[2023-03-04] Saturday Synopsis #33
3 Ideas From Me
In her fitting poem "The Promise of Spring"...British poet Edith Nesbit likens the first hints of the fair season to a whisper, half-heard, like the caress of love's lips in a dream. Spring tells her story in the murmur of boughs, the softening of skies, the sun on the house, and the green of daffodils. She will bring the singing of thrushes, the greening of fields, the return of daisies, and the whitening of hedges. Spring will take our hands, lead us away from the snow and the cold, from old pain and hard winter, which will be forgotten and forgiven.
I used to think it wasn't necessary to use people's names in emails until a conversation six years ago with members of a group focused on fostering respect in the workplace. A colleague in the group said that she disliked receiving an email with no salutation and no signature. She contended that the first email in a conversation should begin with the recipient's name and end with the sender's name. Further, she said that the email would, ideally, include a question such as "How are you?"...
Not wanting to come across as disrespectful, I decided that day to make a point to start all first emails in a conversation with the recipient’s name and to sign them with mine.
I came to understand that it's especially important for bosses to greet their employees by name when emailing them. Like my colleagues in the respect-in-the-workplace group, I noticed more and more that I didn't like receiving an email from my supervisor that immediately started with "Where's the report?" It felt like my boss was barking an order rather than engaging with me as a person.
To improve your mood, exercise.
To think more clearly, walk.
To understand the world, read.
To understand yourself, write.
To help yourself, help others.
To learn faster, teach.
To be more present, get into nature.
To show you care, share.
To be respected, show respect.
To make a difference, be kind.
To protect your health, take charge of it.
To face a challenge, start with one small step.
To receive love, start by loving yourself.
To live responsibly, be considerate of others.
2 Quotes From Others
Beyond work and love, I would add two other ingredients that give meaning to life. First, to fulfill whatever talents we are born with. However blessed we are by fate with different abilities and strengths, we should try to develop them to the fullest, rather than allow them to atrophy and decay. ... Second, we should try to leave the world a better place than when we entered it. As individuals, we can make a difference, whether it is to probe the secrets of Nature, to clean up the environment and work for peace and social justice, or to nurture the inquisitive, vibrant spirit of the young by being a mentor and a guide.
~ Michio Kaku
We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We'd have eaten ourselves alive long ago. So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."
~ Patton Oswalt
[Bonus quote from the same post]
When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.
~ Fred Rogers
1 Question For You
Something someone taught you that still feels significant today?
