Month: October 2025

What Reminds You That You Are Not Alone?

Despite an unprecedented ability to connect, more people than ever are reporting feelings of loneliness.  How do you combat feeling alone?

With the internet, and specifically with social media apps, in theory we are the most connected generation in human history. We have the ability to reengage with old friends on Facebook, perform career networking on LinkedIn, find groups of like-minded people on MeetUp, purchase homemade crafts from artisans on Etsy, and so on.

Celebrities or popular influencers might have millions of followers. Even non-celebrities can be connected to hundreds, thousands, or even more people.

Of course, the quality or strength of those connections can vary drastically. It is not humanly possible to interact in any meaningful way with that many people. As a result, the communication is superficial at best, and might be in one direction only.

In addition, people naturally curate their online life, and most only share the highlights. Smiling pictures while on a vacation in an exotic location. Happy news of a promotion at work. An engagement announcement. A new car, or house, or baby. Photos or videos are from flattering angles, with good lighting.

By contrast, the viewer gets the news while in the same job, living in the same house, in a seemingly unchanging life. It is only natural to feel that others are having success and doing well, while you are being left behind, alone and isolated.

So how do you fight against that? When you feel left out, what do you do?What reminders are there of your friends and loved ones? What sorts of events, virtual or in-person, help you build fulfilling, meaningful connections with other people?

Related questions: Do you feel lonely? How do you make friends as an adult? What are you doing to build community? How do you choose a hobby?

Relive The Past Or Look To The Future?

Which do you do more often: look to the future, or relive the past? Nostalgia has a strong pull, but it’s fun to dream about what lies ahead.

Share why if you wish.

Relive The Past Or Look To The Future?
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What Catalog Do You Enjoy Most?

Do you receive catalogs in the mail? Are there any you particularly look forward to getting and perusing?

Share why if you wish.

What Traits Have Led To Your Success?

Success, in all facets of life, is due to many factors. Thinking about your successes, can you identify just a few traits that led there?

In our culture, the trait of hard work is often praised. This is understandable, because it is something entirely within your control. You can decide how much attention and time you devote toward a project.

And no doubt, hard work is important. Of course, there is also the saying, “Work smarter, not harder.” This would suggest outside the box thinking, perhaps, is valuable.

The list of possible traits a long one, with possible contradictions.

Perhaps you find success due to the high quality of people you surround yourself with. Or you have always made it a point to be early for every meeting. Saying yes might lead to new opportunities; setting boundaries by saying no could be important for some.

Honesty, as they say, is the best policy, and maybe you agree. Being well connected can open many doors. So can being generous with your money and/or time. But looking out for yourself — if not you, then who? — might lead to personal advancement.

And then there are things completely out of your control, which could be lumped together as “luck”. Perhaps success is little more than being in the right place at the right time.

Consider the times you have had success, whether in your personal or professional life. Can you identify particular traits that come up again and again? If so, what might you do to play up to your strengths?

And if the answer is no, what might that say about succeeding in life?

Related questions: How do you define success? When is it useful to fail? How has luck shaped your life? What is important?

New Mistakes Or Old Mistakes?

When you make mistakes, do you find they tend to be ones you’ve made over and over before? Or ones that are brand new?

Share why if you wish.

New Mistakes Or Old Mistakes?
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