Longer lifespans: A coming crisis or reason to celebrate?

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  • A huge segment of America's population — the Baby Boom generation — is aging and will live longer than any American generation in history.
  • The story we read about in the news? Their drain on social services like Social Security and Medicare.
  • But increased longevity is a cause for celebration, says Ashton Applewhite, not doom and gloom.


This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism
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Alan Watts on the meaning of life

The British philosopher reminds us that meaning is anywhere we choose to look.

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  • Alan Watts suggests there is no ultimate meaning of life, but that "the quality of our state of mind" defines meaning for us.
  • This is in contradiction to the notion that an inner essence is waiting to be discovered.
  • Paying attention to everyday, mundane objects can become highly significant, filling life with meaning.
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Personal Growth

How best to live with grit and grace

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  • Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin is the only person to catch a pass in the NFL and in space.
  • Here, he shares his thoughts on living in a state of grace and advocating for justice.
  • Humanity's future is among the stars and to get there, we'll need everyone's diverse talents.


Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances
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The average lifespan of a friendship? 10 years. Here’s why.

This is the psychology of why friendships (and marriages) fail.

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  • Some friendships last a lifetime, but most have a lifespan. In the U.S., best friends tend to last for 10 years on average, says Nicholas Christakis.
  • In friendships, one person may begin to defect or "free ride", which causes the other person to choose between cooperation or defection. People tend to choose the latter so they won't be taken advantage of.
  • A certain amount of social fluidity, taking a breather from a friendship, can actually make a friendship last longer.
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5 life skills we need to teach in school

Education shouldn't just be about preparing us for the workforce. It should prepare us for life.

Photo credit: Chris Hondros / Newsmakers
  • A stunning number of adults seem to be coasting by without knowledge of what many would consider extremely basic life skills.
  • From financial literacy to learning how to communicate, the U.S. education system could stand to incorporate courses on the basic skills we need to navigate daily life.
  • This list describes 5 life skills, why we need them in our schools, and the consequences of their absence.
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Personal Growth