Giving Thanks Freely

There's been no shortage of bad public behavior in the last few weeks. From civic events and sporting matches to awards shows, few have been immune from ill-conceived and embarrassing outbursts. If rudeness is a pre-existing condition, it may be time for some preventative behavioral medicine. Too often, we forget to show gratitude or kindness.

Some people don’t get excited by the Kumbaya moments of life. Their philosophy is “Just do your job.” If someone does more than they’re supposed to – that’s when you tip your hat with thanks.

While I agree we needn’t throw a parade every time we tie our shoelaces correctly, I sure would have liked one the first time I did! We need to praise progress. Encourage each other. Recognize what’s right. This is basic stuff. Saying please and thank you, being polite and showing gratitude.

Being in a state of gratitude is good for both giver and receiver. How many ways can you say “Good Job!” Here are 132 to start with, so no more excuses. Look over the list and find the phrases that you’re most comfortable with and use them often with your family, children and colleagues.

Giving Thanks Freely

There's been no shortage of bad public behavior in the last few weeks. From civic events and sporting matches to awards shows, few have been immune from ill-conceived and embarrassing outbursts. If rudeness is a pre-existing condition, it may be time for some preventative behavioral medicine. Too often, we forget to show gratitude or kindness.

Some people don’t get excited by the Kumbaya moments of life. Their philosophy is “Just do your job.” If someone does more than they’re supposed to – that’s when you tip your hat with thanks.

While I agree we needn’t throw a parade every time we tie our shoelaces correctly, I sure would have liked one the first time I did! We need to praise progress. Encourage each other. Recognize what’s right. This is basic stuff. Saying please and thank you, being polite and showing gratitude.

Being in a state of gratitude is good for both giver and receiver. How many ways can you say “Good Job!” Here are 132 to start with, so no more excuses. Look over the list and find the phrases that you’re most comfortable with and use them often with your family, children and colleagues.

100 Days Left

There are 100 days left in the year. How does that make you feel?

Are you thinking, “good riddance”? You can't wait for the arbitrary turn of the calendar; you know 2010 will be better. Really? Are you going to throw the towel in already? Maybe you’re anxious, with fourth quarter jitters. You could be excited about the holidays or dreading them.

How has the year been for you so far? Have you achieved everything you first set out to do at the beginning of the year? Looking at your resolutions, are you frustrated or recommitted?

Have you made your mark on the year yet? Just 100 days left. What will you do with them?

Don’t give up. Focus on what you want to accomplish. Determine what resources of time, money and/or people you need to help you achieve your goal and then get to work.

In 100 days, you could make a positive contribution to the world, to your health, your outlook on life, or your family. You need to begin and you need to have a deadline.

Today, you commit. 100 days from today, on Thursday December 31, 2009, celebrate your achievement. Time will not wait for you. Either way that date will arrive. Ready or not. Be ready. 100 days. What will you do between now and then? Begin. Today.

100 Days Left

There are 100 days left in the year. How does that make you feel?

Are you thinking, “good riddance”? You can't wait for the arbitrary turn of the calendar; you know 2010 will be better. Really? Are you going to throw the towel in already? Maybe you’re anxious, with fourth quarter jitters. You could be excited about the holidays or dreading them.

How has the year been for you so far? Have you achieved everything you first set out to do at the beginning of the year? Looking at your resolutions, are you frustrated or recommitted?

Have you made your mark on the year yet? Just 100 days left. What will you do with them?

Don’t give up. Focus on what you want to accomplish. Determine what resources of time, money and/or people you need to help you achieve your goal and then get to work.

In 100 days, you could make a positive contribution to the world, to your health, your outlook on life, or your family. You need to begin and you need to have a deadline.

Today, you commit. 100 days from today, on Thursday December 31, 2009, celebrate your achievement. Time will not wait for you. Either way that date will arrive. Ready or not. Be ready. 100 days. What will you do between now and then? Begin. Today.

Hug more.

Hug more.

