The year is quickly winding down and about to go into the bin of history. Thus, Uncommon Sense Issue #346 is before you to continue the effort to provide clarity, promote intelligence, and glean understanding. Let’s see what’s in store for you.

The Self-Development column shines a light on our tendency to set bodacious goals but then burnout in short order, leaving such goals on a growing pile of “what-might-have-been.” I will attempt to give you some food for thought on this tendency to get derailed from our long-term objectives and hopefully get you back on track.

In Issues 344 and 345, The Elephant in the Room column gave you Parts 1 and 2 of a 3-Part debate I had recently, with a fellow who does not approve of some of President Trump’s actions in trying to bring order to the chaos taking place in Chicago. In this current issue of Uncommon Sense, I present you the concluding part of that debate which I think you will find riveting and decisive.

We often use certain terms interchangeably but incorrectly. Think jealousy vs. envy; ignorance vs. stupidity; confidence vs. arrogance; or sociopath vs. psychopath. These terms seem almost synonymous, but with the latter pair in particular, there are some subtle but important distinctions. I elaborate on those distinctions in the From Ara’s Journal column.

I maintain, as Tom Peters once said, that perception is all there is. And the way people perceive us often involves how we speak and the words we use. Building up your vocabulary, enhancing your power of expression, could be pivotal in opening doors for you. The World of Words column does its thing, serving up yet another gem of a word from our vast English lexicon. I urge you to add it to your working vocabulary. You won’t regret it.

OK, let’s get started.

Ara Norwood