Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
Login | What's Hot
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Jackie Gingrich Cushman :: Townhall.com Columnist
Making Molehills Out of Mountains
by Jackie Gingrich Cushman
Forward Print Share Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
 
Poll
Will the Dems' health care Christmas Present to America be an improvement or detriment to our health care system?


Walking down the jet way just in time to catch the plane for the start of our 10-day family vacation, the question came up, which child would sit with which parent. At this particular moment, they both chose Dad.

I feigned hurt feelings, wondering if they could both sit next to him. Our daughter decided she would keep me company. I soon discovered why they wanted to sit next to Dad. He played with them on plane trips, while I normally read a book or worked on my computer.

This revelation lead to my putting up my computer and playing several hands of go fish, most of which I lost. When we changed planes in Salt Lake City, I had become fun enough to sit next to again. I determined that FUN would be the goal for our vacation.

We ran into numerous problems picking up the RV we were planning on driving through Yellowstone for the next 4 days. The goal was being challenged. At one point I thought all was lost when my husband mentioned renting a SUV and camping in a tent, but 5 hours after our plane landed, we were on our way with my husband behind the wheel of a 38-foot RV.

Focusing on fun, and working together had allowed us to overcome obstacles and move forward, literally.

While we often run to friends for fun, solace, advice or simply to unwind, there is recent scientific evidence that friends, or thinking of a positive influence will help make molehills out of mountains, or at least make the mountains a bit more manageable.

The impact of social support, both in person and through thoughts, is the topic of a recent article (Schnall, S. et al., Social support and the perception of geographical slant, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (2008), doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2008.04.011).

In two studies, 76 participants were asked to estimate the slope of a hill. In the first study, a friend accompanied some participants and some were alone. Those who had a friend with them judged the slope to be less steep by 10 percent to 15 percent than did those who were alone. The longevity of the friendship also had an impact. “The longer participants knew their friends, the less steep they estimated the hill to be,” noted the study. Continued...
1 2
| Full Article & Comments | Next >
Share:
Forward Print Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author
Jackie Cushman is a freelance writer who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Her column also runs later in the week in the Northside Neighbor.
 
TOWNHALL DAILY: Sign up today and receive Townhall.com daily lineup delivered each morning to your inbox.

Join The Debate!

Post Your Comment
(5 comments so Far)
View in ascending order     View in descending order
Reply # 1
Date: Jul 14, 2008 - 3:29 PM EST
The American Revolution
King George of England would not grant the colonies liberty or freedom from taxation without representation.

One of the patriots of the time told the Brits, "GIVE US LIBERTY OR WE WILL BLOODY WELL TAKE IT." And so we did just that.

Problem is there are a bunch of Socialists on the bench in our court rooms stealing our liberties and freedom right before our eyes.

Perhaps a revolution would be a bit much but we need to heat the tar barrells and pluck a bunch of chickens during the next elections.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 2
Date: Jul 13, 2008 - 10:47 PM EST
"INDEPENDENCE PARTY VOTERS"
The Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln evolved from obstinacy and stagnation from the Farm Democrats and Whigs of that era. Their trend generation was to keep and uphold the institution of slavery despite the Abolitionist Movement growing in New England and the Mississippi Northwest. From its very inception the Republican Party was in poignant opposition to slavery. Conversely, today the Party Leadership is bogged down in multi-generational identity politics by trying to take up too many seats on the bus resulting in a broken down bus.

The Independence Party would attract those Americans who cherish their personal sense of independence. On any July or August evening along the shoreline of a lake, river, or ocean beach Independence Party People relish the freedom building the biggest bonfire possible and being responsible for the clean up of the swath of nature used making it more pristine then when originally found. In my father’s day we used to clean up looking for the silver dollar and if we found the silver dollar put it someplace else for the next group of campers. We never found the silver dollar but we always left that piece of public space cleaner then found nonetheless.

So let A New Bell of Freedom ring out from this place of public forum so that new voices can be heard above the screams from the leftist left or the dreadful drown from the beehive Washington Buzz.

“”””” WE ARE THE INDEPENDENCE PARTY - WHOSE MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED TO THE MANIFESTATION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND DON’T TREAD ON ME! ”””””
Flag as Offensive
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
 *
State:
 *
Zip:
 *
Phone:
       
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.