Attitude & Lifestyle

Ghoulish Gals: Are women more open-minded about the paranormal?

by Queen D, October 16, 2016

Twenty years ago, I stared across my Ouija board at my friend’s face, her look of shocked disbelief mirroring mine. “You’re moving it,” she said with a forced chuckle. “No. I thought you were,” I answered. We watched as the plastic planchette moved in a perfect circle. Stealing her nerves, my friend asked a question […]

Read more
Attitude & Lifestyle

When happiness is at the bottom of a Louis Vuitton bag: Dangers of retail therapy

by Queen D, October 14, 2016

I get depressed when I shop – and that’s aside from the big crowds, the lack of parking, my tendency to get lost in big malls, and my inability to find my car when I am so ready to leave. I am not into designer stuff, but there’s lots of things I’d buy if I […]

Read more
Personal Development

Fear of Success: Failure's slightly more attractive but still scary step-sister

by Queen D, October 7, 2016

There are some Psychology theories that will make you sit back and wonder what the heck the theorist was doing when they came up with it. Take Freud’s psychosexual developmental brainchild, the “Electra Complex” and it’s ensuing “penis envy.” I won’t go into detail here, but suffice to say that Freud really didn’t understand women […]

Read more
Personal Development

Things we should have learned in school – like Emotional Intelligence

by Queen D, September 30, 2016

To this day, I still can’t understand why we had to learn meteorological terms in school. I had no intention of becoming a weather girl. Besides, weather forecasting is about as accurate as astrology. I remember my teacher pointing at me and asking for the definition of “air pressure.” Despite being one of the smartest […]

Read more
Mental Health & Well-Being

Perfectionism, self-criticism, and other inconspicuous self-esteem problems

by Queen D, September 23, 2016

I have an acquaintance who is an accounting manager in a major firm with a salary of about $90,000 a year. She’s intelligent, fashion-forward, speaks three languages fluently, and can make an amazing Beef Wellington. Do I envy her? Kind of…with the exception of her absolutely horrible taste in men. She married someone whom she’s […]

Read more
Attitude & Lifestyle

The Life Satisfaction Puzzle: Pieces That Contribute To Contentment

by Queen D, September 16, 2016

Intellectually, I understand that life isn’t as complicated as we seem to think it is. I’ve been told the same message from multiple gurus who just sit and smile and say, “Let go! Let go of your intense need to control every aspect of your life. Let the worries go. Let the problems go. Once […]

Read more
Attitude & Lifestyle

Spirituality and life satisfaction: Are they indelibly intertwined?

by Queen D, September 9, 2016

I’ve always adopted the philosophy that religion and politics were not a topic of conversation. My family consists of a mix of moderately devout Christians, atheists, and one spiritualist, and it can turn into a messy conversation. I myself don’t subscribe to a particular religion but I am fairly spiritual – you know, the whole “we […]

Read more
Personality

Ten misconceptions about extroverts and introverts

by Queen D, September 2, 2016

Before I moved into my new home, the seller and I had a few papers to sign, so we met up at her soon-to-be-my place with her realtor and mine in tow. We were making small talk about our jobs, when she suggested that, as a professor, she was an excellent judge of character. “You’re […]

Read more
Mental Health & Well-Being

Words of oppression: Things you tell yourself when you’re depressed

by Queen D, August 26, 2016

I don’t watch much TV. In order to get me to watch any show, it would have to be so good that I’d be compelled to take the DVDs of each season with me to a deserted island (should such a thing be required). If you think that’s strict, you should see how stringent I […]

Read more
Love & Relationships

Two to "tangle": What your attachment style says about you

by Queen D, August 19, 2016

My attachment styles have always ever been a reflection of where I was in my life. When I was young and naïve, I would get attached rather quickly, fall much harder, and change who I was to make my partner’s happy. When I got a little older, I put up emotional walls, never letting my […]

Read more
Mental Health & Well-Being

The ugly side of perfect

by Queen D, August 11, 2016

After breaking up with the third girl in six months, my friend begged me for advice. It was the same damn routine: He’d lament over the break-up, ask for some insightful input, agree with it, fail to follow it, and then come back for the same a month later. “What was wrong with this girl […]

Read more
Attitude & Lifestyle

Kids, don’t try this at home: Gender and age differences in driving attitude

by Queen D, August 4, 2016

I’m not an angry driver – I just say angry things when I see (enter swear word) drivers doing stupid things on the road like no one else is around. I’m talking to you, guy in BMW, who cut across three lanes at the last minute to get off at an exit and nearly hit […]

Read more