The Ferber Method of childrearing encourages parents to let their kids cry it out. The idea is to build resilience and prevent children from relying on external validation. Ideally, this controversial method ends in childhood. But in America, we seem obsessed with resilience, to the point that we consider accepting…

How Movie Characters Drive and Exceed Their Story — Many iconic characters seem to take on a life of their own — and according to Luigi Pirandello, they do. In 1921, the Italian playwright shocked the local theatre scene with Six Characters in Search of An Author, a highly “meta” play in which wayward characters urge a director to…

Let me begin by stating that Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors. His performances in Ed Wood, Pirates of the Caribbean, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and countless other films made my heart sing. I’m also a fan of Amber Heard. As I was an extra…

“You need longer hair to balance out that huge nose.” “I’m worried you can’t bear children ’cause your hips are so narrow.” “Your boobs are so small, do men really like them?” All real quotes from men and women I’ve encountered, sadly. I have never fit into the mold of…

Reflections on the art of blossoming and the potential of growth — We sure do love to characterize our human lives as botanical events. If someone doesn’t hit puberty at the socially acceptable time, they’re a “late bloomer.” Losing one’s virginity is called “deflowering.” And we talk about people “blossoming” as they achieve their goals. Everyone else, I guess, is a weed…

and why you deserve better — Being an entrepreneur is anything but easy. As most of us were raised to cultivate our overbearing urge to appease capitalists, it’s logistically and mentally challenging to carve our own path. We’re sold big ideas about “pursuing our dream” yet socialized to meet an external employer’s demands. Rigid schedules. Uncompensated…

In yet another half-hearted effort to be hip and relevant, this year’s Academy Awards declared the winner to a fan-nominated category: Top “Cheer-Worthy” Moments. The results, which ranged from the Flash’s speed-force scene to “I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” in Dreamgirls, were alarmingly underwhelming. With top selections from…