Love is (a) champagne and high heels; (b) a passionate, china-shattering fight, followed by an all-night tango; (c) a constant, nagging feeling of insecurity; (d) none of the above.I have been researching the subject of love all my life. First, unsystematically, as a girl, trying to follow the programmed prescription -- seeking "the one" and living happily ever after.

Next I divorced and researched love as a woman, more systematically, confronting fantasies and failures, possibilities and disappointments, false starts, and at last, beginning 24 years ago, a love that's enduring and nourishing -- at least for the moment (I've learned never to take the gift of love for granted).Now I am on the case as a professional, a journalist who rebels against almost everything I see, hear, and read about love in the popular media. Every story insults my experience of love. [Read the full article]

The phrase "We need to talk" is as uncomfortable to say as it is to hear. Few people enjoy delivering bad news, and even fewer people enjoy dealing with its aftermath. Whether you're breaking up with someone or telling your boss that you're quitting, the moments (or days) that follow are uncomfortable.The awkward conversation is made even worse when you'll inevitably see the person you're talking to on a frequent basis. Unfortunately that's the situation many workers face when their colleagues are getting on their nerves and they can't take it anymore. A conversation needs to happen, but how do you go about it?Before you can tell your co-worker what is bothering you, you should make sure you know what specific action is bothering you. [Read the full article]

Just get over it? No. You don't have to stand for it. By putting you down, he's probably trying to make himself feel better.What to do: "Be assertive, but not defensive," says Peter Goldenthal, a family psychologist based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and the author of "Why Can't We Get Along? Healing Adult Sibling Relationships" ($18, amazon.com). Contain the urge to match his tone and rudeness."You may not be able to change his behavior, but you can change the way you respond," says Marcia Millman, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Tell him what you think, then "try disarming him by telling a joke or mentioning something about him that you genuinely admire," she says. You can choose to act like an adult, even if he can't.Sample script: "Actually, I'm really happy with Jimmy's choice of major. [Read the full article]

Actress Eva Mendes volunteers regularly with The Art of Elysium, an organization that enables actors, artists and musicians to share their talents with children who are battling serious medical conditions. She was also a presenter at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" in 2009.Mendes recently sat down to talk to CNN producer Quinn Brown about CNN Heroes and her philanthropy. Below are excerpts from that interview.Eva Mendes: I'm a sucker for kids, and I also know the importance of art and what it can do to someone's life. Coming from a low-income family, I didn't know that art was this release ... so it's really important for me to make sure that kids know: "You have a voice. [Read the full article]