10. Volunteer: Several sites suggest spending time helping others over the holiday break. Contact Toys for Tots, United Way or a local food bank. I’m sure they won’t turn down whatever help you can provide during this busy season. 9. Start a blog:...

10. Don’t stuff your mouth: I tell my son this all the time, but it’s true. I’m so happy when I see him savoring flavors rather than gobbling down all of his food. It means he’s enjoying the journey. 9. R-e-s-p-e-c-t: In a given day I might talk...

10. Opposite-sex friendships: A lot of people think it’s OK to have a close friend of a different sex. The problem is the uncertainty it creates in your partner’s mind. If you care for that person, then he or she should be your first concern. Why...

10. My son: I am acutely aware that he is paying attention to everything I do or don’t do. It’s so overwhelming to think my missteps could affect his wellbeing. But this burden also propels me to try harder, to face everything the new day might throw...

10. Music: If you ever heard me play the flute, you would know I was not destined to be a musician. In ninth grade I had to make the choice between the student newspaper and the band. Clearly, I was destined to be a writer, not a musician. Failing at...

1. Your parents raised you right: You weren’t raised to sit in a corner and let everyone else make decisions for you. They told you to stand up for yourself, right? Well, that hasn’t changed just because you’re an adult. Instead of standing up for...

10. Learn about different cultures: You may have come from one of Chicago’s racially segregated neighborhoods where you rarely saw people who didn’t look, act or talk like you. Volunteering in an impoverished community allows you to meet people with...

Top 10 Reasons to Stay Home on a Saturday Night 10. Save your money for a rainy day: At some point, your parents will cut you off. Now’s a good time to save rather than spend. I’m not saying you can’t go out, just maybe not as often. 9. Read for...

Top 10 Children’s Songs with Relevant Life Lessons 1. Jack and Jill (went up the hill...): The lesson here is never trust a man to lead the way. Make your own path and don’t follow blindly behind anyone, even if he is wearing a crown. 2. Be Kind to...

10. Take the GRE: It’s supposed to assess your readiness for graduate work. To me, it only measures your test-taking ability and your capacity for useless vocabulary. Luckily, your score is only one of several factors in the admission process. 9. Spend...

10. Learn to laugh. Yes, if you don’t laugh, you will cry. But it’s not all about you, remember. Your laughter can bring such joy to others in their time of need. That in turn will bring a smile to your face and possibly lift your heart. 9. Realize...