strength, remarkable courage and determined attitude. Fans around the world appreciated that, with a heavy heart, she was facing the most difficult skates of her life.
A perfect marriage would be free of financial controversy. But during this economic crisis, the reality is that couples need to learn new money management skills and face tough financial decisions – while at the same time making their relationship work. Not an easy task. When you use these five ...
Now that autumn is here and your college-aged kids have moved out, you may be feeling unsettled, even melancholy. So what is it that you're more worried about - how they'll get along in school or how you'll adjust to the empty nest? For some parents 'no kids at home' represents a fresh start. After her youngest child went away to college, Mira realized "This is the only time I've been completely free since my daughter was born. I spent months after she went away to college just relaxing and doing whatever I wanted, until I got bored.
As you daydream about the upcoming holidays, do you envision universal goals such as sustaining our planet's resources, leaving a smaller carbon footprint, developing more energy independence? Are you busy trying to figure out how to reduce the level of stress in your life? For many ...
Bravery and humility - often at the heart of fairy tales – are qualities that can inspire all of us to be the best that we can be. And, with the doom and gloom of the economic crisis, we were primed and about ready for a miracle. People want to feel hopeful again. Chesley B. "Sully" ...
Americans are busy spending well over $26 billion on gift cards this holiday season. And, just when you thought you'd heard it all, here comes the idea of a medical gift card. With the holidays literally right around the corner and your stress level high, it may be exactly what the doctor ...
The idea of New Year's resolutions is not really new. In Roman mythology, Janus was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings and endings. Janus was usually shown with two heads facing in opposite directions. According to legend, one of his heads was looking backwards into the old year and the other was looking forwards into the new one. Two thousand years ago the Romans ended the year by reviewing it.
If you’re a 'Helicopter Parent,' hovering and rarely out of touch, think about joining the grassroots movement that advocates giving teens space.
Days after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti, family members battled for a proper burial of their loved ones. Time and again, tragedy followed moments of hope. Yet, despite the deaths and destruction, the people struggled to survive. And hundreds took to the streets, singing and chanting amid huge mounds of rubble - a clear sign of the resilience of the human spirit. While not in such desperate circumstances, perhaps you too have suffered the death of a loved one.
What the Sandwich Generation Can Bring to the Holiday Table By Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. and Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. Are you wondering whether your family dynamics at holiday dinners are going to scare off your daughter's new boyfriend? Do you want to take the family conversation up a notch ...
Have you noticed that, in our culture, slurs about gender, class, race and sex have become fairly commonplace and are often even seen as humorous by some? Howard Stern, A Coulter, Jesse Jackson and Bill O'Reilly, to name a few well known pundits, have been busy playing the 'can you top this' ...
When you dropped your kids off at college, were you the one dragging your heels? This generation of parents has been described as clinging, especially when they refuse to leave the campus. In fact, a number of college administrators have introduced blunt language into orientation schedules, including a specific time to say goodbye. The message is clear: release your anxieties and your adult children to this adventure, and enjoy the ride yourself. The lesson, not taught in the traditional curriculum, is about letting go.
Coming from a family of entertainers with a demanding stage-dad, Michael Jackson had been in the limelight since he was a young boy. Super stardom was all he knew. Although talented, famous and adored, his was a lonely life - one full of contradictions. He tried to create his own private reality around castles, theme parks and pet chimpanzees. In his own mind he was a modern-day Peter Pan.
Don't we all wear masks at one time or another, pretending that everything is OK? There are many reasons people may act out this charade. It's not uncommon to hide personal pain, because putting it on display for all to see can be embarrassing and even destabilize relationships. Yet studies show that using denial as an emotional defense and 'acting as if' everything is fine can actually shift your feelings in a more positive direction. And keeping a 'stiff upper lip' when you feel powerless may, in fact, result in your having more control over a difficult situation.
The media spotlight the past few days has been on Eliot Spitzer, the Governor of New York, and his link to the Emperor's Club VIP prostitution ring. Whether his damaging behavior is related to an inflated sense of entitlement, the dark side of his self righteous attitude, a feeling that he's ...
Oprahbama, the big O's, Oprah and the Obamas – sounds like a rock band on a road trip. As Oprah hit the campaign trail recently, her candidate played the celebrity card and the female fan base responded. When you need it, the value of support simply cannot be overestimated. Oprah is a ...
The soaring rhetoric from presidential candidates has been about the concept of change - and the electorate is energized by the buzzword. But is the idea of change really so new? In 1944, the Republican governor of New York, Thomas E. Dewey, ran for President against three-term incumbent ...
In a recent letter to his girls, President Barack Obama wrote: "I want you to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach....." Now that's a strong message from a father to his daughters. Some say that the Obamas are the kind of family they would like ...
Although it may be the holiday season, as far as presents go that doesn't mean a whole lot to Millennials. Like so many other issues, they have their own ideas about gift giving. Apparently what they want is cash, mostly to pay down college costs and other debt.
July is Sandwich Generation Month, a chance to pay tribute to adult children who are juggling the demands of raising kids while taking care of aging parents. The number of Americans 65 and older is projected to increase from 40 million in 2010 to over 88 million by 2050, doubling the ranks of those experiencing this stressful combination of responsibilities.
This year over 1.75 million college students walked across the stage to pick up their diplomas. Seniors everywhere were excited to graduate as parents were thinking about words of wisdom to impart. With the scarcity of jobs and school loans due, it’s going to be harder than ever for these kidults to engage in adult roles. If your brand new graduates are boomeranging back home, here’s some practical insight to share with them:
Would you describe yourself as the kind of parent who is loving, but still hovering? Typically raising fewer children today, parents have actively pursued an only-the-best policy from infancy on. So far, the twenty-something progeny of Helicopter Parents have reaped the benefits from some ...