There’s a terrible joke, that I only half remember, where a guy makes an excuse for turning up to an event without a gift. He says, “I am the gift, babe.” It comes across as incredibly conceited that his attendance is the best gift. Or, is it? For years now, engaged couples have been trying… Continue reading Presence Without Present
Category: Connections
Conversing From Another Room
Have you ever tried talking to someone when you’re not in the same room as they are? You keep raising your voice in frustration. Yes? Then of course, like me, you’ve had others try to talk to you from another room, when you’re busy in the kitchen surrounded by running water, and a beeping microwave.… Continue reading Conversing From Another Room
Creating A Work Community
I know I took for granted the importance of the community that I had when I was working. I didn’t take the individuals for granted, I failed to appreciate the importance of my co-workers as a group, a community. We were people in the same industry, affected by the same whims of policy, and working… Continue reading Creating A Work Community
Get Used To Making Mistakes
Part 2 on The Benefits of Making Mistakes (click here to read part 1) It’s important to make mistakes. I’m not kidding. If you’re getting life more than 85% correct, you’re not in an optimal place for learning. “That means a 15% error rate, which allows someone to have space to improve without giving up…”***… Continue reading Get Used To Making Mistakes
The Benefits Of Mistakes
As a teacher, I often made mistakes. I realized when I started teaching the older grades that there were going to be times when the students would know more than me, or recognize that a word had been spelled incorrectly, or a math question had an error in it. It was inevitable. But, it was… Continue reading The Benefits Of Mistakes
Deep Conversations
There’s nothing I like more than sitting down, cup of tea in hand, to have a meaningful chat with someone. When I was teaching, having even a moment in the week to sit down with someone was almost unheard of. Life was too busy, too rushed, for conversations. Now, there is time for meeting at… Continue reading Deep Conversations
Barriers To Asking For Help
Part 2 in Rethinking Help (click here to read part 1) I see the value of accepting help for the giver, who shares their support, and the receiver, who is supported. It builds connection between friends and family and is mutually beneficial. Accepting help is like accepting a gift, it strengthens bonds. But my independent… Continue reading Barriers To Asking For Help
Rethinking Accepting Help
I will admit that I’m not great at accepting help. Recently, it came as a revelation that allowing others to help me, may be truly meaningful to them. I’d never considered help from the perspective of the giver before. I thought that I was “taking” from others when I asked for their assistance. I resisted… Continue reading Rethinking Accepting Help
Appreciation From Me
Retiring The Excuse
It’s a lot harder to say NO these days. I used to have a ready excuse for not wanting to do something: “Sorry, I’m so busy with work.” It was a legitimate reason. I was often extremely busy and had difficulty balancing any added commitments. But if I’m honest, it was also a handy excuse.… Continue reading Retiring The Excuse
Retired, And Now What? 