Hi there
It’s the last Friday in the month again when we take five minutes out of our day to read ‘Palm trees and margaritas’ and reflect on how we are living our lives.
Inspired by Sesame Street (no reason why not!), this month’s newsletter is brought to you by the letters E and H and the number 31.
April brought Christians, chocolate-eaters and long-weekend-aficionados ‘Easter’ (E!) and households with kids got to add days either side of it for school holidays (H!) and all that represents as well.
Whether you had four days or two weeks or just enjoyed the sleeps-in enabled by lighter traffic over the school holiday period, April offered plenty of time for palm trees and margarita-type activity.
Last month I pledged to take my own advice, chill a bit and read some back issues of ‘Palm trees and margaritas’ online at www.palmtreesandmargaritas.com which I duly did, well the latter at least. I can declare there is some great stuff there and I was inspired to do the former.
So, this, issue number 31 of ‘Palm trees and margaritas’, will be the last for a while as we go into hibernation over the winter to chill, literally, and ponder the future of life, the universe and what really matters. This, I was reminded, is what this newsletter set out to cover when I sat down to write the first issue.
I think we’ll be back but if not, I hope that the last two and a half years of this monthly missive have given you some pleasure or if you have heard me speak on this theme that I gave you something to think about. I am also putting a hold on speaking gigs for now. Please feel free to dip into the web archives anytime.
Thank you to everyone who sent in stories and comments. Wishing you a ‘palm trees and margaritas-filled’ 2009 and beyond.
Karen Morath
karen@mpowercct.com
www.palmtreesandmargaritas.com
April 2009
* Life can’t be all palm trees and margaritas, but there are worse game plans.
The book Palm Trees and Margaritas - Finding Your Oasis in a Busy World is out now, go to www.palmtreesandmargaritas.com to buy your copy.
TIPS
The following represents my ideas about some of the bigger-picture priorities rather than tips for productivity and life-balance, worthwhile as they both may be.
1. Really think about what is important to you. We spend so much time trying to fulfil others’ expectations of us. Having done that (she says as if it is easy!), try to find the confidence to be it, live it, act it.
2. Try to be the best version of yourself, fill your potential and all of that while giving yourself a break if today, this week or this year is not the time to make it happen.
3. Think about what society is. What is a community? What makes them tick? What is a family? What is your role in creating or being in one of them? How do you know if you are being a good friend? Discuss these with the people with whom you share a community, family or friendship and see what comes of it.
4. Consider what are ‘great things’ for you. Reading great books (The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand), seeing great movies (recently, Gran Torino), seeing great sites (Angkor Wat in Cambodia), having great conversations (with any of my kids about anything), eating great meals (anything someone cooks for me with love), whatever for you is great. Do whatever you can, as often as you can, to make them part of your great life or to make your life great.
STORIES
I was in a room with a few dozen teachers this month and the topic of conversation went from pets to hobbies and I was gobsmacked.
They were all telling their stories of their pets like I would read my supermarket shopping list. “Six chooks, three cats, two dogs, four mice, a tortoise and a horse.” “Three dogs, a cat, four guinea pigs.” This went on around the room while people nodded and added the stories of their menageries accounting for literally hundreds of animals.
Then, “Does anyone not have any pets?”. One hand went up sheepishly. Mine. Several dozen sets of eyes looked at me as if I had horns. I figure I have enough responsibilities with children, a house, a car and work. But there was pity in those eyes that made me glad when the discussion moved on to hobbies (and away from me).
“I make Victorian dolls house furniture.” “I am just learning to paint but I enjoy oils.” “I am into electric cars.” There was talk of languages being learned, gardening enjoyed, cakes baked and various other wonderful pastimes being experienced.
I carefully avoided participating so as not to bring further shame on my pet-free family.
Teachers seem to be living the palm trees and margaritas life. Maybe it’s the hours and the school holidays that enables it or maybe there is a personality profile that is drawn to teaching and also understands how to live balanced, calm lives.
Who knows but there was much to envy in that room.
READER STORY
I got this email about the warning signs of stroke and thought it was valuable information to share with you.
Stroke identification:
During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics). She said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.
Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die, they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within three hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke ... totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognised, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognise the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognise a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
R *Ask them to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency immediately and describe the symptoms.
New sign of a stroke - stick out your tongue
Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.
REFLECTIONS
1. Does Twitter have a meaningful role to play in connecting people? Or is it only twits who are on Twitter?
2. Does a political party forming a new government after a time in opposition ever think after a while that the job of governing is harder than they thought?
3. Is busyness a sign of success? See Flying Solo for further ponderings on this topic.