Whats It Like Being Married to the Sexiest Man Alive Patrick Dempsey? The Truth Behind Their Unlikely 24-Year Relationship
At 57, Patrick Dempsey is finally crowned People's Sexiest Man Alive. And it has split his fandom in two, with one camp shouting, "It's about time!" and the other more of a "Shouldn't this have happened back in 2005?" grumble. But there is one woman who knows Dempsey deserves the title: Patrick Dempsey's wife of 24 years, Jillian Fink.Patrick Dempsey and Jillian Fink have enjoyed over two decades of marriage and, upon first glance, their relationship appears to be pretty perfect. Scroll through their Instagram feeds and you’ll see plenty of sweet professions of love, like a 2018 post from the Grey's Anatomy star that shows him and Fink kissing in front of the very same gazebo where they tied the knot in 1999. “This spot 19 years ago, today!” he gushed. However, despite appearances, the couple almost called it quits in 2015. In fact, they went as far as to file for divorce. That's when they realized they weren’t ready to give up on the life they had built together and by putting in some serious work, they brought their relationship back on track.Here’s what we can learn from Patrick Dempsey and Jillian Fink’s impressive marriage rescue: Patrick Dempsey and Jillian Fink first met in 1994 when the actor made a haircut appointment at Fink’s L.A. hair salon, Delux. Speaking with People in 2002, Fink recalled seeing the name “Patrick Dempsey" in her appointment book and thinking it was a joke. Then the Fast Times actor walked through the door. “I was shocked,” she admitted. “But at the same time, I was happy because he was so cute.”What ensued were "three years of occasional haircuts and harmless banter" because the timing simply wasn’t right. While Fink was dating someone, Dempsey was working through the end of an allegedly "nightmarish first marriage" to his manager, Rocky Parker, who was 26 years his senior when they married in 1987. Patrick Dempsey and first wife, Rocky Parker (Photo: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)It wasn’t until 1997, when a mutual friend told the actor that Fink had become single, that they began dating. A whirlwind romance followed, as the celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist moved in with Dempsey after just three months of dating and they said “I do” in 1999. The ceremony, which took place at a Maine farmhouse owned by Dempsey’s family, was a tearjerker, according to the bride’s sister, Kristen Mason. As she recalled, the moment Dempsey saw Fink walking down the aisle, he “started crying.”The pair grew their family in February 2002 with the arrival of daughter Tallula Fyfe, then twin boys Sullivan Patrick and Darby Galen followed in February 2007. Getting candid about fatherhood, Dempsey sang its praises, telling People, “I’m constantly amazed by their insight and their observations. It’s fascinating and fun to come up with answers to their questions, and the questions are getting harder!”A successful partnership requires constant work @patrickdempsey/InstagramIt’s easy to assume that a strong, blissful union will simply sustain itself, but that’s not the case. A successful partnership requires work — and not just every once in a while. No, it takes constant effort from both sides to succeed in the long run.Patrick Dempsey and Jillian Fink learned this truth first-hand.In January 2015, they were ready to call it quits with Fink filing for divorce and the couple telling the media (via TMZ), "It is with careful consideration and mutual respect that we have decided to end our marriage. Our primary concern remains the well-being of our children, and we ask with profound gratitude that you respect our family's privacy at this very sensitive time,” they said in a joint statement. But jump to November 2015 and the supposed exes were spotted holding hands in Paris, sparking rumors of a reconciliation. Something Dempsey confirmed in May 2016. When the Evening Standard asked if he and Fink had reconciled, he said, “Yeah, I think so” and revealed that it was realizing that “you have to work at everything” that saved their marriage. Speaking with People, he further explained, “Our marriage was not something I was prepared to let go of. I didn’t feel like we had done all the work. And we both wanted to do that work. That’s where it started.” Calling a potential divorce “scary,” he admitted, “It’s always destabilizing when you’re potentially breaking up a family or you have a big section of your life that’s ending.” Faced with that realization, he and Fink decided “it was time to work on our issues and improve,” so they turned to couples counseling, which the actor calls “very important.” What’s