Country wisdom
Country wisdom
By: Carole Clark, Ph.D.
Topics:
Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 788 times
0 responses 0 comments Wisdom of the week: Make a conscious choice to enjoy this summer. Slow down. Remember that those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer can still be part of your life. Cut back on one or two commitments and allow for some breathing space. Add one that includes family and one that is just for pampering yourself. Start right now to enjoy our wonderful Tehachapi mountain summers.
Dear C.C.: I know it’s a sign of the times to be stressed out and in a hurry, but when someone runs into me at the grocery store and doesn’t even say “I’m sorry,” I get a bit unhappy. This time I blurted out “In a hurry, lady?” and I got a glare back, but it felt good to respond. Have we lost our old-fashioned ability to be courteous?
Dear Unhappy: It may seem so in that particular situation, but it can happen to any of us. And it’s amazing how little we are aware of what’s going on around us when our thoughts are elsewhere or we are preoccupied and worried. Though you may not be aware, Reader’s Digest was interested in the same feelings and just completed a world-wide survey to find out if courtesy is truly kaput. They targeted New Yourk City in our country as the city known for its in-your-face style and then sent their reporters to 35 other countries around the world. In the end, four out of every five people they encountered passed their courtesy test and on top of it all found that New York was the most courteous major city in the world. Their conclusion was that if people can make nice in New York City, they can probably make nice anywhere. Maybe you can assume that you ran into the one out of five courtesy clods and that is wasn’t intended to be a personal insult.
Dear C.C.: My two boys are about to explode now that they’re out of school. I’m ready for a break from pushing them to do their homework, pick up their clothes, take a shower, do their chores, quit fighting, etc. I’m a single mom. What can I say?
Dear Mom: Congratulations on a job well done. I’m not concerned with what you say but with what you do. Find a babysitter and take a lazy, guilt-free summer day (or two) just for yourself. Give your brain and your body a break. It is important that you acknowledge what you’ve accomplished. You must give yourself some down time. Then move into summer. Give your boys a hug or two and schedule some fun time with them — before they’re grown and gone.
Dear C.C.: I find myself somewhat disgusted with coworkers who laugh when they make a mistake rather than say that they’re sorry. I admit that my sense of humor isn’t the greatest, but I take my job seriously and feel others should too. Who’s right?
Dear Humorless: You are both just fine so long as you don’t make yourself too unhappy about their behavior. Actually laughing can have wonderful benefits. It can even lead to learning. Humor can certainly break the ice in a tense situation. It helps us bond with others when we connect with humor. Even going through the mental gymanstics of getting to the underlying meaning of a joke accounts for much of our enjoyment of humor. And it helps your body and immune system tremedously. You might think of finding a way to laugh at yourself first and then look for humor as much as you can. Even when you make a mistake at work and keep on doing a great job.
Questions can be mailed to Country Wisdom, Tehachapi News, P.O. Box 1840, Tehachapi CA 93581, e-mailed to editorial@tehachapinews.com or dropped of at the Tehachapi News office, located at 411 N. Mill St.
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
