Fits ‘n Spurts…

The hilarity of inadvertent stumbles when in conversation sometimes go unnoticed by the participant who is speaking. The other party or parties included may chuckle silently, turn away in amusement or bite their own lip to avoid an outburst of laughter!

If the stumbler recognizes his/her own oops, their reaction may be not so amused – so it’s essential that we are thoughtful and considerate if the speaker has simply chosen a totally wrong word or massacred it!

While browsing through the newspaper flyers recently, a couple I know was discussing a newer plus-type protective underwear – and maybe it would be worth a try.  Subliminal advertising always tweaks one’s attention, and indeed the “new and improved, or plus” seems to imply that the product is better than before.

They decided that the next purchase of the necessary protection would be to give the featured item a try. Tongue in cheek, the wife related to me that her husband, in describing his circumstances, declared that incontinence was in fits ‘n spurts!

“We’re in a new era, are you?”

 

This timely question was the subject of a recent e-mail from a real estate service provider. The question however can pertain to nearly everyone who’s in their third quarter of the employment or employable phase of their working life.

I recently had occasion to meet an inspiring young lady whose career is in the coaching field. Her zeal and determination to impart current skills to clients is so exciting! Social media, catch-phrases that we aren’t familiar with, and even the “how-tos” of cold-calling for new client opportunities can be overwhelming.

Whether we are business professionals, changing careers, or getting back into the work force we all have what are called “transferable skills”. In particular, I felt enthusiastic about new catch phrases – particularly in letter writing for business purposes, which are nouveau and of the new era.

Inter-generational marketing of ourselves clearly requires that we are in the know and current. Real estate professionals are encouraged to find a niche and focus on that aspect of their business – in some marketplaces however, such as Muskoka where I work, there are a wide variety of prospective buyers and sellers who have real estate needs.

Being familiar with and comfortable in the understanding of new lingo that is current gives us a sense of confidence and ability to integrate rather than being on the proverbial “outside looking in”.

Inspiration, for me, comes from the question “We’re in a new era, are you?” 

It’s The Secret…

I recently had occasion to overhear a woman commenting about a book that was assigned to Book Club – not a subject of her personal choosing but nonetheless to be discussed by attendees.

It was too much of a coincidence that I actually had an extra copy of the video – still unseen; and I had not read the book either.

Last week I was able to borrow this same book and sat down with intention to at least make some headway. Names of many contributors were familiar to me – I was surprised and delighted. Here are just a few who come to mind: Esther and Jerry Hicks (the Teachings of Abraham), Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup …series), Marie Diamond (Diamond Feng-Shui), and Norman Vincent Peale.

If you type in The Secret on Google™ there are refuting comments included from learned and effective people, well established in their own right.

Lest you feel derisive or disagreeable, the universal message is positivity in every way we can conjure it. We’ve all heard accounts close to home, and perhaps it’s happened to us, that a Random Act of Kindness has brightened someone’s day.

How “a smile is your umbrella…” or looking at life from the “sunny side of the street”.

Honeysweet smiley-face Emoticons in text or e-mail messages can be nettling (or not) – depending on who they are from or the subject matter! For me, the probabilities and pitfalls of feeling and looking downcast are far outbalanced by the promise of possibility.

 I have yet to finish reading Rhonda Byrne’s best selling 2006 book entitled The Secret, and will view the video afterward. The woman I overheard speaking somehow seems to have a brighter outlook…so who’s to say what?

The power of positive thinking, however mustered, manifests as a feel-good, do good emotional boost.

It’s The Secret.

A Double Take…

Television newscasters present a wide variety of subject matter to their viewers. The subject matter included in an hour-long program varies widely, and includes specific segments peppered in between with commercials.

Developing stories or follow-ups to yesterdays’ events keep people informed and in synch. Dinner table conversations following the early news can include the sharing of differing opinions, outright debates, or conservative deference to noisiness.

The world of Sports includes analyses, discussion and a lot of biliousness after the games are lost, players are traded, or free-agency is in place. All the what ifs, whens and whys is fodder for anyone who earns their living by encouraging dialogue and discussion.