more, they “wanted to be role models for our kids like, okay, if you have differences, you can work them out.”The pair's efforts paid off. Come November 2016, Fink filed to have their divorce papers dismissed and a judge granted the request soon after, officially calling off their pending separation.Patrick Dempsey learned to reorder his priorities The world may know Patrick Dempsey for his various acting roles, but back in 2004, he set his sights on another passion — racing — and built quite an accomplished career, even starting his own team, Dempsey-Proton Racing. But as he told the Evening Standard in 2016, the reconciliation with Fink was made possible by the realization that “you cannot do everything” and that “something has to be sacrificed.” That something ended up being racing. In 2016, Dempsey announced that following his full season in 2015, he was stepping back because “time goes by so quickly with my kids that I don’t want to miss that.” In an official statement, he added that his “motorsports journey has been a rewarding one,” but that “at this point in my life, after an amazing season thanks to my friends at Porsche and TAG Heuer, I need to take a step back and focus on both my family and my acting career.”Speaking of the importance of reshuffling his priorities and putting his marriage first, Dempsey told People, “You can only do one thing at a time and do it well. I [learned] to prioritize. Our union has to be the priority. I wasn’t prepared to give up on her and she wasn’t either,” he told the mag, adding that their marriage is "much healthier" now.Dempsey also admitted that he “always struggled with the question of sacrifice” and it was during his time apart from Fink, which “was really a time of introspection,” that he realized the importance of putting family first. I became frustrated with the lack of quality of experience in my life. I wanted to get to that deeper level, and not just skirt the surface.Despite their successful reconciliation, the work hasn't stopped. “You’ve got to keep at it,” Dempsey told People. “You’ve got to communicate, and stay open and not get lazy. And not give up. And lots of sex!” he laughed. Another key to success? "Getting quality time together.” Speaking with ET, the actor stressed the importance of making time for each other, away from the kids. “Couples have to figure [out how] to get date nights. That is what it is about." There is no such thing as an easy relationship. It takes a lot of work to make something appear effortless and the same can be said about marriage. What Patrick Dempsey and Jillian Fink learned (and what they can teach us) is that a successful union requires constant communication and plenty of work. But if you're willing to put in the time, you will always be rewarded.
Jennifer Lopezs Relationship with Violet Affleck Is a Lesson In Parenting And Its Beautiful
How did you celebrate this July 4th? If you're an A-list celeb then you were rubbing shoulders with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and Ben's daughter, Violet, at the official Hampton White Party.J.Lo has been a stepmother to Affleck's three children (Violet Anne, 17, Seraphina Rose, 13, and Samuel, 10), from his marriage with Jennifer Garner, for the last two years. But there looks to be an extra-special bond between the eldest Affleck child and Jenny from the Block. And there doesn't seem to be a wicked step-mother in anywhere in the mix. Jennifer Lopez Has Blended Families Before@marcanthony/InstagramLopez has had numerous high-profile relationships (and breakups) and they’ve all had one thing in common: The singer’s kids are always her top priority. Lopez welcomed twins Emme and Max with then-husband Marc Anthony in February 2008 and while they eventually separated in 2011, they’ve stayed close for their children. In 2017, Lopez told Live with Kelly that they’ll always be “great friends” because it’s best for the family. “We share something very special in the kids and we know that,” she explained. “We’re there for them, and that’s the main thing.” What’s more, “I’m always gonna be there for him, he’s always gonna be there for me.”When Lopez eventually found love again with Alex Rodriguez, her kids, as well as his two daughters, Natasha and Ella, were again a priority, “I was so loving to his kids and he was so loving and accepting of mine, and they embraced each other right away.” Sharing what it takes to make a blended family work, Roriguez noted it’s all about perspective. "We positioned what could be perceived as a negative into a positive, by saying to the girls, look, now you don't have one house, you have two houses. You don't have two parents, you have four parents. Lucky you, the more the merrier." In the end, Jennifer