Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
FEAR
FEAR - Fantasies Emerging as Real
Often it is only in retrospect that we can determine that our fears were without merit. We know that things are okay when we realize:
Often it is only in retrospect that we can determine that our fears were without merit. We know that things are okay when we realize:
- We weren't ridiculed for our attire or costume
- There were no monsters under the bed
- Missing a couple of answers on a test did not equate to failing
- There were people to visit with at the event
- Our idea was accepted for review or implementation
- We weren't the only ones who had an early curfew
- Other parents also called to check on the party logistics
- We were far more disappointed in our results than our parents indicated that they were
- The customer didn't leave though we had a problem
- The clean bone break healed perfectly
- Everyone showed up and had a fabulous time
- The meal was spectacular
- We won
- The doctor said, "all is okay!"
- The job is yours
- The baby is healthy
- You've been selected for ...
- Others felt/reacted the same way
- The offer/deadline has been extended
- ... is safe
- You're covered
- You were right
- Things couldn't have been better
- The outlook is improving
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Who's Watching?
We sometimes think we are invisible when we are among strangers at an event or venue. Do we act differently when we think no one is watching? I've decided we should always assume that someone is watching. Recently a friend was leaving a big box store as Edgar was arriving. He spotted her because she was walking to her vehicle, but she didn't notice him because he was camouflaged in one of the many arriving SUVs. There was nothing noteworthy about the missed opportunity to visit. It was just a reminder to me that we never know what others may casually observe without our knowledge.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
We all have our methods of dealing with the never-ending demands on our time and our ever growing number of possessions. My challenge is trying to keep up with everything once it's not visible, whether it's commitments or things.
My commitments are noted in my on-line calendar as actual appointments or as all-day events which serve as reminders of pending reports, occasions or the need to take action. And, of course, my never-ending to-do lists supplement my technology tools. Thank goodness for email folders. Different projects can be organized and the folder title provides a visual to easily find all of the relevant information.
Our stuff is easy to find when I put like items in a logical place. The difficulty is trying to locate a rarely used item that has no peer. Then the search begins. What would have been a logical place at the time the item was stored? Edgar recently asked for his grandfather's monogrammed cane. We both remembered that it had hung in the hallway of our old home with other Rice University memorabilia. The challenge was to ascertain what might have been a safe and logical location when we moved. After a search of all the readily available locations, I discovered it carefully stowed in the cabinet of the grandmother clock. Seemed logical at the time - grandfather cane/grandmother clock.
How do you deal with those things that are out of sight to keep them from being out of mind?
My commitments are noted in my on-line calendar as actual appointments or as all-day events which serve as reminders of pending reports, occasions or the need to take action. And, of course, my never-ending to-do lists supplement my technology tools. Thank goodness for email folders. Different projects can be organized and the folder title provides a visual to easily find all of the relevant information.
Our stuff is easy to find when I put like items in a logical place. The difficulty is trying to locate a rarely used item that has no peer. Then the search begins. What would have been a logical place at the time the item was stored? Edgar recently asked for his grandfather's monogrammed cane. We both remembered that it had hung in the hallway of our old home with other Rice University memorabilia. The challenge was to ascertain what might have been a safe and logical location when we moved. After a search of all the readily available locations, I discovered it carefully stowed in the cabinet of the grandmother clock. Seemed logical at the time - grandfather cane/grandmother clock.
How do you deal with those things that are out of sight to keep them from being out of mind?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Laughter
My dear Mother stitched this delightful piece for me when I was young. It hangs in my laundry room, vividly reminding me to find humor in every day life.
