Archive for April 2025
It’s not the thing itself, it’s what it’s like
“Why does being kind to someone affect my heart, brain, and immune system?” This was a question I was recently asked, with an emphasis on, “But why.” The style of the question reminded me of childhood, when we frustrate the adults in our lives by asking repeated ‘but why’s. Like our responses to children, we could make…
Read MoreMost heroes don’t wear capes
When we think of heroes, our minds often leap to grand gestures—leaping into burning buildings, scaling mountains, delivering dramatic speeches that shift the course of history. We picture capes, medals, and front-page headlines. But the truth is, most real heroes are quietly woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. You pass them in the…
Read MoreWhat if it works? A life lesson from the tennis court
I was reminded of an important life lesson recently. I played a two-set tennis match against a 19-year-old tennis coach. He’s a talented player – he strikes the ball sweetly, accurately, and with a lot of pace. I lost the first set, six games to one. He outplayed me. But then he offered me some…
Read MoreOpen Label Placebos: Why They Work Even When You Know They’re Fake
Open Label Placebos (OLP) are placebos that don’t pretend to be real drugs. They say ‘Placebo’ right there on the bottle. Which makes it all the more surprising that… they still work. According to the purpose of a placebo – to compare a drug against a control – they shouldn’t work. It kind of defeats…
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