Instructions?

So many of us are ecstatic that recycling in our neighborhood is improving.  Adding glass is a huge plus.  And  it will be less physically taxing for those of us who have been dragging exceptionally heavy bins of paper to the curb, as rolling bins are utilized.

Many neighbors, however, did not read the instructions about relinquishing our old bins, and starting the automated pick-up on a different day.  Just because the new bins were present, it didn't mean that they were immediately available for use.

We have become so accustomed to seeing and accommodating new things that we don't always stop to read the instructions.  This was a reminder to me that multiple modes of communication are important when a big change is afoot.

Worse then Better

It's difficult to accept that some things must get worse before they get better.  Running through the neighborhood, I saw a totally bare dirt yard.  Though it is unattractive now, it will be lovely in a day or two. 

Growing out bangs is another worse before better experience.  And we have to deal with rain in order to enjoy a rainbow.

Often when we are learning a new skill things are quite awkward until we become proficient.  Since continuous learning keeps us current, marketable and interesting, we need to accept a bit of imperfection in order to keep growing. 

  

119 Ways to Improve Your Life

There are countless ways to improve our lives.  I offer 119 suggestions and invite your terrific ideas.

1. Believe – In God, yourself, family, friends and colleagues
2. Embrace an attitude of gratitude
3. Do something nice for another with no expectation of reciprocity
4. Volunteer
5. Donate money or other usable resources
6. Read
7. Adopt a plant
8. Recommend a friend or colleague to others
9. Share your knowledge
10. Stay curious
11. Take one more step
12. Smile
13. Respond appropriately with yes or no
14. Anticipate
15. Make something
16. Send a card, letter or email to someone with whom you’ve lost touch
17. Share shortcuts
18. Recycle
19. Get enough sleep
20. Schedule the next appointment with a friend before you part company
21. Drink a lot of water
22. Improve listening skills
23. Be courteous
24. Graciously welcome others
25. Take a time out
26. Hold a baby
27. Pet a cat
28. Create a fresh floral arrangement with an unconventional container
29. Make your bed every day
30. Do someone else’s family chore without
31. Offer to help with a project
32. Sincerely compliment others
33. Look for positives
34. Become hyper-observant
35. Forward a helpful article
36. Subscribe to useful newsletters or blogs
37. Play
38. Dream
39. Hope
40. Plan
41. Consider alternatives
42. Be decisive
43. Set goals
44. Acknowledge accomplishments – yours and others
45. Give the coupon you can’t use to a stranger in the check-out line
46. Repurpose an item
47. Always put your wallet and keys in the same location
48. Automate payments
49. Bank online
50. Establish high expectations
51. See a play
52. Make a newcomer feel welcome
53. Recognize and reward excellence
54. Do what you say you will
55. Build a great reputation
56. Make others feel valued
57. Control your controllables and accept or work through or around the uncontrollables
58. Do what you love
59. Hug someone special
60. Be active
61. Find a place for everything
62. Distinguish between want and need
63. Be responsible
64. Schedule think time
65. Schedule preventive health appointments
66. Carpool to events
67. Make an introduction at an event
68. Compliment the host
69. Give a deserving speaker positive feedback
70. Recommend a book on LinkedIn
71. Catch a fish
72. Give a found good luck penny to someone
73. Create time-saving routines
74. Thank family members frequently
75. Mean it when you say “I Love You” and when you mean it say it frequently
76. Establish a pattern for staying connected to those you treasure
77. Use recurring appointments in your electronic calendar to remember special occasions
78. Take baby steps instead of avoiding things you have been avoiding
79. Break big projects into manageable pieces
80. Find a creative outlet
81. Alert a stranger when they are unaware that a strap or zipper or tag or tear needs attention
82. Laugh often
83. Confirm understanding
84. Streamline providers for frequently used items
85. Use paperless delivery options for statements and notices
86. Spell check
87. Reread aloud before sending important communications
88. Tell a friend or co-worker what they need to hear even if it’s not what they want to hear
89. Share good deals and sources
90. Stretch
91. Play to your strengths and partner with others whose strengths are your weaknesses
92. Be timely
93. Reduce clutter
94. Observe nature
95. Look for innovative solutions
96. Write something every day
97. Buy stamps online
98. Be an advocate
99. Ask for advice
100.  Be approachable
101.  Ask questions
102.  Bite your tongue or remove your fingers from the keyboard before responding inappropriately in anger
103.  Sincerely apologize when you are wrong
104.  Use an informative subject line in emails
105.  Speak slowly and distinctly when providing contact information
106.  Show enthusiasm
107.  Be supportive of family, friends and colleagues
108.  Help others
109.  Limit complaints
110.  Find an interesting way to do a mundane task
111.  Use a cross-hatch shredder to lessen identity theft risks
112.  Contribute to your company 401 (k) at least at a level to maximize the company match
113.  Forgive yourself and others
114.  Share a positive memory with the family of a deceased friend
115.  Nominate a deserving individual or organization for membership or recognition
116.  Establish a credible personal email address
117.  Use hyperlinks to minimize large attachments and blocked emails
118.  Don’t super-size fast food meals
119.   View riveting talks from remarkable individuals at http://www.ted.com/

