This begins a string of lessons from Barbara. The first is “Don’t be thinking you’re special, ’cause you’re not”, which works for her!
This is one of two House Rules for Barbara. See tomorrow for the other.
Category: Life
Can’t Make Minutes
My lesson for today is that I can’t create time. I can’t actually make minutes between one time on the clock and another. So if my morning routine takes from 6:00 AM (wakeup) and 6:28 (leave home), and I want to add in some other tasks (make lunch), then I can’t actually manufacture some new time. I will have to get up earlier (yikes) or something. As it was, I almost missed the last seat on the oversubscribed commuter bus, so this is perfect lesson learned … the easy way.
“Always Bring Your Train Whistle”
In the middle of rehearsal, our performance drum group leader discovered that she had forgotten her train whistle. “I have one!” pipes up Donna, and she pulls one out of her purse! It was like watching a champion competitor on “Let’s Make a Deal”! Who knew what Monte would ask for next, but I had a feeling that Donna would be ready.
The group declared “Always bring your train whistle”, which sounded like a Lesson to me. Do you even have one? Why not?
I Can Do Nothing
On this day, I did what I should have done a week or more before this, and spent the entire day in my nice cozy sunny (sometimes) living room, relaxing, reading, watching old movies and getting well again.
I wasn’t sure I could do it. But I did it. And it paid off.
“Just mind your own business”
Says Evan Lysacek: “My thought process was, ‘Just mind your own business.’ And I wrote it out on a little card, when I got here, and taped it up in my room. ”
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100219/SPORTS09/2190384/Evan-Lysacek-captures-figure-skating-gold-in-stunner#ixzz0g2Uja3lG
Intent Shmintent
My colleague Danielle got this from a former colleague, Will, so it is multi-paraphrased but the idea is: A lot of people waste a lot of energy figuring out the other person’s intent and this is not productive. Focus on what to DO, instead.
Wow.
Still with the Procrastination?
In 1980, I sent for an application to the Procrastinators Club of America. They were real. They were based in the Philadelphia area. I still have the application, because I didn’t want to send it back too soon for fear that I would not be accepted. It has a logo of an hourglass with a rope knot tied around the middle.
What am I putting off saying here? That I have fallen way behind with my Lessons Learned. That I am learning that it would be much easier to just stay on top of this. And now I’m going to back-date the things I have learned in the past week, some that I squoze out of others. But I’m going to end up with one for each day. Yes I am.
Smile Already
Sally says that she’s learned that if you smile on the Green Line, people treat you differently. Someone even told her they liked her hat! (It is cute!)
BYOF
Yes, Bring Your Own Food. Particularly when traveling. No, just all time. And definitely if you are someone who gets cranky/insane when overly hungry. Just have healthy snacks around. Pack them in pockets and nooks in bags. There is no downside to this.
Teens
My friend Donna, who should know after surviving four rounds, has learned this:
When kids get to be juniors or seniors in high school, sometimes it is better to just let them learn the hard way!
Jane's Lessons Learned 