Lopez and A-Rod split in April 2021 and Lopez went on to rekindle her romance with her now-husband, Ben Affleck. Yet again, her twins, as well as Affleck’s three kids with ex-wife Jennifer Garner — Seraphina, Violet, and Samuel — were top of mind.Violet Affleck’s Relationship with Jennifer LopezPierre Suu/Getty ImagesWhen Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck began dating for a second time in mid-2021, they were spotted making real strides to bring their two families together. That August, for example, they enjoyed a number of fun family outings in Hollywood, including attending “Hamilton” and a magic show in one weekend. A source told E! at the time that "Jennifer has made a big effort to get to know Ben's kids and welcome them into her home and her life.” The insider added that “letting the kids have fun and bond” was incredibly important to both of them. Not that it was easy. As Lopez told Vogue in 2022, “The transition is a process that needs to be handled with so much care” because they have so many feelings; they’re teens.” And now that she’s married to Affleck, she really wants to be a source of strength for his and Jennifer Garner’s kids. “What I hope to cultivate with our family is that his kids have a new ally in me and my kids have a new ally in him, someone who really loves and cares about them but can have a different perspective and help me see things that I can’t see with my kids because I’m so emotionally tied up.” Does Violet Affleck Like Jennifer Lopez?@michaelrubin/InstagramIt seems to be working. Affleck and Garner’s eldest daughter, Violet Affleck, in particular appears to have developed a special bond with her stepmom. In July 2022, for example, they were spotted sharing a huge hug in Paris during the Afflecks’ family honeymoon, which was a genuinely heartwarming moment. Jump to August and Violet and Lopez were spotted shopping in New York City, then in September, they were captured having lunch and enjoying a day out in Beverly Hills. The “On The Floor” singer even let the 16-year-old drive!Just this past 4th of July the seventeen-year-old was invited, alongside Lopez, to attend Michael Rubin's celeb mega party. The two can be seen hugging and mugging for the cameras. Why Wasn’t Violet Affleck at Dad Ben’s Wedding to J.Lo? Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck surprised fans when they tied the knot in a shotgun Las Vegas wedding that took place at A Little White Wedding Chapel in July 2022. Lopez broke the news in her OnTheJLo newsletter, sharing that their kids were with them for the shock ceremony, but according to Page Six, only Emme and Seraphina attended. Given Lopez’s obvious connection with Affleck’s daughter Violet, some folks wondered why she missed the nuptials. One insider said it was partly because the whole thing was organized at the last second, but there was reportedly a deeper reason too. “Violet stayed home because she’s extremely loyal to her mom,” the source claimed. Whether that's true or not, Jennifer Garner took it all in stride. She’s said to have sent the couple flowers to congratulate them on their big day and, according to one insider, “Jen welcomed J.Lo into their family, officially, after they got married.” As the source explained, Garner is happy for her ex because “[Lopez] is such a great influence on Ben and all that Jen has ever wanted was for him to be healthy, happy, and sober, so that he can be there for his children.”Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Lopez Seem to Also Get Along Nathan Howard / Getty ImagesGiven Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner’s history relating to Ben Affleck, it’s easy to assume that the two women don’t have a great relationship. However, that’s absolutely not the case. For one, they’re handling the situation like adults – without any jealousy and with the understanding that relationships ebb and flow and don’t always work out. Case in point: Jennifer Garner’s reaction to Affleck and Lopez’s marriage was not what many expected. Rather than giving the media a public statement, Garner kept mum and, instead chose to focus on her family’s happiness. As always, her focus is solely on her kids' happiness. Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner Always Put Violet and Other Kids FirstIndeed, that’s something both Jennifers have in common. Their kids come first.Two moms can be better than one and their kids all agree. What’s more, they apparently share “a unique bond” and J.Lo truly appreciates the fact that Jennifer opened herself and her home to J.Lo and her children. Indeed, Lopez herself told Vogue that Garner is “an amazing co-parent.”Just like Lopez is trying her best to be there for Affleck and Garner’s kids, Garner is putting in the effort to get to know Lopez’s twins. She appears to be especially close with Emme who reportedly “really likes” her new stepmom thanks to a shared hobby. An insider told HollywoodLife that Garner “is very hands-on and loves to plant plants and garden, which are things that Emme enjoys too.”Every family is unique and, as with all relationships, its dynamics are likely to change over time. The same way that we as individuals grow and evolve, so do families. The key, as Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner show us, is being open to change while also being cognisant that it may be harder for some, especially kids. But it looks like Lopez and Violet have nothing to worry about.A blended family can only succeed if the effort is made by everyone to communicate and get to know one another while accepting that some unions simply aren’t forever. More From Goalcast: Jennifer Lopez Reveals What She’s Learned After Three Failed Marriages – And How She’s Protecting Her FourthAdam Sandler Insists “Nobody Wants to Hear About My Secret to Marriage,” But He Is Dead WrongSigourney Weaver Found the Secret to Her Successful 37-Year Marriage in a Surprising Place
Simon Cowell’s Wife Lauren Silverman - From a Messy Start to True Love
Simon Cowell is no stranger to making headlines. But his biggest shocker was announcing his marriage plans to now wife Lauren Silverman. Whether it’s how Cowell lost everything at age 32, the horrifying reason he quit botox, or his unique judging style (complete with unforgettable insults galore), Cowell gives folks plenty to talk about.RELATED: Henry Cavill and Girlfriend Natalie Viscuso Are Heating Up – Who Is the Woman Who Stole Superman’s Heart?However, it was in 2013 that the America's Got Talent judge experienced one of the biggest media storms of his career. That July, Us Weekly learned that Cowell was expecting a baby with a woman named Lauren Silverman who just so happened to be married to one of his friends. Not surprisingly, scandal enveloped the couple, but they stuck by each other and, a decade later, they’re still together. So who is Lauren Silverman and how did she turn Cowell — who never believed in marriage — into a devoted partner? Here’s everything you need to know. Who Is Lauren Silverman?Despite her news-making romance with Simon Cowell, Lauren Silverman has managed to keep a relatively low profile. What we do know about her is that she’s a New York socialite and a mother of two boys. RELATED: Elizabeth Holmes Faces 20 Years in Prison, Her Husband Stands by Her – Who Is Billy Evans?Lauren had her first child, eldest son Adam Silverman, in 2006 with her then-husband, real estate mogul Andrew Silverman. She later gave birth to Simon Cowell’s first child, Eric Cowell, in February 2014, per Us Weekly. How Did Lauren Silverman and Simon Cowell Meet? Lauren Silverman and Simon Cowell’s relationship had an unorthodox beginning, to say the least. The TV judge first met Silverman and her then-husband, Andrew Silverman, at Barbados' Sandy Lane Resort in 2004. He was dating Terri Seymour at the time and he and the Silvermans were just friends at first. However, things reportedly turned romantic between Lauren and Cowell in 2009. RELATED: Who Is Katie Holmes’ Boyfriend? What You Need to Know About Bobby WootenJump to July 2013 and Lauren became a household name when it was revealed that she and Cowell were expecting a baby, despite her already being married. At the time, a source assured Us Weekly that "Lauren and Andrew have been unhappy in their marriage for some time, and their divorce has been in the works for a while.” Indeed, Andrew filed for divorce and it was finalized that November. The American Idol alum initially kept quiet, but he later addressed the scandal, telling Mirror in 2014 that he regretted the infidelity. “It is not something I am proud of or wanted to happen in terms of hurting anyone,” he shared. “You have to deal with it and man up to it. You have to accept the responsibility and the criticism.” It’s a sentiment he repeated to Mail on Sunday as he adamantly proclaimed, “I'm not proud of the circumstances; I can't hold my head up about it.” However, there was a silver lining: his son, Eric. “This was not something I planned, but I remember going to the first scan with Lauren and I called him Tad because he looked like a tadpole,” he reminisced. That’s when “something just kicked in. I felt unbelievably protective of both of them. I just absolutely wanted him. I just hadn't known that before,” he said. How Lauren Silverman Changed Simon Cowell Simon Cowell is the first to admit he never planned to have a child, but fatherhood had an unexpected — and very positive — impact on