I'M NOT LISTENING!
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I'm not listening!
· You told me once
· You told me twice
· You told me three times
· You told me four times
· You told me five times
I DID SOMETHING TODAY...
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Today, I did something.
- it wasn't much, really
- it didn't take a lot of time
- it didn't cost any money
WHAT COMES FIRST
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What came first—the Chicken or the Egg? My seven-year-old daughter, Lauren, asked me this question one day.
Lauren asked me again, "What came first—the Chicken or the Egg?”
I thought momentarily about some profound, meaningful answer but was interrupted by Lauren, who said she knew the answer (this is very common for Lauren).
“Dad, you think you are so smart. You have several degrees but don’t know the answer to my question. And I know the answer!”
Read MoreTHE SECRET TO NEVER LOSING ANOTHER GAME IN TENNIS
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Answering an advertisement in a newspaper stating, "The Secret of Never Losing Another Game in Tennis for only $99.95" offered by the only "undefeated" tennis player alive, a young man cut out the reply address form, filled out his name and address, wrote out a check for $99.95, enclosed the reply address form and check into an envelope, and wrote the mailing address on envelope to a Post Office Box in Chicago, Illinois, stamped the envelope and placed the envelop in the mail.
Read MoreCOMPASSION HEALS
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The psychiatrist and theologian writer Gerald May speaks of a person he knew in one of the poorest psychiatric wards in New York, a young woman named Karen who sat alone day after day without responding to anyone who spoke to her. Every day, one of the maintenance men, Mike Foster, would sit at her side, eating his lunch and chatting with her even though she showed no response. One day, as John prepared to leave with his usual, “See you tomorrow, Karen,” she answered, “See you tomorrow, Mike.” A year later, she left the hospital and lived an everyday and happy life.
Read MoreYOU LEAD THE WAY YOU DRIVE
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“I made it to work in only 35 minutes. A new record!”
“A new record?”
“Yes… my previous record was 41 minutes. I am on a roll!”
“What made the difference?”
Read MoreTHE WORST DAY EVER
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Today was the absolute worst day ever
And don’t try to convince me that
There’s something good in every day
Because, when you take a closer look
This world is a pretty evil place.
Even if
Some good does shine through once in a while
Satisfaction and happiness don’t last.
And it’s not true that
It’s all in the mind and heart
Because
Read MoreCOLLEGE LETTERS
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During my freshman year at Boston College, I received many letters from family and friends. At first, I received about a dozen or so letters each week; mostly from my high school buddies relaying their college experiences. I would dutifully write back and describe my classes, friends, and the overall experience of attending Boston College.
Read MoreLET'S GO FOR A WALK
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“Let’s go for a walk.”
“Where are we going?”
“Nowhere in particular. I just want to spend some time with you.”
“I’m kind of busy right now. Can we do it another day?”
“I would really like to go now, if you don’t mind.”
Read MoreWASN'T SO TOUGH AFTER ALL
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It happens.
There are days when things do not go as planned or as hoped.
And what would have been a very good day becomes a very tough day.
Read MoreWHO DO YOU WORK FOR?
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Who do you work for?
Yourself.
Your team.
Your family.
Your community.
A paycheck.
One, some, all...or something else?
Read MoreA MOMENT OF SILENCE AT GATE 42
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While queuing up to board United Airlines Flight #272 leaving Orlando for Chicago-O’Hare, my thoughts about what I needed to get done on the flight to Chicago, and whether I would be upgraded to First Class, were interrupted by the gate attendant asking for everyone’s attention.
Read MoreYOU LEAD THE WAY YOU DRIVE
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“I made it to work in only 35 minutes. A new record!”
“A new record?”
“Yes… my previous record was 41 minutes. I am on a roll!”
“What made the difference?”
Read MoreTHE "DO NOT" LIST
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Sometimes it is helpful to focus on what not to do...
Do not forget...
Do not forget to dream
Do not forget to laugh
Do not forget to cry
Do not forget what summer vacation feels like
Do not forget the child in you
...don't forget what makes us human.
WHILE DRIVING A CAB
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Over three years ago, I sent the following anonymous story to my colleagues with mixed results.
Many people cried; some people said nothing; a few wrote to relate how this story gave them a new perspective on life, and one person vowed never to take any chance meeting for granted.
Read MoreTHE WAVE
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With my left blinker on and my speed approaching that of the adjacent traffic lane, I look for some sign of “permission” to merge. The BMW driver in the adjacent lane is just slightly behind me, and I adjust my speed up as the merge lane is quickly coming to an end.
“Come ‘on, please let me in.”
Read MoreTELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW
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"You are wrong again!"
[ no response ]
"I told you yesterday and last week that this is not what I expect!" raising my voice even louder.
[ still no response ]
"Look, I thought we had an understanding. You are really disappointing me, and we may need to make a change. And, it's not going to be pretty!"
[ silence ]
Suddenly, I hear my wife's voice from the adjacent room.
"Are you yelling at the bathroom scale again?"
Read MoreTHE SECRET OF NEVER LOSING ANOTHER GAME OF TENNIS
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Reading the advertisements in the back of a tennis magazine, an advertisement caught a young man's attention: "The Secret of Never Losing Another Game in Tennis," offered by the only "undefeated" tennis player alive.
"This could be the answer I have been looking for!" he said to himself. "Once I have the secret, I can stop reading all these magazines for best practices, stop working out each day, and stop my special high protein and low carbohydrate diet."
He quickly completed the application form, wrote out a check for $99.95, and placed both the application and check into an envelope.
Read MoreDAILY ROUNDS
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Making her daily rounds at the hospital one morning and coming into patient room 1010 on the Cardiac Ward, Dr. Mary Nelson is startled as a patient suddenly wakes up and shouts -
"Who are you?"
"Good morning, why my name is Dr. Mary Nelson. I am your attending physician."
"No, I mean who really are you?"
Read MoreMOVING DAY
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It's 5:30 in the morning. My wife and I are standing at the end of our driveway with our arms around each other's waists.
"We are really going to miss them."
"Yes, we are."
"We couldn't ask for better neighbors and better friends."
"Yes, it is hard to imagine they will be gone soon."
Just then the engine of the moving van roars to life, headlights come on and the moving van slowly backs out of the driveway across the street from our home.