Caring and Sharing

I'm thrilled that my life is filled with so many different opportunities to deepen friendships by sharing meaningful perspectives.  This past week, I hosted seven other members of Greater Houston Partnership's Executive Women's Partnership for a fall dine-around.  I knew each of these amazing women, from varied industries, before they arrived, but had not previously spent meaningful time with two of them.

We caught up on big changes before sitting down for dinner.  Over salads, we contemplated the question we'd been asked to consider by GHP about workforce.  Then, the sharing and caring began, as we contemplated "gratitude".  This simple open-ended round-table discussion provided a chance to get to appreciate one another at an "everything's connected" level.  So many unexpected connections, shared experiences and appreciation for who we all are at the core, were revealed.

Though it's impossible to recreate the magic of a single special event, the sharing and caring provide wonderful memories to enhance each relationship.

Each of us has the chance at structured events to get to know others at a more memorable level. Asking about gratitude can cause a pessimist to reconsider the situation, and give an optimist the chance to spread joy.

Bigger Than Life

As I was running, on this beautiful morning, before church, it was fun to see how large my shadow was.  It reminded me that when we shine a light on others, we help make their impact far larger.  

Timeless Resources

I'm a continuous learner and I love sharing tools, resources and tidbits with others.  Through the years I've learned that just because I know and embrace something, life can get in the way of others seizing these offered opportunities.  It has been such a treat, to have a new colleague enthusiastically use resources I'd long ago provided that had been forgotten by other tenured colleagues.

When we provide ongoing opportunities, we don't always know what the ultimate impact might be.

My Trash (Recycling) is Another's Treasure

My family razzes me a bit with my interest in putting unwanted or unneeded items into the hands of others who can use them.  Yes, I've plucked many recyclable items from the wastebasket.  And, I've never regretted, but often rejoiced, at giving items new life at Goodwill and Dress for Success.

My best friend brings her magazines to me. And, after enjoying them, I love passing them on to others.

Perhaps the least expected recyclables are canceled stamps.  Because of my friend's collection, I notice postage on all incoming mail, and have alerted others to save and share these oft overlooked delivery tickets.
And, this makes me far more aware of  the array of postage options.

Many of us are incredibly blessed.   A double blessing inures when we share our bounty.

Share Your Dreams

We all need someone(s) to help us reach for/achieve/exceed our dreams.  But, our friends/family/coworkers aren't mind readers.  We must share our dreams before these lovely advocates/supporters are able to coalesce their talents for our mutual benefit.

Share your dreams!

Low Tech Connections

We sometimes take for granted the instantaneous fingertip access we have to unfathomable amounts of information.  And, once information is available on social media, a website or blog it's generally quick and simple to share with those who want to see it.  However, when the parties who want to see the info, don't have access to sites that easily provide for information sharing, we need to get creative in providing low tech access.

We were able to share fun, festive and patriotic photos with a group of colleagues who occupy 3 floors of an office tower by printing photos and mounting them on a large foam poster board and displaying them on an easel in a common area on one of the floors.  An email message announced the contest winners and provided the location for viewing the photos.

This low tech solution provides a reason for colleagues on other floors to leave their area, stimulates positive conversation about and among colleagues who participated, and presents a  visual display of cross-team camaraderie to all who pause as they pass.

Low tech and high tech provide different ways for us to keep everything connected.

Caring with Limits to Sharing

This week a concerned colleague instinctively suggested a very compassionate way (host a blood drive) to engage coworkers and customers to assist a cherished colleague who is in the midst of serious medical treatments involving frequent use of blood products.  Her motives were pure and her assumptions that many would love to donate blood were accurate.  However, caring today includes many restrictions on information sharing.  And there are no longer opportunities to directly provide replacement credits for an individual's usage of blood products.

Though we can't share this colleague's information, our caring prompts us to encourage interested, eligible donors to donate blood and blood products.  The need is enormous and there is still no artificial substitute for blood. 

Each time we donate, we have the opportunity to save 3 lives.  Donating blood is sharing with unlimited caring.

Time, Talent and Treasure

We all have time, talents and treasures to give to and receive from others.  Willingness and receptivity are the keys to learning and growing.

First View of Circle of Life

Saturday was an emotional day as many of us attended a memorial service at noon and a wedding at eight.  The same minister officiated for both of these life events at the same church.  The bride's father served as an honorary pallbearer for a friend on the same day that he presented their lovely daughter in marriage.  Though I've been to countless weddings and funerals, this was my first time to attend one of each on the same day. 

At the wedding reception, I was stunned to learn from a friend, who graduated from college in 2010, that she had attended both her first wedding and first funeral that day since my slightly younger daughter and son have attended several weddings and funerals.  It reminded me that we often incorrectly assume that others share our experience and perspectives.   It's helpful to remember that the chance to share firsts with others is ever present.

