Tag Archive for meeting

Always Drink Responsibly

Drink responsibly EVERY DAY!   You go to meetings, coffee breaks, PTA functions, and soccer matches, accompanied by the ever-present cup of coffee or bottle of water.  You stop at Starbucks or 7-11 for coffee.  You jog with a bottle of water.  So, care for our planet by lessening the amount of Styrofoam and plastic on the roadsides and in the landfill.  Keep a coffee cup at your desk at work and a commuter mug in your car for use at meetings or filling at Peet’s.  Fill a water bottle on your way out to a game or run.  Keep a couple filled, in the refrigerator or freezer (great for a hot day at an arts festival).  Just be sure to rotate your cups and bottles often, bringing them home for a thorough cleaning to avoid bacteria growth.  This keeps both you and the Earth healthier.

Improve Efficiency and Communication

At most meetings today, cell phones are in people’s hands or on the table in front of them. A few companies (and our last President) had a great idea. That is, a person must put his name on a sticky note and attach it to his phone—then leave it outside the room.  Now there’s a small thing that can really count when it comes to meeting-efficiency by fostering clear, undivided attention and communication!

Following Our Kids’ Example

LOOK AT WHAT SHE’S WEARING! I’ve said this to myself often, impressed by colorful ethnic dress.  But because I haven’t gone up to the person to compliment her, I’ve missed a chance to get to know someone new and probably learn something about a culture I’m not familiar with.  Too often we miss such chances.  People from ethnic backgrounds different from our own are all around us. We can grab the opportunity by sitting with them at church or asking to join their table at the Fellowship that follows. We can engage them in conversation at a party, during work breaks, before and after meetings.  Where we are gathered gives us subjects to talk about (the meeting topic or a critique of what the boss said or a new place to shop in the area).  Our kids have been doing this since 2002 nationally and locally at “Mix It Up at Lunch Day.”  If we follow their lead we’ll enrich each other’s lives and build a stronger human community.

When Half-Way is Enough

Against my normally better judgment, I’ve been getting myself into heated discussions over what’s going on in the world and our country.  As we “discuss,” I find myself stolidly sticking to my viewpoint.  The result is that I don’t learn anything new, including why the other person rightly feels the way he does.  That’s why today’s Thursday Thought quote hit home for me.

“The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people half way.” — Henry Boyle