Baby Steps are Important at Every Age

A child's first steps are celebratory!  They are a huge embodiment of months of incremental developmental milestones leading to this life-changing moment.  Though they are literally a child's first steps, the significance of the accomplishment is enormous!  If only, we continued to daily embrace the significance of baby steps in all of our pursuits we'd:

• take more risks
• recognize more positives
• try more things
• meet more friends
• be more fit (take more steps)
• seize more opportunities
• jettison more regrets
•  learn more
• stress less
• see incremental change 

Miracle Hair Treatment

I've waited 4 1/2 weeks to write about my life-changing hair treatment, because I wanted to make sure that it lived up to expectations.  My stylist, Shirley, had been promoting a Keratin hair straightening treatment for several months.  I had four hesitations:

• this won't solve MY frizz problem
• I don't have time to do this
• the media coverage about Brazilian treatments containing formaldehyde freaked me out
• if it doesn't last the expected 6 weeks, the cost is quite high

I can now definitively report that my hair care time has been dramatically reduced and the benefits have exponentially improved.  Houston humidity is fabulous for skin, but prior to my miracle, disastrous for hair.  My daily life tests have included lacrosse games, golf cart tour in 99% humidity and pool-side reading.   Prior to my treatment, each of these fun adventures would have yielded frizzy, uncontrollable hair. 

My only interest in sharing this information is to help other frizzy-haired skeptics improve their quality of life.  I have absolutely no financial interest in this treatment.

Incremental Improvement

When we expect phenomenal change, we are often disappointed.  When we embrace incremental improvement, we realize sustained success.

Living through Construction

We are so programmed to deliver a finished product that we may miss a critical opportunity to differentiate enhancements. In our "deliver 100% solutions environment" we may do a dis-service to our friends, colleagues and constituents when we don't show our constituents that progress is painful.

As a consequence of Hurricane Ike, each day I travel 6 miles on one of Houston's most traveled major thoroughfares - Westheimer. A major reconstruction project incorporates 9 miles for this critical transportation artery. I travel between Loop 610 and Beltway 8. The construction project extends 3 miles west of my destination.

The reconstruction of Westheimer has been a challenge. However, each new lane mile of reconstruction brings terrific improved mobility. If the project had been completed instantaneously, all of the regular commuters might have taken the project improvements for granted. Since we've lived through the progress, we can, will and do appreciate the improvements.

I think this sometimes happens in business as we strive to make things transparent for our clients and colleagues. Given the road construction example, perhaps we need to illuminate for others the process we go through to achieve substantial improvements, rather than just providing turn-key enhancements.

Though living through construction is painful, it makes us vividly contrast the final improvements.

Anyone who has lived through a home renovation knows first-hand that the end result is worth it, but those who aren't familiar with the achievement obstacles aren't fully appreciative of the twists, turns, obstacles and delays that had to be endured to render a fabulous result.

Trials make us strong. Recognizing enhancements makes us vividly aware and appreciative.