A space for observation, discovery, and growth
Knowing When It is Time for a Change is an Important Life Skill
I enjoyed an opportunity a few days ago that I see more often late. It might be a coincidence of the people around me, or it might be a trend more generally. Either way, it’s a good thing.
This was a farewell for someone who was leaving a job she had enjoyed for years. It turns out she had been thinking for some time that it was time for a life change. She had a good position and enjoyed her coworkers.
Sometimes We Make Decisions More Difficult Than They Need Be
I am always interested in how people make decisions. Not so much the decisions themselves, but how they prepare themselves mentally. What processes they use to come to a decision. It is often a tortuous and cumbersome thing to behold. This is unfortunate. Life is full of decision points. We would do well to give some thought about how we make decisions.
Over a lifetime of decisions large and small, I have come to use a “template” for decision making. It eliminates much of the angst and gnashing of teeth associated with decision making.
Join the discussion at: Make a Decision! Bill’s Guide to Better Decisions
A Plea for Getting it Right the First Time
Four Tales of Woe
I have had occasion over the last few days to attend two ceremonies and two meetings. Two involved ceremonial candle lightings. One required mounting a plaque The fourth entailed showing slides from a computer.
Four very different activities. All four failed to execute in small but unfortunate ways. The organizers for each were likely a bit embarrassed. This posting is not to embarrass anyone further (some involved in one or more of these events may read this blog).
Some leaders and followers have it backwards.
Leadership and Loyalty
The study of leadership has been a life-long passion of mine. I have watched it in terrible crucibles and in beautiful opportunities. I have strived to practice what I have learned. There are, of course, many types of leaders. But about loyalty, there seems to be only two mindsets from which leaders may choose.
Loyalty is an important quality within an organization and among its members. In military organizations, it is often a matter of life and death. But even in less dangerous environments,
Habitat for Humanity Has Given Me Far More Than I Have Given Them. Now I pass those gifts to you.
My good spirited crew has finished our latest work supporting Habitat for Humanity. We did so on the day before Thanksgiving. This was our second house on this site. Habitat will finish the whole neighborhood in a few weeks. The first half, including the first house we helped build, is already occupied. It’s a terrific little community.
Thanksgiving inclines us to reflect on what merits our gratitude.
Join the discussion at: Had Fun, Did Good, Gained Wisdom – What a Deal!
You Know the Value of Blood Donations. Ever Think About Dog Donors?
Welcome to the World of Guide Dogs
A little over a decade ago, Lizzie the Lab joined our household. We were to raise her as a guide dog for Guiding Eyes for the Blind (https://www.guidingeyes.org). This is a wonderful outfit deserving of your support.
The plan was for us to raise Lizzie for about a year. We were responsible for her socialization. We were also to take her through an excellent and rigorous training program.
Time Measurement Should be Scientific. Instead, it’s a Global Hodge-Podge.
“What time is it?” may turn out to be more of a trick question than one might think.
For quite a while, the world, for the most part, had a pretty good approach towards time. Ground Zero for time keeping was set up at Greenwich, England. Twenty-four one-hour time bands spread out from there around the world. These matched the 24-hour cycle in the dance between the Earth and the Sun.
Simple, right? But of course, we could not leave well enough alone.
Join the discussion at: Let’s Fire Daylight Savings Time – Forever!
Veterans Day provides opportunities to ponder big issues
Today we celebrate Veterans Day, at a time of national division. We do so when the president flew half way around the world to commemorate the end of World War I. He then chose to sit out the first ceremony. Because it was raining.
We could use a little reflection on what Veterans Day means. Herewith, my take on it.
Service: We live in a society with oddly mixed motivations. Volunteerism is, in many places and for many causes, at near record levels.
Join the discussion at: Veterans Day Reflections: Service and Sacrifice; Gratitude and Community
A Random Collection of Quotes We Like. Some Thoughtful, Some Funny, Some Both.
Happy Halloween, Everyone. Interesting what an event, what a phenomena Halloween has become, more so for adults it would seem than for children. Maybe we will talk about that, and holidays in general, soon. In the meantime:
Every so often I like to offer up a few samples from my ever-growing collection of quotes that resonate. I hope you enjoy them and as before, would be delighted for you to share one or two of your own with us all.
What pleasures await the eager reader of each format?
I have some friends that have pretty well gone over to the electronic side almost completely. The books they own, buy, and read are all electronic in nature. There are students now at all levels of education who get their text books the same way.
I also, have, of course, many friends who consider the eBook an evil and deviant form. They extol the sensory experience of holding, seeing, smelling a finely made book. To them, eBooks as cold threats to book stores,
Join the discussion at: Traditional Books vs eBooks? No Contest!
