We assume that life is complex and unfathomable. Exactly the opposite is true once we accept some simple truths. They reflect our every day experiences.

More people are tracing their family histories than ever before. Throughout time we’ve been fascinated by who we are and where we come from. Tracking our genealogy is a compelling activity that demands the same persistence and deductive reasoning as detective work. Learning our ancestry requires solving a series of mysteries — and in this case the mystery is about us.

Can you force yourself to yawn or does it take an image like this one to create the reflexive response? It turns out that yawning is a simple way to support well being. I’ve suggested some weird practices over the years of writing this blog, but trust me on this one. Come on… why resist?

Do you ever fantasize that a “find” at a flea market might be a priceless antique or a valuable work of art? Because many of us do, the number of auction galleries, traveling appraisers, and TV shows that feature valuations and authentications increases every year. Karl Martin unknowingly bought a piece of 4,000-year-old pottery at a flea market and used it as his toothbrush holder until he learned about its history.

Each of us likes to feel special. Even though there are millions of us on the planet, each with unique DNA, unique personalities, and unique fingerprints – being different from one another is not the same as feeling special. We want the very thing that differentiates us to be positively acknowledged – to be appealing, admired, and special.