Small Things Count

Today’s Thursday Thought quote offers a new kind of business card and trademark:

I’m worried about how ready the next generation will be to run our country. That’s because so many states are passing laws to make it easier to become a teacher. In 23 states, a person can now become a teacher without their ability and temperament for the job being questioned. There’s even less assessment to ensure that they fully grasp the subject they’ll teach, and emergency certification is being given to anyone without even a BA or training.

Why? Because there’s an alarming shortage of teachers in 47 states, leading to cancelled classes and hiring unprepared, inadequate “teachers.”

Teaching is an undervalued profession, in salary, working conditions, and respect. No wonder so many people are leaving it. But the measures described above aren’t working. In fact, those unprepared “teachers” leave the profession at more than 2/3 the rate of fully certified teachers. Clearly, our country’s priorities are misplaced.

And our kids, who are our future leaders, are being cheated.

Finished with those dusty paperback books? Swap them at www.paperbackswap.com or       www.BookMooch.com.

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).

POD People (those with obvious disabilities) are often “helped” into a worse situation, causing lost dignity that can be humiliating.  You just want to help.  But how? Here are some suggestions.

If a non-sighted woman needs guiding, let her take your arm.  Allow the stutterer to finish his own word or sentence.  A lip-reader needs you to face him and speak normally (don’t exaggerate your lip movements).  Someone who has fallen or is having trouble getting up a hill or curb in a wheelchair is in danger if you just grab hold without asking what he needs you to do.

The disabled woman in the bathroom has only one stall she can use, so invite her to go ahead as soon as it’s open.  And don’t tie up that stall for changing clothes or potty-training your three kids. The bathroom may be empty when you go in, but a disabled person may come in right after you.

Avoid parking in the handicap space, even “for just a minute,” and stay out of that cross-hatch zone next to it, which is there so people can get their wheelchairs in and out of their vehicles.  Don’t stick your emptied shopping cart there, either, to block the needed space.

Deciding what to do is actually easy: when in doubt, just treat people as you’d want them to treat you.

George Shultz entertained us with his “Peanuts” cartoons and, at the same time often pointed out life’s inconsistencies. As a book lover, this cartoon resonated with me.

When did broadcast news become part guesswork? My local station does it less, but they all do, especially national news. Take, for example, tonight’s State of the Union Address. News people are telling us what Biden might say and what the Republican response might be. They even have guests on to discuss what might be said. Yes, they’ve been given hints via press releases, but only generalities. Not the President’s actual ideas, words, tone of voice, or gestures, all of which convey meaning. The same is true when, say, a Secretary plans to go to China for talks. Or when a jury is deciding on a verdict in an important trial.

I say, don’t tell me what might happen. Instead, use that time to give me more news stories.

Despite their commitment to treating customers honesty, fairly, and personally, one of my favorite. family-owned and run small stores is suffering. Why? Because most people write reviews only if they’re upset. Typical negative reviews for this store misstate what actually happened, like the latest situation where a service person went, as requested, to the home to fix one thing on one item. When he arrived, the customer had bought parts from the manufacturer to upgrade another item, too, and expected the service person to now do a 2-hour job when he was scheduled for only a 30-minute job and use a part that was not the right one. He couldn’t do it then but promised to reschedule to do the job right. The customer wrote a scathing review, saying the company didn’t know what they were doing and refused to do the work. Of course, he gave only 1 star.

The upshot her, folks, is that reviews really do affect a business. DO write GOOD reviews when you think a company has been efficient, considerate, accommodating, or whatever. Something POSITIVE to offset the unfair reviews and to pull the star-average upward. It’s a good way for you to show your appreciation for a company which has treated you well.

February is the hardest month of the year for birds. It’s not just cold in their world, it’s also a time when food is scarce. If you have a bird feeder, keep it filled. If not, set out a bowl shallow enough for birds to perch on the edge and gobble up seed.

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).

I’d like to invite you to take a look at my newly released book, The Women In Me: How they Helped Me Survive and Thrive. Explore Authors Magazine describes it as “an inspirational memoir about the influences of the women in their lives and how women can help each other cope and heal from trauma. An illuminating read!” It has been out only a month here and in Europe but is starting to get reader reviews, as well. Read a summary of what it’s about and their reviews at most online book sellers. Here are some direct links: https://www.amazon.com/Women-Me-Nancy-Maloney-Mercado/dp/B0BPF8BW82

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-women-in-me-nancy-maloney-mercado/1142811292?ean=9798218105679

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-women-in-me

It’s available in both print and eBook formats.

As we begin Black History Month, it’s only fitting that today’s Thursday Thought quote is wisdom from a man who fought for basic human freedom and dignity:

“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” —Nelson Mandela