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DECISION MAKING BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Decision making used to be a coin flip. To be, or not to be; go, or no go. Were those simpler days, or just poor memories? Social media says hold my beer.

READ INSTRUCTIONS, VERIFIABLE INSTRUCTIONS

We all read instructions before starting things. Or should. But . . . ? You already know what to do? They don’t make sense? No one is telling you what to do?

STORY MEDICINE PRESCRIPTION: READ AND WRITE

Story medicine is good for what ails you. Why? Because you deserve a break. Things go bad, and you read a story about something worse? You might feel better. But what about when things are going good, never been better. What story is going to improve that?

WRITERS DREAM HOUSE NEEDS A DREAMY INTERIOR TOO

Everyone has a ‘Dream House.’ They know it when they see it. “That’s the house of my dreams.” Two blocks later it’s another house. I could drive around town all day looking at dream houses, but which one is the dreamiest?

CHRISTMAS HOF: THE COUNTDOWN

The Christmas HOF, or Hall of Fame, began when your dad gave your mom a new car wrapped in a big bow? That didn’t happen where I grew up. The new car back then was a 1968 Volkswagen camper for a family that rarely camped. But it had its usefulness. Eventually. There’s nothing like pulling […]

LIFETIME MISTAKE TO CHANGE?

Have you made a lifetime mistake? Better yet, have you done it quietly so no one would notice? Good job. Now, since we’re all getting down the road with less lifetime in front than in back, in theory, you want to change, you want to fix that mistake. Good luck.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION USES GOOD MANNERS

Manners matter, good manners, if your aim is for effective communication. Steady eye contact and active listening nods and acknowledgment are part of the deal, but don’t stare unblinking like a psycho. Also, “Yup, yup, yup,” and “okay, okay, okay,” are not examples of active listening. Unless you do it ironically, but only if you’re […]

TAKE ‘THE PAUSE’ TO SHOW RESPECT

‘The Pause’ in this post is the moment a medical team takes after a patient dies. Whoever is in the bed deserves a moment of quiet for the life they led. I’m a fan of people understanding the idea of respect and how it’s shown. But why wait until the last moment?

PEOPLE UNITED BY GIVING WRITERS

Needy people? You see them all over the place? So do I. I’m one of them. Oh, and so are you. We need things we don’t have. Writers give some of those things, or at least the feeling of giving. So what?

WRITER ENCOURAGEMENT: WHY IT MATTERS

Writer encouragement works like this: “I just read a book so good I will stop writing forever.” That’s encouragement if you read between the lines. Read a book that moves you to feel something. My favorite book?