I’ve had a Twitter account for years, but I don’t use it to get news – or any other social media platform as a news source. If I want to get the news, I check out 3 or 4 news platforms to get the full story. But sadly, there are too many people who think that Twitter is an important news and information source when it really is not. It’s like watching “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central to get the news. It’s probably not your best source.

It’s a bit early for Halloween but when the news headlines are filled with horror, it’s a motivator to revisit the stories of this scary season and how they still apply today. The news this week has the scariest headline I’ve seen all year: Boston University researchers develop a deadlier version of the COVID virus by combining two strains. Headlines and stories noted that this combined strain has an 80% mortality rate in mice.

Years ago, I realized I was a grown up and had reached a certain level of emotional maturity when I could objectively judge a situation involving a person I do not like. I learned to set aside emotion and evaluate the situation; personal opinions did not apply. It took me years to become a disciplined and objective thinker, and it’s something that we all need to constantly work on and hone.

Most days I’m a positive person because I know from experience things are never as bad as they seem. Even on those “nothing is going right” days I tend to think, “Okay, this too shall pass. Like a bad kidney stone, but it will pass.”

It’s April Fools’ Day, a time when we play tricks and pranks on each other. In the 21st Century, I believe that we need even more skepticism on this day considering misinformation, propaganda, and the ability of rumors to spread in the speed of thought.

Due to the pandemic lockdown and other restrictions/regulations related to managing a virus over the last two years, people reassessed their lives. They were working from home, or maybe not working at all, and were influenced to make changes in their job that might make their life better or more fulfilling.

In 2012, I had the opportunity to present a virtual session to the Ukrainian Taxpayers Organization on nonprofit management. While I couldn’t be there in person, I felt a great deal of warmth and appreciation from the hosts and the conference attendees. They sent me this lovely speaker gift, a music box in the shape of an iconic Ukrainian image. Every day I see this in my office and think of how I connected with people far away.

When people insult me (which fortunately isn’t too often) I reply, “I’ve been called worse by better.” While this cheeky comeback might be appropriate for an insult, it’s not the best comeback when someone calls me the wrong name. Sometimes I reply, “Just don’t call me late for dinner . . .” but I still feel as if I’m being “dissed” when I am called the wrong name.

The pandemic lockdown of 2020 provided a pause for most of the world. We had the opportunity to think, contemplate, and practice introspection. It’s amazing how a situation like the lockdown exposes what is actually important and what has no real value.

There’s an old saying (isn’t there one for everything?): “Familiarity breeds contempt.” If you are not familiar (pun intended) with this cliché, it means that the longer you are around someone or something, the higher the odds that you will begin to hate it.

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