him. As he told MailOnline, "People have asked me if I have changed since I have had Eric and of course you do, you can't help it. In a very positive way you start [...] looking at the world through his eyes as well,” he shared. RELATED: Who Is Ariana Grande Married To? Meet Her Husband, Dalton GomezSimilarly, marriage was not something he saw in his future either. Back in 2008, he proclaimed, “I don't believe in marriage, certainly not in this business.” Why? Because according to a cynical Cowell, “The truth is that you get married and in a year or two they clean you out! It's just not going to work.”Cowell has never married but came close once with makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy. The two were engaged in 2010 but went their separate ways only a year later.Well, meeting Lauren Silverman changed all that. Their romance may have started in a messy way but the result has been pure joy. “Simon and Lauren are ridiculously, nauseatingly in love,” a source close to then newly-engaged couple said.Indeed, the shift in Cowell’s outlook on love and family was made clear in 2018 when he accepted his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A decade after he first made that anti-marriage statement, he couldn’t help but gush about how great it is to have fiancée Lauren Silverman in his life. “Lauren, you've been my rock for the past few years,” he enthused. COVID-19 Strengthened Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman The 2020 COVID-19 lockdown proved to be a real make-or-break situation for many couples. For Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman, it brought them closer together. Calling it “a real test,” the TV personality told MailOnline, “We were in lockdown for a long time and that's when you realize whether or not you actually enjoy each other's company or not — we really, really did.”RELATED: Who Is Tara Lynn Wilson? What to Know About Chris Noth’s WifeSpending so much time together also made him realize that “family is everything.” But it wasn’t just the pandemic that strengthened the couple’s union. In 2020, Cowell had an e-bike accident that left him with a broken back. Lauren was right by his side through the arduous recovery and, according to Cowell’s brother, Tony, “That accident was the catalyst for Simon. He began to think about his future, and who to share it with.” The Sweet Way Simon Cowell ProposedOnce Simon Cowell realized how special his partner was, he decided to do something he said he never would: get married. At the end of 2021, he proposed to Lauren Silverman because, as one source told The Sun, “Whilst Simon never thought he was the marrying type, he’s realized he’s met the woman of his dreams and couldn’t be happier.” So he decided to put a ring on it. RELATED: Who Is Paul Rudd’s Wife: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Julie YaegerThey were vacationing in Barbados when, on Christmas Eve 2021, he popped the question. Both of Lauren’s sons were present and, as Cowell later told Entertainment Tonight, Eric helped plan the whole thing. “One hundred percent he had to coach me,” he shared. “He was a big part of it.” As for Lauren, she “never in a million years expected Simon to pop the question,” but said “Yes!” right away. It was a huge surprise to fans and media alike but not to those close to the couple. "They are both super happy," a source said of the newly engaged couple. "They've been together a long time now and adore each other so it's not a huge surprise to their close friends."Are Lauren Silverman and Simon Cowell Married?Shortly after his engagement was made public, Simon Cowell told Mirror he would be a hands-on groom. “I am planning it all, otherwise I know what will happen: There will be 600 people and it'll get out of control, like my 50th birthday party,” he quipped. RELATED: Who Is Rumi and Why Did Beyoncé and Jay-Z Name Their Daughter After Him?In August 2022, he told Entertainment Tonight, "I am always wedding planning," however, as of December 2022, he and fiancée Lauren Silverman had yet to walk down the aisle. When The Sun pressed him to find out if the nuptials would happen in 2023, he refused to answer. “I’m not going there because I’ll get into too much trouble,” he joked.Life doesn’t always follow a clear-cut path and neither does love. As Simon Cowell and New York socialite Lauren Silverman’s relationship shows us, romance can certainly be messy and complicated. At the same time, happiness and light can come from dark situations. As Cowell himself has said, the key is to own your mistakes without dismissing the blessings that may inadvertently come from them. KEEP READING: Who Is Julia Roberts’ Husband and Why Is Their Marriage Considered Complicated?
