What money can’t buy …

After yesterday’s post was published a friend emailed me to talk about it. One of her comments was in reference to my recollections of the Christmas lunches my father and grandfather had for their staff — her point being that it was probably those acts of kindness and generosity that were, in large part, what made their employees so loyal.

She was right, of course. My dad and grandfather treated their employees kindly, fairly and respectfully everyday, not just once a year at lunch. And in return, they had virtually
no staff turnover.

The comment got me thinking and, almost immediately, my

Day 324. Right? Wrong?

I think a lot of people associate the notion of “morals” with sex.  Maybe not so much anymore, but there was a time.  And not just in the Victorian era, either.  Life sure is different these days.

Lindsay Lohan declines to wear underwear; and for some reason, we have to know about it.  Everyone from Rob Lowe to Kim Kardashian has gotten their thrills by sharing their sex tapes with us (ugh!!!).  Presidents have screwed around publicly.  Prime Ministers have had sex with underage prostitutes.  And right in our own backyards teachers are having sex with students, and on and on it goes.

Looks to me like our moral fibre is unravelling pretty rapidly.  We’re on a downward spiral.

But, of course, morality isn’t confined to sex.  It comes into play with just about every decision we make.  Or don’t make, as the case may be.  It’s got to do with our standards.  Our conscience.  Our ability to differentiate

Day 217. Truly Thankful

My posts have been kind of philosophical lately. It wasn’t my intention. At least not consciously. But it is the way they’ve turned out. I speak from my heart, so obviously, it’s how I’m feeling. And clearly, it’s something I want to share. Or need to share.

It’s like I’m taking a moment, to take stock. Of who and what I am. Maybe even checking in, if you will, to see if I should be recalibrating. Or even if I just want to. It’s something I do, from time to time. Most of the time I’m not even aware I’m doing it, until the obvious jumps out at me. Or I have a big AHA moment, or something.

Today, what’s struck me is how much I have to be grateful for. This could be top of mind right now because of a movie I saw Saturday afternoon. A documentary about a musician, with enormous talent, who was never recognized in America. But unbeknownst to him, he was a mega hit in South Africa. Imagine never knowing such a thing. Imagine never receiving a dime of the royalties he was entitled to.

I don’t want to give it all away because I am going to blog about this film. So suffice to say, it could certainly

Day 108. Reflecting Time

I’m taking a big risk, here, you know.  By the time you finish reading this post, you may think I’m totally out of my mind.  But I wouldn’t be me, if I let that stop me from speaking my mind.  So here goes.

Have you ever wondered why so many ‘bad’ things seem to be happening, one on top of another?  The financial crisis that just won’t go away, for example.  And whenever we think there might be a little light at the end of that long, dark, terrifying tunnel, it rears its ugly head somewhere else in the world.  And what about all those absolutely bizarre, never-before-experienced weather patterns.

Tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, ice storms, hail storms, dust storms and floods that are wiping out towns and villages and cities, states, islands and even parts of countries.  Leaving total devastation in their wake.

Terrible political unrest.  Civil disobedience.  Riots.  Looting.  Shooting.  Bombing.  Blasting.  Killing.  Maiming.  Mayhem.  Horrific acts of terrorism.  Senseless acts, committed by extremists who have no respect