A Gracious Plenty of Life.... Number One April 22nd 2017

A Gracious Plenty: Quirky Ideas, Thoughts and Ideas

By Larry Pittman Goddard, Ph.D.

1.     Thirty-seven times!  That’s how many times I said, “I’m sorry,” at my last visit to the grocery store—when my cart nearly collided with another shopper coming around a corner; when I had to walk in between someone studying the cereals (why are there so many?); when I needed to reach in front of the stocker employee and get one of the things he was neatly stocking.  BUT, psychiatrists tell us that hurts our ego, our level of depression and our self-worth—we must eliminate the words,” I’m sorry,” out of our vocabulary unless it is something truly important…we are told to use, “Pardon me”, “Pardon”, or just “Thank you”.  Try it and see if your spirits are boosted!

2.   Rather than donating clothes to charity—save them for your next trip—in fact, you can store the clothes in your ready-to-go suitcase.  Usually you are not trying to impress anyone on the tour bus across the French Colonial North Africa countries—who will see you again?  And, after wearing a day or two—leave them in the room for the housekeepers—they love American clothes!  And you rid your luggage of worn clothes and create room for more souvenirs (perhaps MORE clothes!) in your suitcases.

3.    Here is an etiquette lesson.  When you address envelopes to a married couple…always keep the man’s first name and last name together.  For example, it is Jane and John Doe—never John and Jane Doe.  But, if using titles, go with Mr. first… Mr. and Mrs. John Doe…now, is it right if both couple have doctorates?  Is it Dr. and Dr. John Doe?  Or Drs. Jane and John Doe…. Or if the Mrs. has her earned doctorate…. Mr. and Dr. John Doe?  I think society rules are still being made—but remember to use academic titled doctorates only in academic-related settings. 

4.   Water and newspaper is best to clean inside windows—eliminate those streaks that show most clearly on humid days.  Just squirt clear water and wipe with dry newspaper.  Forget all the products that claim ‘no streak’…. Who are they kidding?

 

5.   The best booster for the blues?  Try writing thank you notes to friends, businesses, neighbors… all unexpectedly.  Writing the note will help boost your awareness of blessings and kindnesses—and will make the receivers of the kind notes have a great day as well. 

6.   Comfort food?  Some call it “The Eye of Egypt”—I call it Egg in the Nest.. but so simple to ‘fix’ for dinner…well anytime really.  Put a dab of butter in a pan. Cut a hole in the center of the bread.  Start toasting it; then crack an egg for the center of the bread…flip after each side browns…great with bacon and a bit of cheese or jelly.

7.   Want book markers in the old-style books…remember those…?  I keep a deck of cards—maybe a deck purchased on a fun trip.  I use the cards as bookmarks rather than dog earing my books (I usually mark several pages in a book for good quotes or words I want to look up later.)  And, by using that souvenir card deck, I am reminding every night a fun, joyous time in my life. 

8.   Christmas cards.  Is this tradition out of date with the technology, social media where we communicate daily with the Christmas card listees…? So, maybe create your new tradition?  Send Valentine’s…. St. Patrick’s Day cards…. July 4^th patriotic messages (easy to get the stamps with flags on them).  It surprises folks and truly, don’t you open the hand-written mail first? This

9.   Chap stick… if your zipper gets stuck…try a little lip balm on the zipper and it will glide…

10.                       A quick and cheap way to help rough hands and a do-it-yourself manicure?  Mix coconut oil with Sea Salt and rub hands together at least one minute.  Be sure to scrub the finger nails, cuticles, and skin between fingers.  Leaves your hands smooth and soft…so you can go work in the garden and get them rough and calloused again!

Dr. Larry Goddard is an internationally-certified fund-raiser and published author.  He has raised over $1 billion dollars for charity—mostly education and rural hospitals.  He and his family live in Tyler.