Pennies from Heaven

Whether we consider them lucky pennies or pennies from heaven, found pennies should be day brighteners.  They are unexpected tiny bits of good fortune.  I've always relished finding pennies, and never more than since Edgar died.  I'd asked him to send me pennies from heaven and in the months since he died, I've found more pennies than I remember finding in the past several combined years. The beautiful, comforting thing about many of these finds, is that they often appear when I'm having a tough time.  Just yesterday, a confirming penny appeared, providing me reassurance on the day that my beloved uncle died.

When we expect and accept good cheer, regardless of how small the increment, we are often rewarded exponentially.  Small kindnesses, smiles, greetings, praise, thanks and gestures are other tiny treasures that we can as easily overlook generously giving and gratefully receiving, as the penny waiting to be retrieved.

We can all make a big difference when we continually seize small opportunities to be day brighteners.

Little Things Make a Great Day

Early this week, I reflected on another great day.  Though nothing spectacular happened, I realized a number of small things combined to create a remarkable day:

• lovely, even if only brief, connection with those I love most
• meaningful interactions with treasured work colleagues
• important incremental advances on work projects
• special, planned time with long-time friends
• time committed to advancing the mission of a marvelous nonprofit organization
• yummy food, lovingly prepared

We can get so caught up in expectations for significant events, milestones and plans that we can lose sight of the many, many small occurrences that create great days.  

Great moments lead to great hours, then days, then weeks, then months, then years and thus lifetimes.  

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/

Making 2011 Great - Recapped by a Friend and Colleague

I loved getting to present "Making 2011 Great" to our Sterling Bank Women's Business Initiative last week, and was delighted to have my friend and colleague, Christine Pechayco, provide her assessment of my presentation: 

On January 20, 2011 Sterling Bank WBI luncheon attendees were treated to another terrific presentation.  This time, Sterling’s own Pamela Lovett, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Community Affairs took the stage to share her thoughts on “Making 2011 Great.”

Pam shared with the audience some practical and wonderful tips for enriching personal and professional relationships, ways to be more productive, and achieving personal best. 

Developing good personal habits contribute to this end.  She encouraged the audience to seek ways to celebrate various achievements, be they one’s own large undertakings and small victories, or those of others. Pam shared her ideas on ways to be productive while waiting – catching up on reading, analyzing to-do lists, or making a new acquaintances are only some. She pointed out the value of being on time for appointments as a sign of respect for others. Starting and ending the day with a clean slate by forgiving yourself and others was another.

As one who writes about leadership, fellowship, and some of her adventures with her family through the blog Everything’s Connected, Pam has an appreciation for finding creative outlets, and encouraged others to create as well. Whether cooking a favorite recipe, completing a jewelry project, or writing, the result is the gained sense of satisfaction at the end.

Approach work with gusto and enthusiasm was another piece of advice shared by Pam, and to do so by keeping skills refreshed, through continuous learning, honing one’s communication skills, and anticipating.  Continuous learning keeps one interesting, interested, engaged and employable, according to Pam. Books, book summaries, blogs, on-line courses, and continuing education courses are all valuable means of enriching knowledge. Communicating is a two to one ratio, according to Pam.  Our two ears and one mouth underline the importance of listening before we speak, she said.  Anticipating is another important skill not to ignore, but cautioned the audience to appreciate the experience in the process. 

Attitude contributes to productivity.  Pam advised the group to shed procrastination tendencies and to act decisively, to appreciate and learn to live with the things we have, and evaluate goals.  “Be certain that what you think you want is what you really want and not what you think you should want, or what others want for you,” said Pam.

Being realistic with our self expectations is another important factor to having a successful year.  Pam said, “Give up perfectionism. Excellent is good enough,” admittedly suggesting an all-too-familiar notion.

“Best is best,” said Pam.  “My marathon may be your walk in the park.”

Lastly, she advised WBI members to cast aside unrealistic ideas of superwoman capabilities. 

Pam’s practical and timeless ideas are encapsulated in a rhyme she penned, Things I “Ate” That 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 cape and liberate

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