Can Connection Cure Addiction?
"It is now one hundred years since drugs were first banned -- and all through this long century of waging war on drugs, we have been told a story about addiction...This story is so deeply ingrained in our minds that we take it for granted: There are strong chemical hooks in these drugs, so if we stopped on day twenty-one, our bodies would need the chemical. We would have a ferocious craving. We wo... posted on Mar 24 2015, 27,903 reads

14 Surprising Ways To Boost Your Creativity
One of the most pleasurable aspects of the human mind -- creativity -- also just happens to be one of the mind's most elusive aspects as well. So for many people, it is often very hard to get a firm grasp on the keys that unlock creative potential when searching for it. This article offers up 14 useful ways that could help spark the inner creativity we all yearn for.... posted on Mar 23 2015, 62,204 reads

The Girl Who Gets Gifts From Birds
"Lots of people love the birds in their garden, but it's rare for that affection to be reciprocated. One young girl in Seattle is luckier than most. She feeds the crows in her garden - and they bring her gifts in return." Read on for more about 8-year old Gabi, her generosity toward her winged friends, and their sweet relationship!... posted on Mar 22 2015, 26,520 reads

My Father's Gift
'Gift' is a short film that conveys a profound message on the importance of giving, and the true value of wealth. It illustrates how we touch others when we selflessly give of our time, love and kindness. 'Gift' is about a boy who grew up believing that his father was poor, unintelligent and unsuccessful. After his father's death however, the son discovers the true reach of his parent's generosit... posted on Mar 21 2015, 6,780 reads

Goals & Happiness: A Virtuous Cycle Infographic
The trick to being a happier person? Turns out it may lie in setting small, simple goals that can help you to focus on the important things in your life. This engaging infographic shares some startling data on the truth about happiness, it illustrates how setting goals and being happy are part of a virtuous cycle, and also reveals what kind of goals lead to the greatest joy.... posted on Mar 20 2015, 35,374 reads

The Opposite Of Spoiled & How To Get There
Many parents walk a fine line when trying to teach children about the importance of money: on one hand, they want to make sure not to spoil their children or raise them with a sense of entitlement; and on the other hand they also want to ensure that their kids don't grow up too naive or unaware of the role that money plays. In an effort to address this challenge, Ron Lieber, a columnist for The Ne... posted on Mar 19 2015, 22,060 reads

Mary Oliver: Listening to the World
"Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting / over and over announcing your place in the family of things." In a rare interview, Mary Oliver shares details from her life and her poetry with On Being's Krista Tippett.... posted on Mar 18 2015, 28,654 reads

5 Ways Music Can Make You Healthier
Many of us are well aware of the impact of music upon our mood. An old, familiar tune may not only help to alleviate stress, it could potentially offer us a brighter outlook for our day. But, did you know that music can play a positive role on our physical health, as well? Expanding research points to its application in the field of traditional medicine. Whether simply helping to alleviate anxiety... posted on Mar 17 2015, 31,003 reads

Living With Mystery In A Certainty-Obsessed Culture
In his book, The Island of Knowledge: The Limits of Science and the Search for Meaning, astrophysicist and philosopher Marcelo Gleiser explores the interface between our commitment to knowledge and our parallel flirtation with the mystery of the unknown. How has the progress of modern science compounded the perplexities and paradoxes of our quintessential human longing?... posted on Mar 16 2015, 18,422 reads

Steve Karlin: When Animals Are Our Teachers
"...to have a relationship with a wild creature, first you have to have a relationship with yourself." For thousands of years, human beings have lived side by side with animals. We share a common heritage here on earth, and, when we open our minds, we find there is much to learn from wild perspectives around us. Steve Karlin shares the insights he has gained after years spent caring for and connec... posted on Mar 15 2015, 29,587 reads