Gotta Getta ...

Years ago, when our children were young and Beanie Babies were the "must have" items, we searched high and low for the animals that they most wanted.  The adventure was exciting and frustrating.  And the fascination was relatively short-lived. 

This reminds me that we need to think through the things we really "gotta get".

Things that Disappear

There are things that disappear without warning:

• a sock in the dryer
• a phone number
• a memory
• a friend
• a special dessert

And others that disappear when we don't heed warnings:

• reputations
• relationships
• opportunities

May 2010 be a year when all things that we value are visible!

A Unique Collection

I take great joy in providing postally used stamps for my friend's collection.  Thanks to him, I've become very aware of the many nuances in seemingly similar stamps. And, if you happen to receive anything from me with a stamp placed catawissy, it's not an accident, but a tribute to my friend's possibility of attracting as many versions of available stamps with the fewest possible cancellation marks.

Queen of Cliff Notes

Law school taught me to get to the bottom line.  In an age when we are inundated by information 24x7x365 it is increasingly important to be able to sift through the mountains of information we are presented and quickly determine which items are relevant.

One of the best gifts I received from my law school education is my self-proclaimed title as "Queen of Cliff Notes".

Photos

So many of us have camera options on our phones, but I've been pleased, surprised and amazed to have my traditional camera ever ready to snap shots of family, friends and colleagues.  For a few ounces of extra weight in my purse, I always have the opportunity to capture special events.

I love all of the snapshots everyone in my life continue to share.

And I also cherish the professional photos our gifted friend, Temple Webber, continues to produce for our special events.

Surprises

Our precious daughter was delighted to answer the doorbell and find that her boyfriend from Miami had converted airline miles to surprise her for a post-Christmas visit.  This was a super surprise!  They are in sync.

And, in sync is the only right way to deliver surprises.

Surprises are only wonderful when they bring joy to the recipient. A surprise party for a super shy person, hosted by an exceptionally extroverted friend, seems to the extrovert the perfect way to spend a special day.  However, the introverted birthday person would much rather have spent the evening with one or two special friends. 

Positive surprises include visits, calls, letters and emails from those we cherish; photos from special events; a recommendation on LinkedIn; a referral; a congratulatory note...

And worst of all, are negative surprises.  If the employee is expecting a raise, and instead, receives a written performance plan, there's a clear and unacceptable disconnect.  There should be no surprises in this arena.  Employees should consistently know if they are meeting, exceeding, or failing to meet expectations.

Negative surprises tend to relate to allocation of time, unspoken expectations, inconsiderate behavior, treating another as we'd like to be treated rather than how they'd like to be treated...

May most of our 2010 surprises be positive!

2010

A new year, a new decade and 365 days to live, love, learn, laugh and linger with those we treasure.  It's a time to let go of things that are holding us back and embrace things that will help us soar.  I'm not big on resolutions, but do like to think aspirationally.   I aspire to be my best self in 2010, not only for me, but for those I hold dear.

May 2010 reveal countless special moments, memories and milestones!