a history of communication—from hieroglyphs to illumy
( 3 minute read ) The history of communication 🗣 is a long one. Since humanity’s earliest days, we’ve been interacting with each other to tell stories and share what is meaningful to us. 😍 Let’s take a quick trip through the history of communication. Buckle up: We’ve got about…
turn conflict into a win-win
( 2 minute read ) In a zero-sum game, one person’s gain is the other’s loss. The two players have no common interests and every incentive to try to outwit each other. But in real life, conflict doesn’t have to be zero-sum. Win-win 🤝 🏆 outcomes are possible when everyone’s…
4 ways to make extra $ this summer
( 2 minute read ) Are you home for the summer and looking to give back to your community while making some dolla-dolla 💵 bills? If so, we got you. work at a restaurant or bar Food service establishments typically like to see experience on your application. But this year? All…
5 ways to help your neighbors this summer
( 2 minute read ) Finding yourself free for the summer and wanting to do some good 😇 in your community? Whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or in the country, people in your area need your time ⏱ and talents. But where do you start? Here are…
resolve conflict and save the friendship with these 5 tips
( 3 minute read ) Sometimes, our friendships, family relationships, or interactions with colleagues can turn adversarial. Maybe they’ve hit a rough patch and are taking things out on you. Maybe you were super stressed out and said something harsh. Or maybe it’s no one’s fault. But seeing an amicable…
the ‘smart’ of the deal: 5 tips for better negotiating
( 2 minute read ) Life takes a lot of negotiating—from deciding where to eat dinner to making big purchases. But you don’t have to walk away feeling that you got a bad outcome. Let’s say you want some ‘za. 🍕 But it’s the third time this week. Your significant other nixes the…
how to help someone going through a tough time
( 2 minute read ) How can you be a friend to someone who’s experiencing something horrible? As a police officer, Jeremy Brewer has spent years interacting with citizens in times of profound need, often after someone passes away. “Responding to death calls has taught me so much about the…
5 free online learning sites we love
( 3 minute read ) Part of living an #illumylife is learning new things every day (or as often as you can). The internet has democratized learning in a big way—you might even say a massive way. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) allow everyone with an internet connection to learn from top-tier universities, academies,…
4 ways to fight our innate prejudices
( 3 minute read ) When it comes to reducing prejudice and bigotry, there’s good news and bad. The bad news is: Prejudice is hardwired into our brains. We instinctively divide the world into in-groups and out-groups, favoring the former and avoiding the latter. But that’s not the end of…
How to bring more compassion to your conversations
( 3 minute read ) What’s the most pressing problem of our time? Steve Trzeciak, a researcher at the Cooper University Health System in Camden, N.J., says it’s our collective lack of compassion for one another. “We have a compassion crisis,” Trzeciak told Freakonomics Radio late last year. Steve and…