Cicero said that gratitude is the parent of all other virtues. And it's true! A sense of gratitude can't combat feelings of anxiety, depression, anger and hostility, and even boredom. We - us, here - are constantly thanking our lucky stars for what we have and what we have to spread around. But it takes practice, and that's what we're talking about. It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.

We've talked about collecting before. But this time we're delving into the idea of collecting without using. Collecting without even opening. The quintessential "look, but don't touch" mindset. Some people want to hold on to items for the sake of keeping them in pristine condition. Others, however, are comfortable causing a little bit of damage here and there for sake of sopping as much joy as they can out of actually using them. That's what we're talking about. It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.

Some of us grew up glued to the TV, and some of us just grew into it. Maybe the "screen" habits of our youth have molded the habits we have as adults, or maybe we've consciously made that switch either toward or away from devices. But it's not just the television, and it's not just screens. That's what we're talking about. It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.

If you really think about it, if you just keep your two cents to yourself then you'll always have at least two pennies to rub together. (Aren't idioms fun?) Does that explain why staying out of fruitless debates can contribute to an overall state of emotional well-being? I mean no one wants to be dodging flack just because they have an "unpopular" opinion. Like the opinions we have about teaching kids to recognize and respect authority figures. That's what we're talking about. It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.

Quoth Frodo. But this isn't the shire.. We're talking about that in-vogue social anxiety "FOMO," or the fear of missing out. While we're at it, we're also kind of talking about "FOBO," the fear of better options. Then there's "JOMO," the JOY of missing out, and even what we've coined "FODO" - the fear of disappointing others, and all the other acronyms social media amplifies to keep us from feeling mentally well-adjusted. It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.

You can't deny that some people use their devices as a crutch. Heck, some of us right here do. Sometimes the phone can be a distraction from real life, and other times it can be a means of comfort and connection. But it's undeniable that the attention paid to these screens can get out of hand, even to the point of obsessive. That's what we're talking about. It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.

We've said it before-- live and let live. But when, from all sides, you're being bombarded with differing opinions, outlooks, and the idea that you're not living your own life the way others either would or simply think you should, we think it's time to say it again. So that's what we're talking about. It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.

No, we're talking about actual grudges here. Not just that but we're talking about the nature of forgiveness, and whether or not it's even a real thing. Can you forgive AND forget? What does it really do to someone when they hold a grudge? It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.

Introducing the latest addition to the team: Clean Gene! Just kidding, it's still us. We're talking about hygiene, and the common sense that goes into maintaining it. Because, as whole, grown adults, we can't figure out how - or why! - other whole, grown adults still haven't mastered the basics. It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.

We have a cat now! We've taken in a stray and turned the 3 of us here at TTP into 4. It's got us thinking about all the pets we've had before, and all the wildlife we get to interact with in our lives. It's even got us talking a bit about "new pet guilt" and the realness of pet ownership. But, bottom line-- WE HAVE A CAT NOW! It's amazing what you can learn about someone just by talking to them.