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How to handle a troll

While speaking yesterday at the Mark Twain House, a woman asked me how I handle criticism and the negative responses that I receive from people who read my blog, follow me on social media, watch me perform, and the like. She pointed out that recently, someone disagreed with a position that I took on social…

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Two statistics that can change the course of a lifetime

Two statistics that surprised me quite a bit. 1. Only one-third of American adults older than 24 years-old have a college degree.  It’s easy for college graduates who are surrounded by college graduates in their workplace and their social life to assume that a majority of Americans have graduated from college with an undergraduate degree.…

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Honest but kind. No, honest is kind.

An administrator once described her method of feedback to me as “honest but kind.” “No,” I said. “Honest is kind.” There’s nothing worse that receiving feedback from someone that is disingenuous, unnecessarily flowery, and ultimately unhelpful. I want honesty at all times. My literary agent is always honest about my work and my ideas for…

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The Republican own this self-acknowledged sex offender President

In America today, we have a President who openly admitted to sexually assaulting women defending a Supreme Court nominee who is accused of sexually assaulting women. This is also a President who has paid hush money to porn stars to conceal affairs and has more than a dozen accusations of sexual harassment and sexual assault…

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Many jobs. Many, many more dreams.

I met with a college graduate recently who told me that she doesn’t know what to do with her life. Has no career ambitions. Isn’t excited about any particular subject or field. I’ll never understand this. I find it utterly incomprehensible. I’m a person with a lot of jobs. Elementary school teacher. Author and columnist…

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Behold: The inventor of the chocolate chip cookie

I don’t like it when people of import are forgotten by history. William Dawes, for example, made the same ride as Paul Revere on that fateful night. Took the same risks and accomplished the same goal, but because William Wadsworth Longfellow failed to mention Dawes in his famous poem, Americans do not know his name.…

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Speak Up Storytelling: Ron Apter

Episode #18 of Speak Up Storytelling is now ready for your listening pleasure. On this week’s episode, Elysha Dicks and I talk about finding excellent stories in your everyday life using my strategy “Homework for Life.” We discuss how the stories we find in a day can sometimes be the building blocks of much larger…

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A DJ, a preacher, and a bank robber, all rolled into one

I think this Venn diagram is hilarious. Also, rather oddly, I have occupied all sections of the diagram at one time in my life. DJ: For the past 21 years, I have owned and operated a DJ company, performing more than 400 weddings and other events. Preacher: Last year, I delivered a sermon at two…

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I don’t drink. For my health and other good reasons.

Bad news for all you non-teetotalers: There’s no amount of liquor, wine or beer that is safe for your overall health, according to a new analysis of 2016 global alcohol consumption and disease risk. Alcohol was the leading risk factor for disease and premature death in men and women between the ages of 15 and…

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