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A few weeks ago, the American Girl catalog landed in our mailbox. My nine-year-old was excited to see it (as always), and she grew even more excited as she flipped through and found a two-page spread with the heading “Tradition Keepers.” Here were six American Girl Dolls dressed in their holiday finest. Only one of them was wearing a Christmas dress. The other dolls wore fancy outfits to celebrate the Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, Diwali, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. For my daughter, who struggles this time of year as the only Jewish child in her school, that photo spread was meaningful. She saw herself alongside these other “American Girls.” She is unique perhaps in her community, but these images tell her she belongs. More...

The holidays can be especially challenging if you are dealing with the death of someone close to you. Whether it was a recent loss or one that occurred some time ago, feelings of grief can be heightened. This is a time for traditions and togetherness, but the ways in which we gather and celebrate have changed. Understanding how grief affects you, talking about holiday plans with those close to you, and remembering your loved ones can help.

I recently read a research article published in 2011[i]. It talked about how prejudice comes from a deep psychological need to categorize our environment in order to remove uncertainty. Not just about situations and events but also about the people we meet.

In 2010, I ate Thanksgiving dinner at Plymouth, the place where the original “Thanksgiving” took place in 1621. A living history museum at this site features costumed Pilgrims explaining to tourists how they ate, slept, and farmed. Recently, the museum renamed itself “Plimoth Patuxet” to recognize both the colonial settlement the English Pilgrims founded in 1820 and the name given to this place by the Wampanoag nation, the “People of the First Light” who have lived there for 12,000 years.

The concept of credit can be complicated. People sometimes confuse the words debt and credit because they both have to do with borrowing money. A simplified way to tell them apart is to think of credit as the ability to borrow money and repay it later, while debt is the money you already owe or have to repay.

Since the day I told my family I was dropping out of college to go to substance use disorder treatment I felt like there was something “wrong” with me...read more...

Scammers take advantage of people during times of fear and uncertainty — and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. While federal rental assistance is being rolled out to communities across the country, scammers are actively using this opportunity to prey on consumers in need, by pretending to be someone they’re not...more...

What do you think caused the greatest increase in human life expectancy during the past 200 years? Keep reading to find the answer.

If you hang around the rooms of 12-step programs or treatment centers, you will likely hear many say something like, “I am a grateful recovered alcoholic,” or “every day I thank God that I’m an addict.” To someone outside recovery circles, this may seem like a clashing sentiment. Why would anyone be grateful for all the angst and pain that accompanies an addiction?

My son Elijah died one month before his 22nd birthday. This is a sample of what I shared on Facebook right after he died. I wanted 100 people to share it and I hoped it would help one person. To my surprise, it has had more than 9,600 shares. I became an advocate overnight. I continue to share “Eli-ism’s” because no one should have to endure a loss as I have. That his family has. That his friends have.