"He who clinks his cup with mine, adds a glory to the wine.“ ~ George Sterling, poet "Ragtime plinking, glasses clinking, choruses getting sung with only half the lyrics right, giggles bubbling over like a tower of champagne. It's a party, shaking down the dawn." ~ Catherynne M. Valente, New York Times bestselling author “This … Continue reading TO CLINK OR NOT TO CLINK – THAT IS THE QUESTION
"There is no normal life that is free of pain. It's the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth." ~ Fred Rogers “Bad days happen to everyone, but when one happens to you, just keep doing your best and never let a bad day make you feel bad about … Continue reading BUSINESS ETIQUETTE AND THE NEW WORK-FROM-HOME CHALLENGES: TOTS, TOILET PAPER AND TECHNOLOGY
One look at an email can rob you of 15 minutes of focus. One call on your cell phone, one tweet, one instant message can destroy your schedule, forcing you to move meetings, or blow off really important things, like love, and friendship. ~ Jacqueline Leo A newish word has crept into our social media … Continue reading “Phubbing” Can Lead to “Phlubbing”
"Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress." ~ Mahatma Gandhi There have been a number of reports over the past two years of political disagreements, especially over the 2016 presidential election, driving a wedge between friends and family members. A radio interview of a father and son revealed their divide. An on-air TV interview highlighted … Continue reading Agree to Disagree Agreeably
Do the best you can, and don't take life too serious." ~ Will Rogers Will Rogers (1879-1935) was considered one of the wisest men of his time and one of the greatest wits. He once said, "I never met a man I didn't like." That might seem like a bit of a stretch for most humans, but a twist on … Continue reading A Sense of Humor is Good For Your Health and Good For Business
Throughout modern history women who ventured out into public have run the risk of having to hold it in, either because there were no facilities or not enough facilities for women, creating endless lines. Some years ago at my company's annual employee bash, I was waiting with my colleagues and other guests in a very, very long line to … Continue reading The Line to the Women’s Room – From Then To Now
"When you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back." ~ Michelle Obama "It's not what you know, it's who you know," so goes the old adage that might well have originated with the "good old boys club" that grew out … Continue reading Where Is the Good Old Gals Club?
The opposite of talking isn't listening. The opposite of talking is waiting. ~ Fran Lebowitz A long accepted workplace practice when women and men are present in any kind of meeting -- regardless of the industry or setting -- is men speak and women listen, or women speak and men interrupt them. On the whole, women … Continue reading We Interrupt this Woman…
Christmas Shopping 1919
openclipart.org
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags.
It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
~ Dr. Seuss, How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
According to the idealized vision many of us have of the Christmas holidays, 'tis the season of joy, peace and goodwill. In reality, for many years the season has trended toward a time of frantic shopping for the latest "in" toy or other specialized items and bargains. Retailers even began encroaching on the sacred family day of Thanksgiving, jumping the gun on so-called "Black Friday. Thus, I was relieved to see that this year more stores opted to close on Thanksgiving Day, allowing customers as well as store employees some traditional time with their families and friends. Not that this was an entirely altruistic move on the part of the stores; apparently the effort of opening on Thanksgiving Day simply wasn't worth the trouble. According to Gallup, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are two of the happiest days for Americans, so why mess with that? Isn't there enough stress in people's lives without disrupting the enjoyment of these two revered days?
"Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes
and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"
~ Jesus of Nazareth, Holy Bible, Mathew 21:16
According to some Biblical scholars, the meaning of the above-captioned quote is that children can often see and express truths in their purest forms that adults often overlook or fail to grasp. According to a recent article in the Washington Post, children are writing to President-Elect Donald Trump asking him to be kind, and the mother of the little boy who inspired this effort has established a private Facebook page to allow children to post their letters and comments about kindness to Mr. Trump.
