Words on Wednesday

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." — Benjamin Franklin

Flexibility is key...

I work with my clients to build in flexibility to their daily and/or weekly schedules in case they get a last minute work assignment, the kid gets sick or their elderly parent falls and is rushed to the ER. Well, today it paid off for me. My daughter's school bus was running really late, so we and the other parents and kids waiting, hopped the subway to get o school on time. Since I was just headed to the gym after she got on the bus, I had the flexibility to do this. Having kids, makes flexibility a must.

Where's the quality?

Yesterday, I did three loads of laundry. Admittedly, one load was just sheets. I noticed as I put clothes in the washer some shirts had holes in them. It used to be you could buy a concert tee when you were in college and still be wearing it twenty years in its faded glory to relive your youth. I find now, that t-shirts only last a couple of years before they get holes. I have some that aren't even faded yet and because of holes need to be thrown out. So I ask, Where's the quality?

People you may know...

Every time I log into LinkedIn to make a connection, I land on the "people you may know" page. At this point, I have seen the pictures enough to think I know a person, when I really don't. The same can be said for Facebook. Facebook will tell you that you might know so and so, who is friends with your cousin and you've never even met the friend. After repeatedly seeing the photos, you may think you know them. For a while, I thought I was losing my mind and then I realized its not me its the site. Now I don't go to those "people you may know" pages, unless the site takes me there. This keeps my mind at peace and my sanity in tack.

What we learn from others...

My mom had a childhood friend recently pass away. He was a radio sports jokey and I learned upon his death that he reported the news for several hours on 9/11. He didn't have to; he could have continued to report the sports. Instead he gave his listeners what they wanted and needed—the news of what was happening in the US. I learn from this that no matter who we are or what we do, sometimes we need to reach beyond this to give people what they need. Thank you, George, for teaching me this and being a true friend to my mom.

Family is what you make it....

After my daughter's 5th grade graduation, a set of her grandparents went out to lunch. They ran into the teachers and commented how nice graduations was. The teachers asked who they were their for and they told them. A teacher said that she the resemblance between Grandma and Sylvie. Only, they are not biologically related. These grandparents are very close friends that have been in Sylvie's life since she was in my tummy (in fact I meet Grandma when I was 13) and so they became grandparents. It is nice that I can teach my daughter that family is what you make it and not just biology. Sylvie is close to my mom and this grandma with no distinction between the two. This warms my heart.

What a mountain today.

Today I did battle with a mountain and the mountain won. I was supposed to trek into some ruins, but some riding lessons, backpacking in my youth and gym workouts weren't enough preparation. I should have thoroughly researched the trek. Over 20 years ago I did battle with another mountain and lost. Today I learned as I did then to stop while I was ahead and head back to a bed. Today, I also learned that mountains and I aren't friends and that is all right. In life, it is important to be thoroughly prepared and know your limits. My limit is riding a horse down a winding narrow path. Tonight I will sleep in a bed. My traveling companion, more prepared then I, is still on the trek and I wish him a journey of health and good weather.