[English version available] Meta nħares lejn kif nagħtu nkoraġġiment lit-tfal, tolqotni b’mod partikolari l-kelma ‘Bravu’ jew ‘Brava’, li nużaw bħala titlu li suppost jirregala lit-tfal b’ċertu sens ta’ validament. Bħal ma student avvanzat jiġi mogħti t-titlu ta’ dottorat, jew impjegat titlu ġdid skond il-promotion, jew suldat jingħata skala ta’ Read more…
[Oriġinaljament miktuba bil-Malti] Upon observing how we provide encouragement to children, I am particularly struck by the term ‘Good Boy’ or ‘Good Girl’, which we use as a title that is meant to award children with a sense of validation. In the same manner by which an advanced student Read more…
What does it take to be different? To make a statement about yourself, and to show clearly and beyond a doubt that you are special? The answer is easily found in any shopping mall, ready made to express all your unique qualities, eccentricities, and social identities. Walking down the Read more…
There’s quite the tendency for any right that society grants its members, to soon become a duty. It is one’s duty to attend school, to vote, to be healthy… What about the right to happiness and enjoyment? The model Imagine a man, ordinarily bored while having a Friday Read more…
In past decades we have undergone a ‘revolution’ – for want of a better word – of emotional rediscovery. Its main chant has been a reaction against the stereotypical emotionally-unavailable father, reminiscing his days fighting in a war while compelling his son to man up, never cry, and stop being Read more…
Looking at a busy bee, toiling hard and fast… as fast as my clock turns during a day of doing nothing. A day wasted, I’m first inclined to say. But then I wonder what makes a day not wasted, fruitful to say. I assume the bee goes back to Read more…