Psst! I Have a Secret Weapon…
Recently a friend asked me why I always seemed so happy? She stated that there are many bad things that happen in the news each day. I agreed! There are tragedies that are always occurring in our personal lives, our communities and our world.
But, I have a “secret weapon”. One that my mother taught me years ago. Mom said if I would do something special each day for someone else, then my life would be joyous and I would have a boatload of friends!
This advice was given when I was in High School. High School is such a difficult time and peer pressure, how one looks, the clothes you wear, the group you are associated with, are all MAJOR big deals. I saw myself as too tall, very skinny (imagine), pimples, hair that had a mind of its own and generally just no confidence!
I decided to activate my “secret weapon” and before long, things began to happen. It was so easy and took very little effort. Even though school was a long time ago, I have shared my “secret weapon” with over 10,000 boys and girls who have gone through our etiquette training. Do one thing special for someone each day and your life will change.
Today, that one thing a day can be a telephone call to someone you haven’t talked to in a while; a birthday card, herbs or flowers from your garden, food that you cooked and have enough to share, a note congratulating someone on a special accomplishment, a book that you enjoyed and chose to pass on, dinner or an activity with a friend, sending an article that appeared in a newspaper or electronically that is of interest to one of your friends, taking an elder person to an appointment or to lunch, etc., etc., etc.
All of us are so involved with our lives that many times we simply forget to think past ourselves.
Yes, it is true! My “secret weapon” continues to make me smile. Try it yourself and ….
that will Make Momma Happy!
The American School of Protocol
...where training is our passion
Posted via email from The American School of Protocol's Posts
What Makes A Man?
Every now and then I read something that simply warms the cockles of my heart. An article appeared in the Atlanta Journal, Sports section, March 28, about a young man, Jason Heyward, who made the Braves team and will be playing right fielder, opening day.
As you read about Jason’s family and their reaction to their son’s success, you get the sense that this is a pretty tight family with loads of values. Conversations end with phrases like “Love you, Dad”.
Hitting coach Terry Pendleton said to Jason’s father, “You have done an excellent job with that young man”. Those are words that all parents like to hear. But the best comment came from Jason’s grandfather who said many times to this young man growing up, “Manners take you where money won’t!”
What a quote and certainly one…that Makes Momma Happy!
The American School of Protocol
...where training is our passion
Posted via email from The American School of Protocol's Posts
Fish Smell After 3 Days, Do You?
When you live in the North and like to travel south to Florida in the winter, Atlanta is the perfect place to have friends.
I always chuckle when I read a “Dear Abby’ column about house guests who wreck the family schedule by staying too long, expecting to be entertained and use the family’s personal things without asking.
I’ve never experienced this scenario in our own home and I’ve always thought that nobody could be that bad, but my neighbor came over last night and shared how hard it had been to have ‘passing through’ house guests for a long weekend. They weren’t close friends, they were people they once lived near in another city and with whom they’d ‘loosely’ kept in touch. My neighbor and her husband both work full time and they have children in school, so they have limited time and keep a routine going. The long weekend turned out to be a marathon of meal preparing – breakfast, lunch and dinner. On the evening they did go out to dinner the house guests did not reach for the check. And on afternoon excursions they did not offer to pay for the parking or the admission to the museum or, or, or.... it kept going on. They helped themselves to things around the house, in the pantry, in the fridge – all before being offered. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the morning that my neighbor walked into her kitchen to find Mrs. LongAgoAndFarAway on the family laptop, which contained plenty of private information. Can you believe this behavior? And it happened next door – not in a newspaper column. So yes, people really can be that bad!
My Mom used to say “Fish begin to smell after 3 days”. That is a great gauge for people who stay in someone’s home. Leave before the visit begins to smell and you may well get asked back! Being a good house guest ...
...now that Makes Momma Happy!