Julianne Moore Refuses to “Age Gracefully”―The Powerful Reason Why
Julianne Moore is one of Hollywood’s biggest actors with a successful career spanning nearly four decades and yet, she hasn’t been immune to self-doubt. Despite being an A-lister, Moore has admitted to feeling the pressure of unrealistic beauty standards and is particularly self-conscious about her freckles. It began when she was a child and felt she didn’t belong because of her red hair and fair complexion. As she told The Sunday Times in July 2022, “When I was growing up in the U.S., it felt as if no one had freckles [and] I just wanted to look like every other tanned American kid.” RELATED: Ashley Graham Reveals The Damaging Effects Of The Toxic Fashion IndustryEventually, she realized there was nothing she could do about it and she stopped obsessing, but she admits it still bothers her occasionally. “I still see somebody in a backless dress with no freckles and I’m like, ‘Oh! I would love that!’” she revealed. It’s a sentiment she previously shared with Tatler (via People) when, in 2019, she confessed, “I still don’t like them [and] I’d prefer not to have them.” That being said, she learned a valuable lesson over time: “It’s okay to have something you don’t love. It’s really alright.” Why Julianne Moore Doesn't Believe in “Aging Gracefully” Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried, Chloe (2009)Indeed, these days, Julianne Moore is all about embracing who she is and inspiring others to do the same. In 2021, she made headlines when she slammed the notion of “aging gracefully” and her reasoning will both surprise and inspire you. While beauty standards are slowly growing and evolving towards acceptance, we still have a long way to go. However, when it comes to redefining what it means to age, big names are helping to shake up the norm by stepping up and standing their ground.Everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Cameron Diaz and Naomi Watts have publicly shut down the notion that you can’t be beautiful, successful, and thriving after a certain age. One of the most outspoken stars, though, has been Julianne Moore who is encouraging everyone to embrace aging and accept it for what it is: a mere fact of life. RELATED: Sharon Stone’s Deadly Wake-Up Call Taught Her To Love AgingMoore first broached the subject in a 2021 interview with As If magazine in which she slammed the term “aging gracefully” as “totally sexist.” Explaining her stance, she argued, “There's so much judgment inherent in the term 'aging gracefully.’ Is there an ungraceful way to age?” she asked, noting how aging is not a choice. Rather, everyone has to go through it, whether they want to or not. “It's not a positive or a negative thing, it just is," she reasoned. "It's part of the human condition, so why are we always talking about it as if it is something that we have control over?" That notion is rooted in some inspirational advice she received from Helen Mirren who once told her, per W magazine, “Aging is a requirement of life: You either grow old or die young.” Julie Moore Knows Aging Is a PrivilegeJulianne Moore in Suburbicon (2017)Not only does Julianne Moore want to banish the idea of “aging gracefully,” but she’s also a firm believer in overhauling what it actually means to age. As she told The Sunday Times, it’s not something that should be seen as a nuisance, nor should it be taken for granted. "It seems so silly to talk about it as something negative when it is a privilege to continue to age,” she mused.RELATED: 2 Powerful Mindset Hacks to Embrace Aging and Turn It Into an AdvantageThe Dear Evan Hansen star elaborated on that idea in her interview with As If magazine (via Page Six), saying it’s time to look at aging as an opportunity. “Shouldn’t aging be about inner growth?” she asked, encouraging readers to embrace life and ask themselves, “How do we continue to challenge ourselves, to interest ourselves, learn new things, be more helpful to other people, be the person that your friends and family need or want? How do we continue to evolve? How do we navigate life to have even deeper experiences? That’s what aging should be about,” she concluded. Now in her sixties, Moore is adamant that there’s nothing to be afraid of as you get older, but she’s also the first to admit that can be easier said than done. “I don’t think it goes away entirely, I don’t think there is a person in the world who couldn’t care less,” she admitted to The Sunday Times. It's Time to Approach Aging From a Different AngleHer trick to pushing age aside? Focus your energy on more important priorities. “The degree to which you are interested in that, and the fruitlessness of that, becomes apparent as you get older,” she told the mag, adding, “I think it’s because you have other things that you are interested in, such as family, relationships, work, or your community [so] being myopic about the way you look recedes.”As Julianne Moore so rightly argues, it’s time to curb talk of “anti-aging” and approach the subject of growing older from a different perspective. The simple, undeniable truth is that aging happens to everyone and trying to fight it is a waste. As the star told Vanity Fair, “It’s not possible to age one way or another; we simply age.” RELATED: Halle Berry Reveals the Surprising Health Habit that Helps Her Slow Down AgingIt’s up to us to make the most of life — at any age. Rather than worrying about something as trivial as a number, take that energy and redirect it towards more important endeavors, like friends, family, and career. As we grow, we are continuously presented with new opportunities for joy and fulfillment and that’s something worth celebrating. Moore sure had it right when she said, “Every stage in your life is a valuable one.” Now that is a lesson we should all carry with us. KEEP READING: Naomi Watts’ Response to Aging and “Not Being Attractive After 40” Is a Lesson in Holding One’s Ground
