During a recent hotel stay, I found a laminated card on my pillow at an Embassy Suites outside Kansas City. I made a copy of it and carry it with me now, since I love the sentiment. It made me feel better about my stay at the hotel, and I'd like to share it with you.
To Our Guests In ancient times there was a prayer for "The Stranger Within Our Gates" Because this hotel is a human institution to serve people, and not solely a money making organization, we hope that God will grant you peace and rest while you are under our roof.
May this suite and hotel be your "second" home. May those you love be near you in thoughts and dreams. Even though we may not get to know you, we hope that you will be conformable and happy as if you were in your own house.
May the business that brought you our way prosper. May every call you make and every message you receive add to your joy. When you leave, may your journey be safe.
We are all travelers. From "birth 'til death" we travel between eternities. May these days be pleasant for you, profitable for society, helpful for those you meet, and a joy to those who know and love you best.
Read MoreThis week, I saw a documentary on "The Happiness Manifesto" which is being tested in Slough in the UK. This is an interesting "technique" to help you become happier by engaging in activities that will help increase the joy and satisfaction in your life. It's kind of like daily affirmations, but they are actions - not just self-talk. I loved the concept, so I thought I'd share the 10-item list with you.
Get physical. Engage in half an hour of exercise three times a week - Count your blessings. At the end of each day, reflect on at least five things you are grateful for.
- Talk time. Have an hour-long - uninterrupted - conversation with your partner or closest friend each week.
- Plant something. Even if it's a window box or pot. And, you must keep it alive!
- Cut your TV viewing by half.
- Smile at and/or say hello to someone you don't know. At least once each day.
- Phone a friend. Make contact with a friend or relation you have not talked to for a while and arrange to meet up.
- Have a good laugh at least once a day.
- Every day make sure you give yourself a treat. Take time to really enjoy this.
- Daily kindness. Do an extra good turn for someone each day.
Phenomenal list, even more phenomenal if we all put it into practice. Enjoy - really!
Related posts: Pretend you create everything that happens to you
Read MoreAs we move into the "cold and flu" season, I am re-running a "lifehack" post that I believe has done wonders in keeping me healthy. If you haven't done something like this already, please consider it - I see these sanitizer gadgets all the time at stores like Target for about $2 US for the holder and two bottles of sanitizer.
From June 2005:
As a very frequent flyer, I wanted to share a best practice I picked up from a friend of mine, John Palazza. After noticing that John always had a bottle of hand sanitizer with him, I realized this small idea would be handy to get rid of traveler germs as I made my way through airports and other places where the unwashed masses may gather.
I have seen the following things on planes and in airports:
- very grungy airline tray tables that haven't been wiped in who-knows-how-long
- people leaving public restrooms without washing their hands (not me, I assure you)
- people of all ages coughing and sneezing all over the place
- other things I'd rather not mention
I then see people eat off those airline tray tables.
I believe this is why I have always had at least one good bout of flu or something more exotic every year. For example, I caught German measles (aka Rubella) after a flight full of coughers about 3 years ago - apparently my childhood vaccine didn't work the way it should've.
But that didn't happen this year! I've been using John's little trick since last summer, and I've now officially made it through a season of heavy winter travel without getting the flu, or even a cold. I attribute it to the wondrous anti-germ powers of my travel-size Purell hand sanitizer, complete with its own handy little rubber harness that allows me to attach it to my briefcase.
I then sanitize my hands before and after meal and beverage service on the flight, and when I get off the plane.
If you travel a lot, why not give it a try? John puts the "Pal" in Palazza.
Read MoreIn one of my periodic sweeps to catch up on my Bloglines subscriptions, I stopped by Phil Gerbyshak’s “Make it Great!” blog today, and found a very insightful article on recharging your batteries. As I’ve written in the past, I’m one of those who really needs my “recharge time.”
Phil breaks this down into a formul of the “4 R’s.” They are: Rest, Reflect, Read, and Relax. These certainly resonate with me, and I realized that I’ve not taken enough time to Rest and Relax lately. I’ve been doing plenty of Reflecting and Reading, but just haven’t been making as many “a-ha” connections I usually do.
In other words, I’ve been working hard this week, but haven’t been getting the full benefit of that work because my batteries were a bit run down. This evening I feel more energized and creative.
After reading Phil’s post, I realize I'm reaping the benefits of spending all afternoon ice skating with two of my kids (the third went to Build-A-Bear with my wife).
So, check out what Phil has to say. And don’t forget to use all 4 of the R’s.
Read MoreWell, I'm back from my family reunion and reflecting on the connections and reconnections of the past week. We not only had a reunion (around 50 people were able to come), we celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday about 4 months early since it's easier when the kids are out of school.
We were all particularly grateful to spend the time with my grandmother - you see, she had congestive heart failure about a month ago and the doctors told us she probably wouldn't make it out of the ICU. I'm happy to say, she was well out of the ICU and able to hang out and have some of her own birthday cake with us last Saturday. She's a strong woman, that's for sure.
After the reunion we went to my aunt's house, chewed the fat, and set off fireworks for the rest of the evening. Later on, I received a copy of a prayer that my great grandmother wrote in her family Bible 30+ years ago.
I like to believe, in some mysterious way, her prayer helped my grandmother muster the strength she needed to make it to the reunion. Here is the prayer:
Dear God, this is the hour in my day the lull begins and I find myself alone.
Oh God, all my children are beyond my sight and voice. They live and move, but not beyond thy care. Guide these precious ones of mine and yours.
Keep them from all things that make them weak and lesser souls. God be with my dear ones all this day...
Amen
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