This being baseball season, it seems an opportune moment to comment on one of the many things about the game that, for me, has been a source of amazement: If you fail to get a hit 7 times out of 10 for twenty years you go the Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb, for example, played […]

In view of the current discussion about health care, I want to make two comments. They are not about a specific plan or political position. Rather, my perspective addresses fundamental issues that, to my way of thinking, are foundational. Of course, these comments refer to those who have accessible medical care. First, it is my […]

I specialize in working with adults of all ages. Accordingly, I see a wide range of difficulties, given that adulthood can last 60 or more years. In addition to working with younger adults (20-65) over the past 30 years, I have also worked intensively with men and women in their 80’s and 90’s. They have […]

If you’re over 50, everyone is talking about Sudoku and crossword puzzles, learning languages or a musical instrument as means to protect the brain and possibly prevent Alzheimer’s disease. However, at present, there is no known way of preventing AD or curing it. Given that fact, is there anything we can do to improve our […]

As the population across the world has aged, new concerns have emerged. Longevity now appears to be something to be expected in societies that have enough affluence and stability to provide public health services, disease prevention and control, and health care. To give you a little perspective: For all races in the U.S., life expectancy […]

Why is changing behavior so difficult? One would think that recognizing the logic of changing one’s behavior when necessary would be sufficient. But, it’s not. Not even consequences that are painful make change any easier. The Spanish philosopher, George Santayana, is famous for his aphorism, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat […]

In my last post, I talked some about realistic goal setting, particularly as it applies to activities that require ongoing effort. I used working out as an example because it captures many of the aspects of self-discipline that are difficult to maintain: showing up and developing modest, flexible goals. The issue today is that goal […]

Today’s post begins a discussion about a general way of thinking about yourself that incorporates wellness, self-discipline, and self-efficacy. Let me define my terms first: wellness refers to being in good physical and emotional health; self-discipline refers to the ability to pursue what you think is right despite temptations to abandon it; and, self-efficacy refers […]