RE: Summer

It’s a weird time of year. Although the heat continues, the summer recess that many people enjoyed often gives way to restlessness. It’s a period of transition as we wash the sand between our toes and slip back into our socks and shoes. Partly we want the relaxation of the season to continue a while longer, yet we also want things to get back to “normal”. Brisk air, turning leaves, kids back to school, new projects, preparation for the fourth quarter; the hours before Labor Day weekend create that tension.

It doesn’t matter if you're raring to roll up your sleeves and tackle something new or longing to keep your pant legs rolled up for another week of vacation, take the time to work on your “RE’s”; the first of course being, Reflection. Here are some others to consider during this time.

• Reevaluate your goals, your progress, and your beliefs. Revisit each of them to make sure that you’re acting authentically and still believe the things you're telling people.

• Renegotiate contracts that no longer work for you. People's expectations change over time. There’s nothing wrong with that. It exemplifies flexibility. So does collaborating to review the terms of long standing agreements you have in place.

• Repair things that are broken. Spend time cleaning up the little annoyances of your life. Fix the squeaky door, an out of control junk drawer or leaky faucet. This applies to relationships too. Everyone has a friendship that’s been neglected, even with all the social media tools available. Forgive, forget or apologize and send them a thoughtful card.

• Rejuvenate. You may have had a vacation that did the trick or maybe you feel like you need a vacation from you vacation. Get to the place that energizes you and just be there and enjoy it, even if it’s only in your mind for twenty minutes or so.

• Renew. Decide on the things you want to keep in your life and physically or metaphorically dust them off. Put them in a different shelf so they stand out. Make them appear new so you can appreciate them again.

• Reapply. Did you fail at something recently? Does that mean you should quit? Take a different approach or just show your grit and try again.

As we get anxious to start new projects, we tend to neglect the things we have for things we want. Often this involves a lot of daydreaming, wishing and yearning. Sometimes this causes the complete abandonment of one goal in pursuit of another, and then another and then another. Reexamine how you are living your life. You may determine you’re good to go and wouldn’t change a thing, or you may uncover a clue to greater success. Either way look, otherwise you will never know.

RE: Summer

It’s a weird time of year. Although the heat continues, the summer recess that many people enjoyed often gives way to restlessness. It’s a period of transition as we wash the sand between our toes and slip back into our socks and shoes. Partly we want the relaxation of the season to continue a while longer, yet we also want things to get back to “normal”. Brisk air, turning leaves, kids back to school, new projects, preparation for the fourth quarter; the hours before Labor Day weekend create that tension.

It doesn’t matter if you're raring to roll up your sleeves and tackle something new or longing to keep your pant legs rolled up for another week of vacation, take the time to work on your “RE’s”; the first of course being, Reflection. Here are some others to consider during this time.

• Reevaluate your goals, your progress, and your beliefs. Revisit each of them to make sure that you’re acting authentically and still believe the things you're telling people.

• Renegotiate contracts that no longer work for you. People's expectations change over time. There’s nothing wrong with that. It exemplifies flexibility. So does collaborating to review the terms of long standing agreements you have in place.

• Repair things that are broken. Spend time cleaning up the little annoyances of your life. Fix the squeaky door, an out of control junk drawer or leaky faucet. This applies to relationships too. Everyone has a friendship that’s been neglected, even with all the social media tools available. Forgive, forget or apologize and send them a thoughtful card.

• Rejuvenate. You may have had a vacation that did the trick or maybe you feel like you need a vacation from you vacation. Get to the place that energizes you and just be there and enjoy it, even if it’s only in your mind for twenty minutes or so.

• Renew. Decide on the things you want to keep in your life and physically or metaphorically dust them off. Put them in a different shelf so they stand out. Make them appear new so you can appreciate them again.

• Reapply. Did you fail at something recently? Does that mean you should quit? Take a different approach or just show your grit and try again.

As we get anxious to start new projects, we tend to neglect the things we have for things we want. Often this involves a lot of daydreaming, wishing and yearning. Sometimes this causes the complete abandonment of one goal in pursuit of another, and then another and then another. Reexamine how you are living your life. You may determine you’re good to go and wouldn’t change a thing, or you may uncover a clue to greater success. Either way look, otherwise you will never know.