Thank You!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

How often do you say “thank you” to friends and family for something they do for you?

How often do you say “thank you” to a stranger who provides a service?

How often do you say “thank you” to strangers who gesture you in front of them in a line, hold a door open for you or in other ways helps you through your day?

Recently I attended The William Glasser Institute’sConference celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the publication of Dr. Glasser’s book Reality Therapy. At one point I visited The Embassy Suites hotel gift shop. Since writing this post was in the back of my mind, I asked the clerk in the hotel gift shop how many people said “thank you”. He gave my question serious thought and then answered “8 out of 10, I think”.

As I was checking out of my hotel, the Mardi Gras next door to The Embassy Suites, I stopped by the bar to get my water bottle filled with ice and water. I’d met the bartender, Tim, on my first day when I waited in the bar (instead of sitting in front of the slot machines) until a room was ready. He’d been very welcoming and while I did thank him at the time, I made sure to tell him again how much I appreciated his welcome.

His smile made my day! He also grabbed a card and ran across the room to hand it to me. “If you don’t mind,” he said. “TripAdvisory?” The shuttle was out front so I took the card, said “no problem” and headed out the door.

I invite you to see what happens when you say “Thank You” to the clerk at the grocery store, the person who pushes the elevator button for your floor, the person who motions you ahead of them, lets you into a line of traffic (you can mouthed the words with a big smile and wave – they’ll get the message).

Look for people to acknowledge with two very powerful words: Thank You.

Last Monday I talked about the power of a smile. You might find as I have that saying “Thank You” not only puts a smile on my face but on the face of another.

JudithAshley is the author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual paths that nurture the soul. The fifth book in the series, Hunter, is due out Summer 2015.

Learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series here.

Judith blogs at Romancing The Genres on the first Friday of each month.

Smile! Smile! Smile!

Smile! Smiling is a fantastic way to communicate with those around you as well as strengthen facial muscles. Smiling is a mood lifter – stand in front of a mirror and smile at yourself. When I do that, unless I’m very happy and just catch my reflection, I usually laugh.

Smile at the baby in the grocery cart line.

Smile at the older person standing next to you at the bank.

Smile at your neighbors as you walk or drive along.

Smile at your co-workers.

Smile at — well, you get the idea.

The one thing you can do each and every day no matter where you are is smile.

Warning: smiling can be contagious!

What brings a smile to your face?

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual paths that nurture the soul. The fifth book in the series, Hunter, is due out Summer 2015.

Learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series here.

Check out Judith's author page at Windtree Press.

Judith blogs at Romancing The Genres on the first Friday of each month.

Compassion

How would your life change if you showed more Compassion to yourself and others?

Compassion: My dictionary’s definitions: sympathetic feelings: pity, mercy.

Pity is defined as ‘sympathetic sorrow’ or ‘something to be regretted’.

Mercy has several definitions: compassion shown to an offender; a blessing resulting from divine favor or compassion, a fortunate circumstance; compassion shown to victims of misfortune.

Saturday, Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey hosted a global meditation. The focus was on “Compassion”. While I did not participate in the formal program, I did spend time during the day thinking about how I could become more compassionate towards both myself and others.

This is not the first time I’ve talked about compassion here. In March I blogged about compassion and Monica Lewinsky. She did an impressive Ted Talk that I happened upon. Check out my post and the link to the Ted Talk here.

I’m not debating the merits of compassion in and other itself. Actually I’m not debating anything at all. I am, however, sharing ways we each can have a positive impact on the world around us. 

Over the next few weeks my plan is to offer one simple idea each Monday that each of us can practice that will positively impact the world around us. Why? Because I truly believe that each of us can be the change we want to see in the world.

What is one thing you do or can do each day to make a positive change in the world around you?

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual paths that nurture the soul. The fifth book in the series, Hunter, is due out Summer 2015.

Learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series here.

Judith blogs at Romancing The Genres on the first Friday of each month.

Check out Judith's author page at Windtree Press.

I'm a Little Late Today

Why am I a little late today?

I move slower in the heat and here in the Pacific Northwest we are having record high temperatures. In fact if Portland, OR and Phoenix, AZ temperatures reach the numbers predicted, Portland will be 3 degrees cooler!

The other reason is it took a bit of time for the content of this post to take form. I'm not even sure it is fully formed, but it is Monday so here I am.

Yesterday afternoon I attended a storytelling event co-produced by my friend, Paul Iarrobino and Alyssa Burkett.


I listened attentively as six local LGBT Elders told their stories about their lives growing up.


What I heard were stories of personal sacrifice, stories that lasted decades before the person found a safe haven to be him or herself.

I've worked fifty years in education, criminal justice and social services and have come in contact with people from all walks of life, race, cultural background, etc. Looking back on my career and seeing what I view as important now, there is a thread: people who have someone who loves them unconditionally are always better able to manage whatever happens in life than those people who have people who offer conditional love or no one at all.

When each person had shared her or his story, there was an intermission. Because of other commitments I did not stay for the question and answer part after refreshments. I did stop and say a personal 'thank you' to all put one of the presenters.

My message? A personal thank you for telling their stories and how they touched my heart.

The Elder LGBT Oral History project is one way to honor those who came before and made the road easier for the young people of today. We are seeing that this year in the Civil Rights movement for African-Americans. However, my granddaughters have no idea of what my women friends and I dealt with in school and in the workplace because of the work of women in my generation and earlier who fought for a workplace free from sexual harassment, insurance coverage for birth control, etc. (Do you know that when I was first in the workforce if I wanted coverage for a pregnancy I had to pay more?) But I digress---

From my perspective all movements that remember and honor those that came before, who paved the way for current and future generations to know their history are on the right path.

The Elder LGBT Oral Histories event was recorded.

Paul and Alyssa plan on expanding this presentation to include more elders of this community.

You can follow their journey on Twitter: @LGBTWisdomPDX

I encourage you to do so.

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual paths that nurture the soul.

You can learn more about Judith on her website.
Check out her author page at Windtree Press

Judith is also learning to use Twitter: @judithashley19