It’s the week before Christmas on the local mall at the height of holiday buy-season. It is late—near closing, which is 11pm. Of course, the storefronts are adorned to the max in festive holiday décor. The opulent commercialism doesn’t bother me a bit.
Most motivational speakers and success gurus pump positive about optimism. The sage advice: When the going gets tough, think of things you are grateful for. Never lose hope; this too shall pass. Stay cheery; and don’t forget to smile a lot, even if you have to “fake it until you make it.”
I recently joined (Note: originally written in August, 2011) a public speaker’s forum on LinkedIn, called SpeakerMatch. There, I navigated to a discussion string which proffered the following for comment:
There are a million people who share YOUR story. What makes you stand out as a speaker? Why should anyone hire you? What makes you stand out?
Did you know that sibling relationships are the likely longest you will share in your lifetime? Makes sense. Brothers and sisters are there for most of us from memory-start.
We don’t choose our siblings. God does. Which proffers strong argument that we should love them even more. Mom and Dad had five kids— three boys, two girls and each of us nary more than a year apart. Irish Twins! Born between 1959 and 1965, in age-old order, it is Kathleen, Michael, Brian (that’s me), Eileen and Christopher. Read more →
The 2010 Census recorded 21.8 million veterans in the United States. As I pondered for this post, it struck me humble how few Vets I know personally. I mean there are acquaintances and friends-of-friends who Served. And no doubt others in my purview are Vets, but I am unaware of it. Still, my first hand exposure to this Honorable Lot is few and far between. I am not at all connected.
