Watch Your Mouth

 Moderation

Have you ever had lunch with someone you want to get to know and they spend the whole meal talking about themselves and their accomplishments? 

If you are like me, you wanted to learn about their life but you wanted them to learn about yours too.  Boasting, bragging or monopolizing in conversation is a relationship killer.

A good test as to whether there is moderation in your conversation is to look to see who has eaten the most food.  If your plate is much fuller then your guests, then you are talking too much and asking too few questions.

My father had a great, if not a bit raunchy, term for people that talked too much.  He called it “diarrhea of the mouth.” On this matter John Wayne had great advice for managing our speech.  He said, "Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much."

Celebration Isn't Just For Holidays

 Celebrate Everything

When things are not going well, the last situation we want to be faced with is interacting with someone who is experiencing life’s great blessings.  Isn’t it interesting that when we are down we frequently face this scenario? 

It is hard to celebrate someone else’s success when we feel unsuccessful.  When this is our reality we must reject the temptation to be jealous and act in their best interest.  We don’t want people to pull us down when we are flying high and we shouldn’t do it to them either.  Plus, the consequence of not celebrating with them can cause a loss of relationship.

Plan your own celebrations as well.  For example, where  you take on a significant task and complete it successfully reward yourself.  Also, at the end of the day reflect on the contributions you made to others and celebrate having improved their day.

 

"While we are living in the present, we must celebrate life every day, knowing that we are becoming history with every work, every action, every deed."  Mattie Stepanek

 

Random Act Of Kindness

 Kindness

Few of us are downright mean people but most of us fail to be kind at one time or another.  If you ever struggle with this, my advice is to simply act toward others the way you want to be treated.  

You have probably seen the bumper sticker that reads “Practice Random Acts of Kindness.” I experience this for myself while in a drive-thru line.  I pulled up to the window and the cashier said that the person ahead of me paid my bill.  I was blown away by the act and immediately wanted to return the favor.

Another remedy is to do something kind for someone who may least deserve it.  Performing such an act can be better than therapy.
 
It is such a great feeling to receive kindness. Our giving it back feels just as good to those we interact with. 

 

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." Mark Twain