“If nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that--warm things, kind things, sweet things--help and comfort and laughter.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess Humanity is comprised of three types of people: takers, givers and matchers. While the first two are more well-known personas, “matchers” are people who will only give when they know they’ll get something back in return. What kind of person are you? Over the last decade, I’ve realized that givers are in the minority. While the matchers of the world still brand themselves as givers, that’s only to ease the guilt of their self-serving…
On August 21, 1920, Christopher Robin Milne was born. For many of us, his name is immortalized in the stories of a lovable little boy and his favorite toy bear, more affectionately known as Winnie-the-Pooh. A.A. Milne was a prolific writer – books, plays, essays – but will forever be known for his creation of the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh series. History says that in 1925, Milne and his young family moved to a picturesque farm in Sussex – the 100-acre woods surrounding the property serving as the perfect magical setting for a series of children’s stories countless generations continue to admire. When young Christopher was around one, he received a present – a stuffed bear. That one stuffed animal would serve as the inspiration for a series of whimsical stories. Over…
As we age and mature through life’s stages, it’s important to ask ourselves where our lives are going and what truly brings us fulfillment, purpose and joy. Lately I’ve pondered how important holding a leadership position in my career would ultimately be. While I have no doubt of my abilities to successfully perform the role (as I have in the past), there’s more to being a “leader” than simply achieving the title. Yes, we all have functions of our jobs that require us to be a “leader” to some degree, but leadership comes with responsibilities and expectations that few people who hold such a position ever fully realize. I’ve experienced truly amazing leadership, mediocre leadership and down right awful leadership – learning invaluable lessons from each. Perhaps Klaus Balkenhol sums…
The other day I witnessed first-hand a wonderful site. There, amongst a crowded retail store, was a woman pushing a shopping cart. At first glance, the 60 something year old appeared to be like any other woman her age, though certainly walking more with the pace of a turtle than a rabbit. But soon it became evident that this woman was not like her counterparts – suffering from the debilitations of Alzheimer’s disease. And yet there she was, proudly pushing her shopping cart accompanied by her daughter – who obviously did not allow her disease to devalue their relationship. But perhaps what struck me most was what happened next. A geriatric nurse, who happened to be shopping in the same retail store, also took notice of the site I was…
“Everything in life is temporary, so if things are going good enjoy it because it won’t last forever. And if things are going bad, don’t worry. It can’t last forever either.” Truthfollower.com Anyone who believes that relationships remain unchanged as the years go by is slightly naïve. Whether it’s a friendship, a romantic or familial relationship, or even a professional connection, if there’s one thing you can be certain of it’s that human beings are destined to evolve as they grow and mature. Relationships of any kind require nurturing and continual effort in order to be successful. They flourish when provided with enough respect, compassion and honesty to keep the lines of communication and affection alive and well. However practicing those character traits is not always easy or appealing to…