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The real measure of generosity
“A life is not measured by what we do or what we give, but by who we are … The impact we’ve had on the lives around us could be felt for decades. How present am I with the people in my life? Am I able to take responsibility for the actions that hurt others? Do I want to be right or can I choose to be thoughtful and kind?” ~Cheryl Richardson Most of us equate “generosity” with lavish gifting — especially this time of year. As I type this, economists are tracking and comparing annual statistics on holiday spending, including the types of purchases we make and how much money…
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Insensitive remarks
“I have never been hurt by what I have not said.” ~Calvin Coolidge All of us have been guilty of blurting insensitive remarks or sharing information we shouldn’t — usually without realizing it. We might say something off the top of our heads without thinking how someone else might interpret it. We might spread gossip that could hurt a relationship or make us appear untrustworthy. It’s easy to get tangled in our own verbiage — and it takes a heartfelt apology to smooth things out. To paraphrase a quote from Maya Angelou, people might forget exactly what we said, but they’ll always remember how we made them feel. In today’s…
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Happy Thanksgiving
“We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” ~John F. Kennedy Unlike our highly commercialized Christmas season, Thanksgiving doesn’t demand as much from us. It doesn’t require spending loads of cash or credit on gifts and decorations, nor does it push us to party through January 1st. Regardless of our religious beliefs or church affiliation, Thanksgiving only asks that we sit down together at a table — one day out of the year — and express our appreciation. Too often, we’re so focused on our worries that we take our advantages and opportunities for granted. Or we forget to acknowledge…
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Reclaim your power
“No matter how powerless the world makes you feel, you always have power inside you, through your attitude and through your actions.” ~ Mel Robbins, author of The Let Them Theory We’ve all encountered situations in which someone has tried to bully or control us. But as author Mel Robbins explains, reclaiming our personal power requires knowing the difference between things we can control and things that aren’t in our power to change. We can control our own responses to the negative behavior of others, even though we can’t always change their behavior. We can control how and where we devote our energy — and with whom. We can withdraw…
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Your harvest, your life
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” ~Oprah Winfrey Late autumn inspires us to take stock of what we’ve planted or accomplished. The season of Thanksgiving — not just the holiday itself — underscores a simple choice we always have: We can celebrate all the good things we’ve reaped and experienced, or dwell on the difficulties we’ve encountered. A positive mindset is the natural outgrowth of appreciation. It’s part of the harvest we reap when we count everything that enriches our lives, large and small. Many Americans will spend this weekend shopping for food to share at their Thanksgiving tables. Some…
