Pay people quickly. It pays off!

Those who work with me know that I pay quickly. Even at a testimonial where I was saluted, one of my vendors praised me for that. This always comes in handy during emergencies. During this brutal winter, I've needed last-minute handymen for repairs, plumbing issues and electrical outages. Because of my habit of paying quickly, they moved their calendars around for me.  Why?  Because I pay quickly.  That is a great business practice that certainly pays off!

What's the rush?

I have found value in taking it slow.  Whether it's a personal relationship, or a professional one, it is a value to take one's time.  Cultivate the relationship. Nurture it.  And, when it is consummated, it will be stronger and more enduring.

The importance of vetting

I'm into betting professionals. In the last year, I've had to change my dentists and gynecologist. In both situations, I was diligent about vetting. I first went to friends, including Facebook friends, who provided great lists. From there, I turned to the Internet to view the qualifications and, most important, the comments. By this time, I'd whittled the list down to a few.  So, the final hurdle was how the office handled the phone. The ones that won out were those who had a "real" person answering the phone. The ones rejected were those with voicemails with directions to call 911 in case of emergencies. Even with that, I left a message.  If I didn't hear back within 24 hours, they were eliminated. Those whom I selected had great receptionists. So, with proper vetting, I got a new dentist and a new gynecologist serving my needs. In person they are professional, caring, passionate and likable. Their receptionist, nurses and attendant help are all excellent. In the end, it was worth the time to vet.

Happy Holidays - Time to resolve to be kinder

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays, remember to include kindness in your holiday menu.  With so much bad news in the world, use the occasion of the HOLYdays to resolve to be kinder, more trusting, more loving and more gracious.  Try it on Christmas and extend it to each day thereafter.

Merry Kindness

and

Happy New You!

Just adjust

OK.  I'm dating a guy with glaucoma. He has difficulty seeing -- and especially at night.  At first, when he made that admission, I thought it would be a problem.  He couldn't accompany me to evening events without compromising his health

Then it occurred to me!  We can do afternoon activities.  And, we have had so much fun going to Museums, tests, and other places that close at 5:00PM.  And, most venues do.

So, with a little adjustment, and a turnaround in my perspective, we have discovered that there is a lot of fun to be had -- before the street lights go on!

It's just a matter of making a small adjustment.

Eliminate the stress during the holidays - JUST SAY NO!

All right.  I know holidays are connecting with families but if the family posses a problem, eliminate the stress and don't do it.

My family is dwindling and only my nephew and his wife remain.  They invited me to Thanksgiving with her family. This group is very strange. One brother is an ex-convict. Her sister is a certified schizophrenic and another aunt is an alcoholic.

After being with them for a gathering last summer, and in other settings through the years, I knew I can only take them in small doses -- not over 30 minutes.

So, when I got the invite to Thanksgiving, my memory harkened back to those times when I could barely tolerate them.  So, I decided to minimize the stress and say NO.

I went, instead to dinner at a friend's where I had a great time.

It made me realize that you have to keep yourself sane.  So, if it's going to be stressful, don't do it.  JUST SAY NO!

You can have fun in the daytime

I'm dating a guy who has glaucoma and doesn't like driving at night.  That, at first, stunted our fun.  I would go on to my evening functions solo.  But I wanted to share these experiences with him. Then, it occurred to me that, with a few adjustments, we can have fun doing day things.  So, instead of nighttime fun, we frequent museums, matinees and recreational centers that have activities during the day.  So, we've made it happen and, on the upside, it allows me to go to bed satisfied because I've lived up to the phrase: "Have a good day."  And, I've had one…during the day.