The sputtering and exclaimed remarks might be thought of as philosophizing – last night I learned a new adjective however... A slip of an overly-excited tongue blurted out the word “fossilizing”; which indeed caused me to do a double take!

Hard-wired for problem-solving…

The June 24, 2013 issue of Woman’s World magazine offered tantalizing feel good/look good snippets. A paragraph on page 4 indicated that “men’s brains are not wired to pick up on the subtle facial clues that reveal how others are feeling”…This segued my brain to an oldie-goldie song that made #1 on the “Billboard charts” in 1954. Penned and published in 1953 by Edith Lindeman and Carl Stutz, it was made famous by songstress Kitty Kallen.

A part-time career many years ago found me playing easy-listening drums and singing pretty melodies, in harmony with my musician husband who was a professional pianist and composer in his own right. I still have a notebook of hand printed lyrics and several sheaves of Murray Graham’s arrangements and harmonies for duets! Among those is a wistful favourite which I think every woman would find inspiration in from time to time.

“Little Things Mean a Lot” is plaintiff and heart-wrenching…”Throw me a kiss from across the room, say I look nice when I’m not, Touch my hair as you pass my chair, Little Things Mean a Lot”.  The melody is easy to hum and the lyrics are as meaningful now as then.

In this day and age of hurry-hurry, 24/7, on-the-go incessantly and hardly a second to catch one’s breath, the Woman’s Day item concludes that all we have to do is “tell him how/what we’re feeling and what would make us feel better.” Sounds simple, but not consoling!

Who’dathunkit…..scientific studies indicate that men’s brains are wired to be problem solvers. 

It All Adds Up...

It all adds up…

There are more than 40 organized real estate boards in Ontario whose members provide ongoing support to the Realtors Care Foundation. The Foundation’s website Intro states that ”Bricks make a building solid, just as a house is built one brick at a time, our Foundation helps those in need.”

The REALTORS Care Foundation supports shelter-related charities in Ontario. Shelter is defined as a refuge, haven or protection that provides or improves quality of life from hunger, the elements, physical/psychological abuse, disabilities and illness.

Donations to the REALTORS Care Foundation make a real difference, supporting people and communities, changing the lives of those who rely on organizations that offer warmth, comfort and safety.

See for yourself the good works.. www.realtorscareontario.ca/

Also close to my heart is the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, which set a new fundraising records in support of women’s shelters across Canada. This is the largest public foundation dedicated exclusively to supporting women’s shelters and violence prevention and education.

Through salespeople’s commission donations and the fundraising activities of the Royal LePage network, over $14 Million had been raised.

Check out their website for details…

http://www-c.royallepage.ca/about-us/shelter-foundation/

If you missed our Canada-wide Annual garage sale held in May, 2013, ask your local REALTOR® what events are scheduled in the coming months.

I am a proud supporter of both efforts all year, every year!

It all adds up!

Zip lining…

I was musing recently about the devil-may-care attitudes that some people profess - seeming to care naught a fig for the consequences of self-indulgent whims.

Para-sailing, scuba diving, spelunking or even hot-air balloon rides may be considered “dangerous” to one’s well being because of the possible risks; versus probabilities.  Young people and some not-so-young can readily being observed as either daring and fun or downright foolish! It all depends on one’s point of view.

Moving through the different stages of adulthood, sometimes our personal perspective alters. We may think from time to time – “who cares” if I do this or that. Responsibilities can lie heavy on one’s shoulders, and we observe an activity from afar but don’t participate in case something goes awry.

Designated beneficiaries of life insurance policies for example would be disappointed if their inheritance should fall through because the policyholder was stupid and negated the coverage by not adhering to the disciplines set out in small print. Choosing to take a chance could be costly, or not.

Travel photos of acquaintances who are “old enough to know better” are tangible memories of memorable holidays. Rainforest hikes, whitewater adventures, careening down a bobsled run or diving from high cliffs all prompt oohs and ahhs – it looks like such fun!

I have an uncle who, at the age of ninety-nine, was photographed gleefully propelling down a water slide. What of it – it was a blast – and impressive as well!

Selected and accomplished feats are indeed memorable – though a conservative interpretation could be that life is a ride anyway!

On my bucket list though, is to go zip lining!