Even though I can't prove these stories are all true, I'd like to believe they are. They can teach everyone something.
Five Lessons About How To Treat People
-- Author Unknown
1. First Important Lesson - "Know The Cleaning Lady"
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
2. Second Important Lesson - "Pickup In The Rain"
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.
She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.
A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
3. Third Important Lesson - "Remember Those Who Serve"
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "50¢," replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "35¢!" she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.
When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
4. Fourth Important Lesson - "The Obstacles In Our Path"
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."
5. Fifth Important Lesson - "Giving When It Counts"
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?".
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Green Tips for April
2. Reduce your use of Styrofoam cups and take out-containers. Some studies show that Styrofoam will take thousands of years to break down. Instead of using it, try using paper cups and plates. These are recyclable.
3. Eat what you buy, buy what you need. Many people buy more than what they will eat and waste money and food. Plan out meals a head of time and only buy what you are planning on serving/eating. If you have leftovers use them for tomorrow's lunch or freeze them for another day.
4. Turn down your stove element. When the water starts boiling turn down the element. The water that is roaring boiling is the same temperature as light boiling water. It only requires a small amount of energy to keep water boiling.
5. Switch to digtial music. Not only is it easier to download digital music, but it also saves on plastics, packaging and transport costs, materials and Green House Gas emissions.
6. Reuse office materials. Keep bubble wrap and Styrofoam "peanuts" that can be reused. They may be helpful if you are moving, or doing arts and crafts with kids!
7. Steam clean the microwave. Instead of using chemical cleaners place a mug of water in the microwave and boil on high for three to four minutes. The steam will soften stuck on food, then it will be easy to wipe up with a reusable cloth.
8. Practice green financial planning. When it comes to planning future spending, use your money to buy into green energy investments.
9. Bookworms - try reading e-books! Book-sized digital readers are becoming more affordable, these are easy to carry around and contain dozens of books. This reduces the use of paper, packaging and transport of traditional book publishing.
11. Visit your local recycling centre. Even if you have curbside recycling, visit your local centre and see if they take additional materials such as solvents and paints or reusable building supplies.
12. Wash bottles, cans and jars before recycling. Leaving food remnants in recyclables risks contaminating the rest of the recycling. This could force the entire lot to be thrown out.
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