Long time

Well it's been quite a while since I've written here. I lost my best friend in late May and it's been a long hard summer coping with the loss. But we all have losses to deal with in life so like anything else, we must have strategies to get by. I'm grateful that I learned a lot of strategies when I created my course for teens but I've learned even more which I'll share in the near future because they're useful for the many things that stop us in our tracks.

But mostly I wanted to share how important it is that we appreciate the people in our lives. One thing I don't regret is that I got to let my best friend know how important she was to me. I knew she would most likely not be around by the end of this year so we made the most of every moment we spent together. We did that for all the 14 years we were best friends. So even though she slipped away way too soon, I don't feel like there was anything left unsaid.

Does your best friend know how you feel about them? I know it's not always cool to say how you feel but some of the things my friend said are my best memories. You know what's even better? She sent me cards and thank you notes which I really treasure. I learned a lot from her - she was one amazing person - but her thank you notes were one her best lessons.

Who can you thank? Who can you tell today that you care? Trust me when I tell you how great it will make you feel to do so...and even more important, how great they'll feel.

Cell phones

I was looking out my window from my home office and noticed two teenage girls walking down the street. One was on her cell phone and the other one looked ignored. Which she was. Do you think the girl on the phone was taking an emergency message? Doubtful...few of us are.

I wonder when it became more important for us to talk on the phone than to talk to the person we're with? Probably when phones were first invented. It must have been such a big deal to get a phone call that everybody then stopped to find out what the important call was about.

Little by little, the phone ringing caused us to drop everything to answer it. We've made rudely interrupting the person we're talking to seem normal which anything does if you do it often enough. Maybe it's time to rethink our phone behavior.

What are we talking about so much on our cell phones anyway? Is the call really important? Important enough to ignore the friend or family member we're with? Something to think about in this era of people having low self esteem and seeking attention.

Maybe we need to spend the time with the person we're with...let the cell phone grab the message...and get back to the caller when we're done with our inperson conversation. Imagine how good that could make people feel?

Pay it forward! We could all use a little common courtesy and respect!

Loyalty...and your word

We're responsible for what we do or say. Sure it's a free country but what we do has consequences and it's worth thinking about the effect of what we say or do. I was thinking of that today as I watched the first Red Sox - Yankee game of the season. Whether you're a baseball fan or not, there were a lot of lessons in the game. You see this was the first game that former Red Sox hero Johnny Damon returned to Fenway Park as a member of the New York Yankees - the arch rival of the Red Sox.

It's not so much that he switched teams. It was what he said before he did it. A year ago he said he would never play for the Yankees and would never let money influence his decision. Fact is, he did just that. He turned down the Red Sox offer of $40 million for 4 years of work and took the Yankees offer of $52 million. Hmmm....seems like he contradicted himself big time.

Now I know that sports is a business and that people go for the money. It was his choice and we Red Sox fans have to accept that. But Mr. Damon also thought that he would be cheered when he came to Boston. Yes, he helped the team win the World Series in 2004. But he turned his back on his team and his fans for money, saying he wasn't wanted by the Sox and that he needed the money for his children. Wouldn't you feel wanted if someone offered you $40 million? As for the kids needing the money, what about the families with kids struggling to afford tickets to one game which are so expensive because we pay so much for players like Damon?

What you say matters. Loyalty and teamwork matter. The money is all well and good but who are you if your word can't be believed? Something to think about whether you're into baseball or not. Red Sox fan or Yankee. Your word is all.

National High Five Day

All of you who were in my Strategies for Success classes know that we started each class with a high five. It was fun, it cheered us up, it help us feel connected, it put our bodies into a positive physiology, and it general it just made us feel good. Not a bad way to start a class every day to be sure. A simple high five can be used to congratulate someone, to show enthusiasm, to celebrate success.

It actually is National High Five Day today. Take a moment today and high five someone to tell them how great they're doing. If high-fiving is a bit to energetic, just share with someone that they're doing a great job. Your words will mean a great deal.

This email is my high five to you...to wish you a great day, to thank you for being part of my life, to celebrate that although there will always be challenges in our lives, there are many successes that we deserve to pay attention to.

So consider yourself high-fived. And pass it on!