“I’m not naïve to the crimes that were committed by the [Maduro] regime writ large,” says Roger Carstens, a former U.S. hostage negotiator who met with Maduro many times. “On the flip side, I would say that … my job was to get Americans back and that’s best done by building a very human relationship. And in doing so, I didn’t find him to be a bloodthirsty maniac.” Carstens points out that his point of view is based only on what he knew at the time. “I always have to be very clear that I might se

The minimum for a healthy relationship is choosing one another, showing respect, honoring each other’s value, and being willing to grow. And honestly—that’s a solid foundation. But my wife and I don’t want to settle for the minimum. Here’s what we intentionally do to help our relationship thrive, not just survive: 1) We work on ourselves: The inner work never stops. Whether it’s shifting limiting mindsets, unlearning unhealthy patterns, facing personal challenges, or developing new skills—we sta