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Please help yourself
“I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, ‘Where’s the self-help section?’ She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.” ~ George Carlin I’m excited to introduce the Self-Help Book Club, a new fall program I’ve created for the Blair Memorial Library in Clawson. This unique book club is designed to help lift our spirits and broaden our perspective while providing practical tools to help us manage the challenges of daily life. Each discussion will focus on the key takeaways of a pre-selected (and highly rated) self-help book. Enrollment in the Self-Help Book Club is limited to 12 attendees per meeting, and advance registration is required for each…
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Light on the subject
“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” ~Thomas Edison Every time I visit a science museum, I’m amazed at what human beings are capable of discovering or inventing. It’s humbling to consider that some people manage to spin a 24-hour day into a miracle — while the rest of us can spend the same amount of time doing … not so much. Thomas Edison insisted that the mother of invention is perseverance. Historians can’t agree on how many times he failed in his attempts to invent the light bulb — was it 1,000 or 10,000? The point is, he kept on…
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“You look marvelous!”
“I can live for two months on a good compliment.” ~Mark Twain There’s science to prove that flattery will get you everywhere. As reported in Medical Economics, researchers confirmed that people respond positively to flattery, even when they know the flatterer has an ulterior motive. Better yet, compliments can motivate us. When a supervisor praises our efforts at work, for instance, statistics show we’re likely to experience higher job satisfaction and stay in the position longer. In social situations, we’re also inclined to think positive thoughts about people who tell us we look nice or admire something we’ve done. Paying a sincere compliment is an act of generosity and it…
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The case for quality
“When you have deep friendships with good people, you copy and then absorb some of their best traits. When you love a person deeply, you want to serve them and earn their regard. When you experience great art, you widen your repertoire of emotions. Through devotion to some cause, you elevate your desires and organize your energies.” ~David Brooks, The Road to Character My husband and I are lucky to live within short driving distance of several fine art museums, world-class gardens, and historic sites, including Cranbrook House & Gardens. What a gift it is to spend an afternoon in the presence of beauty, creativity, and tranquility. Whether you’re wandering…
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The wheels of inspiration
“If you can’t do what you long to do, go do something else. You might think it’s procrastination, but it isn’t; it’s motion. And any motion whatsoever beats inertia, because inspiration will always be drawn to motion.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert After years of writing on deadline, I’ve learned not to panic when inspiration packs up and leaves my home office. As author Elizabeth Gilbert suggests, motion fuels creativity and productivity. When you’re blocked or unmotivated, try doing something else. It doesn’t have to be “productive” or look important. Ride your bike, organize a junk drawer, work in your garden, read magazines at the library. (Sorry, scrolling social media doesn’t count.) When…