Wish I'd Written It

This morning when I was running, an idea emerged.  I considered stopping to note it, but didn't.  Thought it was such a great idea that I would remember it.  I didn't, and have been trying late in the day to recall that flash of creativity.

Notepads, electronic devices, recorders, cameras are all ways to capture and bring to life our thoughts.  Sharing these ideas with our dear ones bring them to life. And, sometimes, our lack of an easy depository keeps the creativity flowing.  

Share Your Talents

We all have different skills and abilities.  Not only can we impart knowledge when we teach others to do something, we improve our own skills when we dissect the process.  Elite athletes never forget to practice doing the basics well.  We can apply this lesson from them to other important skills.

Who Has 500 Things to Share?

Amazingly, I've created 500 posts to share in the past 16 months, one post at a time.  We need to encourage our family and friends to share their thoughts, experiences and recommendations.  When we gain and share the input of others, we expand our influence and impact.

Tastes of Summer

There are so many things to love about summer - more relaxed time with the kids, swimming every day, vacations and food.  The tastes of summer in Arkansas are spectacular - Cave City watermelons, Anna's cucumbers, Daddy's corn, Aunt Irene's okra, and vine-ripened tomatoes and squash from many green thumbs throughout Batesville. 

When asked why the tomatoes in Arkansas are so much better than those we buy in Houston, I answered that the Arkansas produce is infused with love.  Whatever the special bounty, the growers are anxious to share with others who they know will delight in the flavors.  

Though it would be remarkable to capture and enjoy the tastes of summer throughout the year, we might take them for granted if they weren't seasonally available, joyfully anticipated and immediately enjoyed. 

Ideas

We all have many ideas each day.  Some have the potential for incredible impact.  Some we need to note that we've considered and consciously opted not to pursue. Other ideas provide for incremental improvement to our lives and to the lives of others.  Those ideas that we don't voice, act upon, share or record for future action that have potential for positive change are costly, missed opportunities.

Ideas are one of our continuously renewable sources for personal, community, national and global economic growth.

By productively thinking and acting we do our part to help our (everything's connected) circle thrive.

Building - Learn from Others

Our dear neighbors are planning to build a new home where their existing home stands.  Kudos to them for seeking answers, experiences and opinions from others who have done this.  Their experience will be better from meeting with those of us who have already done what they are contemplating.  Many of us love passing along tips and tricks to others so that they don't have to experience the trial and error that we faced.

When we are contemplating a new venture, we must remember that many others want to pay it forward by sharing their "must do's and don't do's".

Sharing

We all have things to share with others:

• Concern
• Experience
• Advice
• Mistakes
• Successes
• Connections
• Referrals
• Ideas
• Opinions
• Respect
• Understanding
• Values
• Wisdom
• Compassion

May we always remember that no matter where we are in our personal journeys, as we share with others, we increase our learning, experience and perspective.  Most often, important sharing involves listening intently and compassionately responding.

Recycling

We are fortunate to have curbside recycling in our neighborhood.  It amazes and distresses me how much we offer for recycling every two weeks.  But it pleases me to know that our junk mail, plastic containers, newspapers, shredding and aluminum cans are being recycled.   We've almost eliminated plastic water bottles, with our use of filtered water and reusable water bottles.

Because I work for Sterling Bank, our sensitive information must be destroyed.  However, I receive much more non-sensitive information at the office that can be recycled.  I keep a separate box in my office that I fill and take to a non-profit recycling center adjacent to our office.

We take clothes, shoes and household items that we no longer need to Goodwill or Dress for Success.  And toiletries are always welcome at the Way Station at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church.  The Houston Food Bank distributes our contributed food and highly leverages monetary donations.

One of my mottoes has long been, "Out of my life and into yours."  When we share our un-needed blessings with others, we all reap the benefit.

What Do You Have in Abundance?

Yes, you can think about tangible assets! And, I applaud you if you have abundant fiscal resources!  In some way, you have maximized your tangible assets.  Congratulations!

But, when I penned the question, I had other assets in mind. 

What practical, readily transferable human assets do you have in abundance?

• Common sense
• Creativity
• Logic
• Successful ventures
• Lessons learned from failed ventures
• Relationships
• Compassion
• Passion
• Intelligence
• Tenacity

We all have abundant gifts.  Sometimes the challenge is realizing what we easily do that can provide benefit to others.  Human assets are like a candle flame, the more we share the more we gain.

Goodwill

In addition to our normal frequent trips to Goodwill, we emptied our storage unit this year.  Our donations reached a new family record.  It always brings me great joy to share things with others that we've enjoyed and no longer need.   It's energizing to care and share.  And, it's liberating to send things on to create additional joys in the lives of others.