Mindfulness is a big deal these days. Now that we’re hearing the word so often in so many contexts, some readers are telling us that it can confuse them. The meaning fuzzes out, and they have a hard time talking to others about it. It’s like breakfast, which covers everything from a granola bar to a Grand Slam at Denny’s. So it may be worth taking some time to consider what mindfulness conjures up in people’s minds when they hear it....

For more articles on Susan Kaiser Greenland’s work, click here. 07/13/12

Is it more embarrassing to show up too early or too late? Who in your life has the greatest power to embarrass you? 27% are most easily embarrassed by complete strangers, followed by coworkers at 24%, romantic partners at 22%, and siblings at 11%. Parents have the greatest power to embarrass 9% of respondents, while 4% report their best friends, and 3% say their drunk uncles have the most power to trigger embarrassment....

If you haven’t used something in three years, where do you put it? 55% donate it to charity, while 22% let it petrify at the bottom of a closet somewhere. 6% chuck it immediately— no need for drawn-out goodbyes! And 7% insist there’s a use for everything! Everyone else sells their stuff or puts it in storage. Who does most of the cleaning in your household? • “A little bit of everyone, but it usually falls on my husband because he is a neat freak....

What do you do when you encounter something that really scares you? 30% Can’t move an inch—but they’re dying to get away. Thankfully, another 24% have already made it outta the room! 13% have a compulsion to get their feet off the floor—especially in a theater, and 10% scream like a bear cub calling for its mother. Some answers we liked: • Hold my breath • DO SOMETHING—move, yell, grab my husband!...