Every day I picked my preschooler up from school and asked him the same question: “Hey, what did you do today?” Every day I got the same response: Silence. As a researcher, I’ve learned that the quality of the answers we get is usually proportionate to the quality of the questions we ask. I acknowledged … Read more
Think about the first time you realized you mattered. What happened? How did you feel? Chances are your moment of mattering impacted and moved you. Most likely, you felt important because of what someone else said or did. Feeling significant is a basic human desire and a critical factor for mental, emotional, and physical well-being in life, school, and … Read more
Last year, in an airport restroom, I saw a man crumple a paper towel and throw it toward a trash can attached to a janitor’s cleaning cart. It bounced off the rim and dropped to the floor, right next to the janitor’s boot. The two exchanged glances and the man walked out the door, leaving … Read more