The American School of Protocol
...where training is our passion
Posted via email from The American School of Protocol's Posts
Girl Pals…
Last night, one of my close girlfriends invited a group of us to come over for dinner. Becky, Anne, Janie, Faye and I have known each other for many years. In fact, we have been celebrating all of our birthdays together for 30 years. During that time we have been there for each other’s children’s births, children’s birthdays, illnesses, divorce, remarriage, new jobs, starting a business, children’s weddings and, this year, the first death of a husband.
Well, our wonderful evening together was filled with tons of girl talk. Things like upcoming marriages of our children, grandchildren, travel, latest books read and many more topics. The evening had a warm glow of girl buds savoring the friendship of the past and looking forward to the future.
My husband has a Guy Saturday Morning Breakfast that has been happening for 15 years. I always want to know what they talk about because I hear how much fun they have. Well here goes ... they discuss football, any other sport of the season, politics, latest stock market trends and hot tips in the business world.
Why don’t guys have fun things to talk about? Probably because as women we are the relationship builders and nesters. It’s ‘Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus’, isn’t it?
But aren’t we thankful that we can still celebrate and tolerate our differences?
... and that Makes Momma Happy!
The American School of Protocol
...where training is our passion
Posted via email from The American School of Protocol's Posts
A Food Court Delimma…
I am always fascinated with life’s little moments of what to do.
Earlier this week, I wrote about my associate attending a national convention. When she returned to Atlanta, she told me of another situation that caused her to pause. A group of colleagues decided to have lunch at the convention food court. There were hundreds of people trying to get lunch and finding a table was tricky. Once a table was secured, one person stayed to hold the table while others got in line to get their food. When the first person returned with his lunch, the table-holder left to get in line.
As there were so many people in line, the members of the group straggled back to the table one at a time. One person sat quietly and never touched his food. Two other people started eating immediately upon returning to the table. Two people were still in the line for food.
Should everyone have waited for all to return to the table or was it o.k. to start eating?
As the etiquette ‘keeper’, waiting for everyone to return is the rule, but there are times, due to circumstances, when the rules can be broken. The fact that two people ate quickly and returned to the convention floor was out of necessity. After all, this did take place in the food court and that usually means ‘lunch and run’.
The fact that one person waited for the other two before eating was great and showed good manners.
... and that Makes Momma Happy!
The American School of Protocol
...where training is our passion
Posted via email from The American School of Protocol's Posts
Saying Thank You isn’t hard to do!
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I wonder why people don’t write thank you notes. I continue to be amazed by the number of people who happily receive gifts from others and yet never take time to sit down and compose a simple 4-sentence note. Recently, when The Washington Post interviewed me, I laid out a simple formula for writing notes. Even the 3 year olds that we teach in etiquette class get it. The 1st, 2nd and 4th sentences are about the gift. The 3rd sentence is unrelated. A note might look something like this: Dear Janice, Thank you for my lovely Christmas sweater. How did you know that royal blue was my favorite color? I always look forward to our monthly lunches. Each time I wear my beautiful present, I will think of you. Warm regards, Jane.
It takes less than 4 minutes to compose and it brings so much pleasure to the person who gave you a gift.
...and that Makes Momma Happy!
The American School of Protocol
...where training is our passion
Posted via email from The American School of Protocol's Posts
Calling Shotgun!
Funny how sometimes you just notice something that you never thought of before. My husband and I have been married for many years. If someone picked us up at the airport, I always got in the back seat and my husband always sat in the passenger front seat. Now I wish I hadn’t done that so routinely and here’s why.
During the Christmas holidays I picked up my son and daughter-in-law at the airport. My DiL, without any discussion, opened that back door and got in. Several days later, I went back to pick up my daughter and son-in-law. After bags were loaded, my SiL said to my daughter, I’ll sit in the back seat, you sit up front with your Mom.” It was very sweet and thoughtful.
...and that Makes Momma Happy!
The American School of Protocol
...where training is our passion
Posted via email from The American School of Protocol's Posts