The recent merciless bullying of bus monitor, Karen Klein, in Greece, New York, raises many questions, such as: How is empathy acquired? Is it teachable? Could we do a better job of cultivating empathy and social consciousness, especially in our young people?

Instant gratification, without paying attention to the consequences, has become a way of life for many, and it costs us dearly in a variety of ways. It is about more than what we eat, but also about character development, including social awareness, taking responsibility and self-control.

Tony Stark (Iron Man) had a difficult relationship with his father. Although his dad loved him, Tony never believed it, and this affected him negatively. It could be that Howard Stark simply didn’t know how to be a good dad. With Father’s Day approaching, perhaps it’s time we reconsidered the fathering role, to make it better for both dads and kids.

As the so-called ‘mommy wars’ rage, we need to stop blaming mothers, celebrate good enough parenting, and focus instead on providing structural support for parents.

Prior to the technology explosion, people within generations used popular cultural touchstones as a way to share and relate to one another. With current entertainment so diversified, what was once used to connect us may now serve to divide.

In our hustle and bustle lifestyle, we often forget about the necessity of quiet and serenity. Without them, we can lose our imagination, our focus and our relationship skills.

In the search for what makes change possible, I’ve found that being comfortable with mistakes is key to correcting them.