Thankful for all the things you can’t see or touch this year

Thankful for all the things you can’t see or touch this year

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
“Empty chairs. Missing loved ones. Lord, how their voices once filled the room, as their echoes fill it now.” - Mitch Albom During this time of year, many of us reflect on what we have to be thankful for. Oftentimes, we equate our thankfulness with “things” – tangible items we see with our eyes or can touch with our hands. While there are certainly “things” to be thankful for that fall under the category of basic necessities and even health, this year I find myself thankful for something much different – much more personal. This year, I’m thankful for something you can’t see with your eyes or touch with your hands. No, it’s something you FEEL in your heart. This year, I’m thankful for the memories. A frightening reality of…
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Nice guys in business are definitely running a different race

Nice guys in business are definitely running a different race

Life & Living
The other day I came across a study originally published in the Harvard Business Review, which draws a conclusion about “nice guys” that truly surprised me. “Results showed that more agreeable — i.e., nicer and friendlier — men earned significantly less than other men. This isn't typically true for young workers — the effect is only visible once men turn 30, and it's strongest between ages 40 and 60.” This study (which followed men's earnings over a period of time) attributed three personality traits as the influencers of those earning greater financial benefits between the ages of 40 and 60. Those traits included men who are more conscientious, more extroverted, and less agreeable. These traits often do not apply to the “nice guys” out in the world. It got me…
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High school is a part of the past you can’t live again

High school is a part of the past you can’t live again

Youth
“High school, you don't want to go back and do it over again.” - Marguerite Moreau It’s been 25 years since I graduated from high school. And as is customary, my graduating class has arranged a high school reunion to commemorate the milestone. I didn’t attend any of my previous reunions and honestly, I have no plans to attend this or any other future high school reunions. Understand that I have no animosity towards any of my former classmates. But I wouldn’t classify my years in high school as rewarding or memorable. High school was another life – a part of my past which has no place in my present or my future. While some would gladly trade their current circumstances for a chance to relive their skewed reality of…
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Reaching out to others should be an act of selflessness

Reaching out to others should be an act of selflessness

Generosity & Kindness
“Reaching out and valuing other lives is the only way to be trusted and never forgotten.” ― Isabella Koldras When you’re reaching out to someone in your life (a friend, a family member, a colleague) how often is that communication selfless? Are you reaching out to discuss a situation or circumstance in your life, or are you genuinely making contact to show they are trusted and never forgotten? The way I see it, there are listeners and talkers in society – and lately I feel as though I’ve been straddling the line between the two. What I’ve discovered is that being the listener comes with drawbacks. The main one being when you’re reaching out to the talker for a comforting and safe environment to share your feelings, they’re rarely around to…
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One kind word is all it takes to completely change your outlook

One kind word is all it takes to completely change your outlook

Generosity & Kindness
“Sometimes, all it takes is one kind word to nourish another person. Think of the ripple effect that can be created when we nourish someone. One kind empathetic word has a wonderful way of turning into many.” ― Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember When opportunities fall through your fingers like particles of sand, you’re often left deflated and demoralized. You question whether or not you’ll find the courage to believe in yourself and continue moving forward. But then something truly wonderful happens. One kind word completely derails your deflated and demoralized feelings and suddenly you realize that everything happens for a reason. That today you’re you and frankly that’s enough. I recently found myself experiencing the feelings above as an opportunity I was convinced would…
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