I just googled, and frederico died in a plane crash less than a decade after. I love random articles like this that inspire me to google random things.

Your responses are inspiring and I am pretty sure we must work for the same company (we don’t—I’m not in real estate). Almost all of the bosses that I have had at my current job generally think that any position that is technically beneath them, can be done by anyone. Let’s hire an aerobics instructor for an…

I think averageness in the comic is a slap in the face relative to relatively intense (and often exaggerated, because hey, kids) praise, though. It’s unpleasant to experience for sure, but I don’t know that that makes it always incorrect.

I think what I’m trying to say is that you seem to be interpreting “average” as inherently negative. In our cultural context I can see why people might, but in this thread most people do seem to be using “average” to mean just...unspectacular, not super out of the ordinary, the same level of skill with which lots…

Seriously. Been wanting to write again soon, now all my hopes are dashed!

I love that. And when people talk on Facebook about how busy they are and how much they’re doing, I just remember this:

Terrific question. I have 2 brilliant emigres for parents who accomplished high goals in academia and psychology. Siblings and I were - mostly me” were expected to succeed in medicine, law or science. Siblings became doctors and lawyers. I was the spiritual, artistic writer and theater artist. I also came with…

Same here. Raised by a single mom who had to get a job after high school to help pay for her brother’s college education. Somehow she found a way to send me and my sister to private schools and all I heard my whole life is that I wasn’t “living up to my potential.” I even have a master’s degree but haven’t done…

See that’s the thing, like unlimited drive is universally something to be envied. I keep my house immaculate, my wife and daughter are happy and healthy. I clean, I cook, I provide anything and everything for them I can as a stay at home dad. When I’m not doing the aforementioned, I don’t care about a career or…

Funny you should mention this, right now, since I have been perusing your posts and wondering why you are not working as a wickedly funny, deliciously sardonic, deeply compassionate advice columnist? This is clearly your destiny.

I’m not at all goal oriented. I live/work surrounded by people who are and it’s really annoying because not a one of them is any happier than I am (including the uber-successful ones) but they’re all weirded out by the fact that I refuse to take part in the usual goal setting that is expected in my industry. In fact,…

I’ve been thinking a LOT about this lately (and when I say “lately”, I’m talking heavy rumination on and off for about 5 years). Anyhow, an idea has formed and keeps taking shape, but it’s this: our current culture (especially the last 20 years, i.e. the internet/tabloid years) is obsessed with attainment. I’m not…

I was for most of my life, in both school and work. I got a high position and title in my field when I was only 25 years old, and I spent my entire 20s and early 30s busting my ass. Now I’m 38, and don’t want ANY of this. I’m really over the stress and horrible work-life balance in my career. I’ve been feeling this…

One of the most startling things I ever read was in another physics text, which said something like, “For now we only know about our galaxy, the Milky Way, and our neighboring galaxy, Andromeda, which was only discovered fairly recently. There must be several more out there, possibly an infinite number. In theory our…

I read an article a while ago, the title was something like “What if all I want is a mediocre life?” The woman who wrote it talked about how she is content, but seems to be surrounded by people who are always striving for something more.

I think it’s when you realize that the whole “You’re smart and special!” thing is just something people tell you so you won’t quit school in third grade. Sylvia Plath summed it up nicely in The Bell Jar: “The one thing I was good at was winning scholarships and prizes, and that era was coming to an end.”

My 8 year old just informed me I use the f word a lot. My husband was razzing me and I was grumbling that I drive them everywhere. I need to get back to new mom language standards. :)

Used to work in book publishing. Now I work for myself and unless you get an academic press to send your non-fiction stuff to me to be reworked and put online so it’s legible to graduate students majoring in STEM it’s unlikely I could do anything for you.

In my experience, those feelings linger until you’ve formed a good bond. Then that bond gives you confidence and you are able to find more friends. It’s a chain reaction. Then hopefully, you look at yourself and you love yourself and what you have to offer. Good friendships are amazing for your self-esteem. I’m happy…

Haven’t been around for this in a few weeks. Last week I had my mum’s weekend away. Five glorious days visiting with my mum and sister and grandparents. Grandpa taught me some tai chi. Kind of neat to be 35 (well, a little over a week away omg) and have a grandpa running your exercise class in the living room.

I have…