Games We Can Win

We all play games.  Some of us acknowledge that we enjoy structured card, board, word and puzzle games.  However, when we play life games, where the rules aren't defined, we are  subject to manipulation by those who don't play by the Golden or Platinum Rules.  Our chances of winning any of the games we encounter are enhanced when we know the game, players and rules.

We owe it to ourselves to play games we can win, or choose simply to have fun playing!

Fun "To Do"

So often my to do list is filled with things that need to be done.  Since I've started adding fun things to the list, it's not quite as tedious.  Still get to check off the musts, but it's great get to enjoy and check off the wants, too.

Play with the Hand You're Dealt

How fabulous that we can learn life lessons as we enjoy card games!  Some similarities
 include:

• life and cards are actually played one hand (day) at time - plan ahead, but live in the present
• keeping score allows us to track progress - goals motivate accomplishments
• losing one or more hands doesn't mean that we might not be the ultimate winner - don't give up
• do-overs are easier in cards than life, but one is never granted without a request - ask for what we want
• we don't know others' hands (agendas, motives, skills, ambitions) - play to our strengths and show our cards one interaction at a time
• winning is fun, but many games well played make life wonderful, regardless of the winner
• rules are boundaries - when desired, create a new game
• fun is a-ok regardless of how busy we are!

Making Life Great

We all know that we need to set goals, exercise, eat right and get enough sleep.  We also need to look for ways to make things fun, interesting and less stressful.  In preparing for a speech I'll deliver later today, I penned this rhyme to focus on specific ways to make life great.

Look for things to celebrate

Be productive while you wait

Respect others – don’t be late

Every day clean your slate

Make something special you create

Be of value – earn your rate

Keep on learning – educate

Improve relations – communicate

Look forward – anticipate

Be decisive, don’t hesitate

Count your blessings – appreciate

Know yourself – evaluate

Best is best – calibrate

Fold your super woman cape and liberate

Find It!

One of our Christmas presents is a family game, Find It!  It's a self-contained scavenger hunt concealing 47 different objects.  As promised, it enterained all ages for days.  And it is a reminder that we don't always see the things we know are there.  It encourages patience, persistence, experimenting with different techniques and the pursuit of group goals.

Thanksgiving Has Begun

I love Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for including family, friends, faith, health, career and volunteering.  Though I express gratitude for my blessings every day, it is wonderful to have a holiday focused on thankfulness.

We've been eagerly anticipating a long weekend filled with love and laughter. Mama and Daddy have arrived and Julia comes in this evening.  The fun has already begun.

Out of Our Element

One of our new, unique Sterling Bank "fun"draising projects for March of Dimes was "Dress an Executive for Halloween".  I had 10 other willing senior executives who agreed with me to be bid upon for dressing rights. Our teams were tame, and only three chose to bid.  Each of these teams chose to dress their own senior executive.  Since I was not an executive to be dressed, I rallied my other "non-chosen" colleagues to donate to dress our willing CEO. 

We "mummified" our CEO, discovered that our Operations EVP is a "hot dog", realized from our HR "flapper" EVP that there's a lighter side to work and ascertained that our Specialty Banking and Investments EVP will step way out of his comfort zone to make a great impression.

When we're willing to be vulnerable, we often make great connections and memories.

Fun and Food with Friends

The most obvious reason to entertain is to spend quality time with family and friends.  We love trying new restaurants, revisiting favorites and hosting dinner parties at home.  It's easy to get into a rut. Mixing familiar and novel places, dishes and participants creates anticipation, excitement and memories. 

A favorite childhood rhyme emphasizing the importance of literal friends can be expanded to include experiences:  "Make new friends and keep the old; some are silver and the others are gold".

Food!

It's (almost) embarrassing to admit that eating is my favorite hobby.  I've been surrounded by fabulous chefs my entire life - first Mama and now Edgar.  And Houston is a foodies' paradise with world-class cuisine from every desired point on the globe.  We've enjoyed grand meals in the finest, acclaimed restaurants and marvelous surprises in no-nonsense diners.  It's always a treasure hunt and treat to discover a new restaurant and/or chef that/who hasn't yet made the papers or gotten the wide-spread word-of-mouth buzz.

Food is the catalyst for festive, fun-filled functions.  Enjoyable feasts, great and small, provide immediate gratification and create multi-sensory memories.

Let's eat!