In advance of Father's Day (or Foodie Day) tomorrow, I made strawberry shortcakes for dessert tonight—something I haven't made since I was a youngster living at home.

"A person becomes 10 times more attractive, not by their looks but by the act of kindness, love, respect, honesty, and loyalty they show."

— Author unknown

[Bill] McDermott argues that in a digital world, when leaders can share their message with millions at a time, "rarely does a well-planned tweet, post, or TV appearance replicate the emotional wave that washes over us when we’re addressed as individuals in unscripted conversation, and we experience forgiveness, empathy, interest, and caring firsthand."

What do I take from these three inspirations? First, love is not merely what we feel, but also how we act. Second, it's okay—even imperative—that we have healthy expectations for what we will get back from the ones we love. Third, at the end of our days, we will be remembered for how and whom we loved, not what we achieved and amassed.

Report back on your progress. Keep your mentor apprised of recent developments and progress in your career. Not only is this a professional courtesy, but it also gives the mentor a sense of accomplishment, knowing that their advice made a difference. You can report back by sending a quick update by email or providing a report at the start of each mentoring session.

"A few months after my husband and I moved to a small Massachusetts town I grumbled to a resident about the poor service at the library, hoping she would repeat my complaints to the librarian. The next time I went to the library, the librarian had set aside two bestsellers for me and a new biography for my husband. What's more, she appeared to be genuinely glad to see me. Later I reported the miraculous change to my friend. 'I suppose you told her how poor we thought the service was?' I asked. 'No,' she confessed. 'In fact—I hope you don't mind—I told her your husband was amazed at the way she had built up this small town library, and that you thought she showed unusually good taste in the new books she ordered.'"

— Lillian Moore, Reader's Digest

"Many people are familiar with the story of Helen Keller, but are unaware that her experience as an individual who is deafblind is all too real for over 1% of Canadians (460,000)."

— Canadian Helen Keller Centre

"You have to know that life is in motion and that it's impossible to get stuck even if you feel that you are."

— Chanel Miller

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.

— Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

From everything I've read and observed, most people don't want to be helped—at least not initially—when they bring a problem to someone else. Most often, they simply want to be heard. And, as [Jancee] Dunn pointed out in her article, people who are upset may already know potential solutions to their issue but may need to express their frustration or disappointment before moving into problem-solving mode.

The library became what Wole [Olayinka] came to understand as "the third place"—a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg to describe settings that are neither home nor work. In his piece, Wole links to an article by Stuart M. Butler and Carmen Diaz, who describe "the third place" as locations where we can exchange ideas, enjoy a good time, and build relationships.