“Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.” ~Hafiz There’s nothing like a breast biopsy — or any biopsy — to inspire a list of anxious thoughts. This week, a series of mammograms and an ultrasound showed “abnormal” findings, which prompted the scheduling of the biopsy I had at the hospital yesterday morning. It’s the fourth breast biopsy I’ve had in 30 years, which doesn’t make it much easier. Several years ago, I wrote a newspaper column about waiting for biopsy results. (It’s included in my book, Writing Home.) In the piece, I talked about the stress of waiting for…

“Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t expect the important people in your life to read your mind. Don’t play foolish games with their heads and hearts. Don’t tell half truths and expect someone to trust you when the full truth comes out.” ~Angel Chernoff Today’s quote reminds us that other people cannot read our minds. Great relationships are built on healthy communication. Communication breakdowns occur when we avoid discussing our real feelings, or we make the wrong assumptions without learning the facts. The silent treatment, like withholding the truth, is another form of poor communication. Our partners, friends, and family members shouldn’t have to consult the…