by Cynthia Geyer-Fligel, Smart Starters, Inc.

In the end, it is our own personal decision to allow other people’s choices to get under our skin and annoy us.

To combat this with humor (thus preventing jail time), I recommend using a “skin-depth irritation” rudeness rating system to rank what will actually destroy our mental day:

“1” – Patch of dry skin
“2” - Mosquito bite
“3” – Hives from an allergic reaction
“4” – Poison ivy rash
“5” – Shingles

by Cynthia Geyer-Fligel, Smart Starters, Inc.

Being in the grocery line this evening made me wonder – just for a moment – if we were being taped for the network television show “What Would You Do?”

A belligerent, male senior citizen was berating someone not of his race, three people ahead of him in the check-out line for taking too long.

“I have been waiting here for a half hour, I’m a customer, too, and my _ _ _ _ - _ _ legs hurt!?!”

By the time I headed down an aisle, picked up one item and found myself back at the check-out, management had the situation under control.

However, the man was still in line, with no one behind him.

by Cynthia Geyer-Fligel, Smart Starters, Inc.

"Days" and “hours” are measurements of time, not time itself…much like the mile-markers on a highway or bar lines on musical staves.

But, if all of a sudden the government waved a magic wand, tomorrow morning the earth slowed down to rotate in 36 hours rather than 24 and we still the same amount of days in our lives, how would we change the way we spend our time?

by Cynthia Geyer-Fligel, Smart Starters, Inc.

 
A new Christmas tradition in many households is a result of the gift book package created by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A. Bell  - The Elf on the Shelf.
 
Simple concept.  From Carol on the book sleeve:  “This charming tradition began for my family when my children were very small.  Like most children through the ages, they wanted to know how Santa really knew who was naughty or who was nice.  Their answer, as in my own childhood, came in the form of a small pixie-elf.”
 
The premise is that the elf arrives on your doorstep, you name him, he hangs around and watches what you do, skips out to give a briefing to Santa every night and returns to perch in a new location for the next day’s observations.
 
Not much different than my 14 month old grandson.

by Cynthia Geyer-Fligel, Smart Starters, Inc.

Remember the drill?  Open the mailbox…pull out the stack…3 envelopes with plastic windows, two holiday catalogs, pre-approved credit card notices…

OMG! A handwritten note.

Always sure to bring a smile to the face – and heartfelt warm fuzzies  – to even the most hardened holiday Scrooge.

Recently my niece bragged about having registered over 15,000 text messages to her friends the previous month.  But, when asked if she had sent a “thank you note” to our Aunt Fran for the never-failing-check-in-the-birthday card, a blank look appeared on her face.

Stationery? Cursive writing?  Return address?  Postage stamp?

by Cynthia Geyer-Fligel, Smart Starters, Inc.
 
 
 
Recently a dynamic, late night conversation headed in an unusual direction.  The topic had originated with the challenge: “Which five characteristics are common in cases of successful people?” – which led to “What five circumstances most often contribute to a lack of success?” – and wrapped up with a discussion about playing cards.
 
Of course, that makes sense.
 
Brick and mortar bookstores have countless shelves of self-help books.
Online book vendors send you recommendations of the same for months after you order just one.  A common thread can be found running through most...the agreement that being proactive in making strong behavioral choices is much more effective than waiting for circumstances to dictate an unplanned, reactive decision.

by Cynthia Geyer Fligel

This is the time of year when families feel overwhelmed with new schedules, added expenses, changes in routines, overwhelming commitments.

How would it be if:
 …you had zero financial resources
 …you had no place to live
 …all your forms of identification disappeared
 …you were in a city with no family nor friends
      …and, you were trying to be hired for a job.

Try getting a state I.D., new social security card, a copy of your birth certificate, proof of your income from the IRS, or even a hotel room – without identification, permanent address or financial resources in any form.

We did, several years ago in September.  And, the experience still haunts me.

by Cynthia Geyer Fligel

One of the saddest and most discouraging moments of my 20 year teaching career came from sixth graders in a small town, rural school district.  That day we were beginning work on their contribution to the all-school talent show.  Their assignment was to create the “commercial breaks”.

I was gazing into a sea of blank stares.  They couldn’t do it.  They did not know where nor how to start the creative process without someone telling them exactly what to do.

We are forgetting how to just “go outside and play”.

The blame for this has been placed on many things: television, computers, video games, parents working, teachers teaching-to-the-test, broken homes, too much structured activity programming…

Everything is done for us – and, as a result, we are losing opportunities to “work through” challenges.  Creative Problem Solving and Project Based Learning have become innovative buzzwords for what used to be basic survival driven by common sense.

by Cynthia Geyer Fligel

Decisions, decisions.  We probably spend more time and energy on this mental process than any other – and, rightfully so.  Life has a tendency, however, to join this party…invited or not.

Futurist John Schaar shared:  “The future is not a result of choices between alternate paths offered by the present, but a place that is created in the mind and will, and next in activity.  The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating.  The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination.”

Then, from the great philosopher, Yogi Berra: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”

Life’s course is influenced by everything we do, but it is by making choices that we can guide it willfully and purposefully.  We are constantly evaluating what we do or do not need, want, can or cannot do…and, how much it is worth to us.

by Cynthia Fligel

“Maxine says, “Stuff ‘em in Your Bra!”

“They” say:
“Every cloud has a silver lining”
“When a door closes, a window opens”
“There’s always a reason for something happening”
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”.

Who the heck are “They”?  Have you ever met “They”?