Many of us hate making New Year’s resolutions. First of all, they’re so cliché. Second, why wait until January to do something you should be doing all year long? And finally, if you’re going to make a promise to yourself, why choose something you’re not likely to accomplish (like abolishing every last drop of sugar from your diet), or something that shouldn’t be rushed (remember how Charlotte in Sex and the City promised herself, “This is the year I meet and marry Mr. Right!”—to disastrous results).

Here are five resolutions that are meaningful, achievable and worthy of your attention year round. Making just one of these a consistent goal can have lasting positive effects on your entire life, from your relationships and career to your mental health. So give them a try, but go easy on yourself (see #4) if you regress now and then. … //READ MORE

Recently, I needed to say goodbye to someone special and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. This person wasn’t making me as much of a priority as I was making them. Their actions were not as loving as the words coming from their mouth. I gave this person several chances to treat me better, but they didn’t. So it was becoming more painful to have them in my life than to release them.

So I let go. … //READ MORE

It all started in the fifth grade when a few girls, who I thought were my friends, pulled away from me and began forming their own clique. Something as simple as a pair of jeans I wore or a phrase I uttered was suddenly considered “uncool” and caused them to whisper and laugh.

Welcome to the often-complex, sometimes cruel world of female friendships. … //READ MORE

You probably have a favorite flower. But are you aware that there’s a blossom that’s most suited for your unique astrological sign? Whether you’re a loyal and intuitive Pisces, an eccentric and thoughtful Aquarius or a courageous and outgoing Leo, your best blooms may very well be written in the stars.

Read on to find your perfect floral match. … //READ MORE

My Facebook friend Laura died last night. She was the best friend I never met.

Laura and I came from the same neighborhood, a unique childhood paradise of 20 or so 20-story buildings in one square mile, complete with an elementary school, middle school, high school, shopping center and two nice parks, all within one block of the Atlantic Ocean. Built in the 1960s by Fred Trump, father of the Donald, Trump Village was the first new middle-income, co-operative community built on Brooklyn’s south shore, in between Brighton Beach, later to become  New York’s Little Odessa by the sea, and Coney Island, the once glamourous Oceanfront play land. The new community was instantly populated with mostly Jewish, mostly young couples and families, and instant friendships were formed in the lobbies, the classrooms, and the playgrounds between the buildings. … //READ MORE

We don’t really own anyone or anything. All we have is this moment. Why waste it in worries, regrets and sour fantasies? Why not embrace it with attention, affection and appreciation?

This is what one of my three gurus posted on his Facebook page today. That’s right, I have three gurus—people who are helping to guide me on my spiritual path. And yes, this one is an avid Facebooker and references pop culture in his teachings. … //READ MORE