Monday, October 26, 2009
50 Ways to Make a Difference
There are millions of ways to make a difference. Here are 50:
1. Volunteer
2. Give blood
3. Recycle
4. Donate items that are no longer needed
5. Spend time with an old friend
6. Be a role model
7. Accept an informational interview
8. Make an introduction
9. Provide a recommendation
10. Send an unexpected greeting
11. Smile
12. Offer to help
13. Make a micro-loan
14. Share ideas
15. Solicit opinions
16. Congratulate others
17. Change bad habits
18. Thank a service provider
19. Follow-through on commitments
20. Say yes when you can and no when you need to
21. Give a sincere compliment in front of others
22. Be courteous
23. Do my best everyday
24. Acknowledge the contributions of others
25. Offer ways to incrementally improve a service or process
26. Give others access to data, templates, research
27. Negotiate fairly
28. Drive friendly
29. Treat others as you’d like to be treated
30. Buy an item from a child who asks – lemonade, cookies, tickets
31. Accept an invitation to present in a school
32. Lend a book
33. Share opportunities that are beneficial to others
34. Vote
35. Opt for on-line delivery of documents
36. Purchase and use a re-usable water bottle
37. Support a friend’s endeavor
38. Accept an invitation to connect
39. Live healthy
40. Look for solutions
41. Expect positive outcomes
42. Offer a different perspective
43. Collaborate
44. Pray
45. Thank a soldier
46. Thank a teacher
47. Express condolences
48. Add to someone’s collection
49. Refrain from gossiping
50. Exhibit an attitude of gratitude
1. Volunteer
2. Give blood
3. Recycle
4. Donate items that are no longer needed
5. Spend time with an old friend
6. Be a role model
7. Accept an informational interview
8. Make an introduction
9. Provide a recommendation
10. Send an unexpected greeting
11. Smile
12. Offer to help
13. Make a micro-loan
14. Share ideas
15. Solicit opinions
16. Congratulate others
17. Change bad habits
18. Thank a service provider
19. Follow-through on commitments
20. Say yes when you can and no when you need to
21. Give a sincere compliment in front of others
22. Be courteous
23. Do my best everyday
24. Acknowledge the contributions of others
25. Offer ways to incrementally improve a service or process
26. Give others access to data, templates, research
27. Negotiate fairly
28. Drive friendly
29. Treat others as you’d like to be treated
30. Buy an item from a child who asks – lemonade, cookies, tickets
31. Accept an invitation to present in a school
32. Lend a book
33. Share opportunities that are beneficial to others
34. Vote
35. Opt for on-line delivery of documents
36. Purchase and use a re-usable water bottle
37. Support a friend’s endeavor
38. Accept an invitation to connect
39. Live healthy
40. Look for solutions
41. Expect positive outcomes
42. Offer a different perspective
43. Collaborate
44. Pray
45. Thank a soldier
46. Thank a teacher
47. Express condolences
48. Add to someone’s collection
49. Refrain from gossiping
50. Exhibit an attitude of gratitude
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Were We at the Same Event?
I was once again vividly reminded that we all experience things from our own unique perspectives.
A friend and I were talking about an event she'd attended where she'd heard a popular elected official present. It was her first time to hear this individual and she thought it was a terrific presentation. I mentioned that I had heard this individual many times and generally enjoy hearing this person speak, but had attended a recent event where the person was distracted and rambled. As we delved further, we realized that we'd been in the same audience.
She saw energy, openness, candor and knowledge. I'd heard this individual convey all of these attributes, but was also accustomed to preparation and focus. She was delighted; I was disappointed.
There was no call to action in this presentation, so it didn't matter that we had such opposite assessments. But, what if it had been a situation, when there was a need to have everyone receive and act upon the same message? If the feedback loop only included her representative assessment, the opportunity to miss the goal would be enormous. One might assume that those with prior experience with the speaker would automatically be aligned, and view it as terrific that a newcomer was now onboard.
This was a reminder to me that when the outcome is important, the feedback loop needs to be broad.
A friend and I were talking about an event she'd attended where she'd heard a popular elected official present. It was her first time to hear this individual and she thought it was a terrific presentation. I mentioned that I had heard this individual many times and generally enjoy hearing this person speak, but had attended a recent event where the person was distracted and rambled. As we delved further, we realized that we'd been in the same audience.
She saw energy, openness, candor and knowledge. I'd heard this individual convey all of these attributes, but was also accustomed to preparation and focus. She was delighted; I was disappointed.
There was no call to action in this presentation, so it didn't matter that we had such opposite assessments. But, what if it had been a situation, when there was a need to have everyone receive and act upon the same message? If the feedback loop only included her representative assessment, the opportunity to miss the goal would be enormous. One might assume that those with prior experience with the speaker would automatically be aligned, and view it as terrific that a newcomer was now onboard.
This was a reminder to me that when the outcome is important, the feedback loop needs to be broad.
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