One of the bigger challenges for those of us not raised by wolves is interacting with people who were. Like many of you, I was raised to be polite. To have an awareness of others and to be courteous whenever possible. I habitually open doors for people, usually ladies, but sometimes elderly men or people … More Being Polite in a Rude World
My apologies for the extended absence. My non-writing life has been quite a mixed bag recently, and my work has suffered as a result. But the issues have all been resolved, and a somewhat more structured work schedule can now resume. Earlier this year, I received an email from a young lady. She had been … More Back Among The Living
I returned to Paris last week and was lucky enough to catch up briefly with another American expat. He and I are about the same age and our backgrounds are similar, so conversation flowed easily. One topic we discussed was inflation was inflation: how it impacts people in different ways, depending upon their age and … More Inflation…and What We Remember
We are often told about the importance of making a good first impression. It is wise advice because it is timeless and often accurate: make a good first impression, and odds are you have a good chance to experience a productive social, personal, or professional relationship with the other party. Make a bad first impression … More The Last Impression
Part of Old Money culture is the preservation of certain traditions: dressing appropriately, reading voraciously, working diligently, and spending carefully. Etiquette and manners of course fall into this group of top-shelf priorities. Within this category, I have to mention the dying art of sending the Thank You note. To be clear: emails do not cut … More A Tradition Worth Preserving
Many of us are attentive to the food we consume. We try to eat fresh, watch the carbs, moderate the fast food, avoid soft drinks, and not overdo it with the portion sizes. However, we might be less attentive to what we allow into our brain. The digital landscape being what it is, we are … More The Brain Diet
As we go through life, we learn things. Sometimes we learn in school, sometimes by experience. We accumulate facts, process feelings, and make judgments. We behave and make choices, for the most part, consistent with the worldview we’ve constructed from these various elements. Our opinions are formed. We may affix labels to ourselves in order … More The Value of New Information
I had an enjoyable conversation with a dear friend recently. She is quite a character: formerly a hard-nosed entrepreneur and sparkling Monaco socialite, she began life as the youngest daughter in a prominent French family. After a rigorous and no nonsense education at a Swiss boarding school, circumstances abruptly dropped the centuries-old family estate in … More The Dangers of Comfort
After reading the recent news about protests against Elon Musk and his role in the Trump Administration, I felt troubled. Of course, people have a right to voice their opposition to the South African’s unelected role in American government, considering his companies’ numerous federal contracts. Conflicts of interest are inherent and obvious in this case. … More A War We Don’t Need
It has been a long, wet winter here in the French countryside. Recently, however, we have finally been blessed with a few days of sunshine, and each new dawn seems to promises warmer temperatures and a slow introduction to spring. The ducks are paddling in the pond, and a few brave frogs have begun croaking. … More What I’m Reading Now