DIARY & JOURNAL: FEBRUARY 2019
Quotation For The Month
“The most important single ingredient to the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” – The words of Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)
Mapping For The Month
. The purpose of relationships
. Survival – Support – Synergy – Success
. The progress of relationships
. Dependence – Independence – Interdependence
. The principles of relationships
. Mutual recognition – Mutual respect – Mutual responsibility
. The perfecting of your relationships
. Remember important information – Open lines of communication – Assert yourself – Develop sensitivity
A Meditation For The Month
“To laugh often and love much, to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a bit better …to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.”
“This is to have succeeded.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
A Promise
“For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.”
St Paul 2 Timothy 1:7 – Living Bible
DAILY ENTRIES
FEBRUARY 1
“It is not good that man should be alone…” – Genesis 2:18
Relationships enrich our lives with love and laughter, but also problems and pains. The most enriching thing in most people lives is the love of their family and children.
Sure, there are painful times. The mother, for instance, goes through the pain of childbirth, but when the child is born, the pain is forgotten because of the joy of having a baby.
When the children go through their teens and adolescent years you wonder what you have got yourself into. When they are adults and you can relate to them as friends, all that is just a distant memory.
You need to focus on the pleasures not the pains of a loving relationship. In one of their songs Simon and Garfunkel sing the words “I am a rock, I am an island…” The whole song focuses on avoiding relationships for fear of getting hurt. That is a lonely place to be because, in the words of John Donne:
“No man is an island, entire of itself.”
Question – Are you afraid of getting hurt?
An appropriate affirmation might be: ‘God loved us, in spite of what it cost Him.’
IN a BBC Panorama programme in 1995 Diana Princess of Wales epitomised the importance of relationships. She said: “There is no better way to dismantle a personality than to isolate it.”
The word sulk can be used either as a verb or a noun. The verb means to not communicate because of your disposition or because you’re in a bad mood. The noun is a light two wheeled horse drawn carriage which will carry only one person. Either way the person is isolated from others.
We need the company of others for four reasons:
. Survival. Physically and mentally.
. Support. To help us function socially.
. Synergy. So that we will be more effective.
. Success. No one’s good at everything, we all need help.
If you have good friends, then you should appreciate them.
FEBRUARY 2
The Purpose of Relationships
1. Survival
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up… Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.”
Ecclesiastes 4:10 – 12
The Bible gives four basic reasons for relationships. The most basic one is survival.
- In a battle two men can fight more effectively than one. So, relationships help the individual to survive.
- Marriage was designed to give a secure environment into which children could be born and raised. Hence, relationships help the survival of the species.
- Society is built upon the strength of family relationships.
History shows that the collapse of all the great civilisations, like the Greeks and the Romans, was mainly due to the break up of family life. Relationships help society to survive.
How strong are your relationships? You should be building strong relationships.
2. Support
“It takes two to speak the truth – one to speak, and another to hear.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862)
Relationships need not be limited to family life. In the book of 1 Samuel we read of David and Jonathan who had a deep and lasting friendship in which they supported each other.
- They were loyal to each other.
- They were honest with each other.
- They advised each other.
- They warned each other of potential danger.
- They encouraged each other.
- They made a covenant with each other.
It is possible to have this depth of relationship, between two men or women, without there being sexual implications.
The six principles listed above should also be displayed in a good marriage.
Do you have that depth of relationship with someone? You should build a supportive relationship.
FEBRUARY 3
3. Synergy
“How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight.”
Deuteronomy 32:30
The word synergy comes from two Greek words syn = together and ergos = to work. Literally, to work together. It is usually used to describe, when the effect of two things working together is greater than if they were working separately.
In the quote from Deuteronomy, one man can chase a thousand. Two can chase, not two but ten thousand. That is synergy at work.
This principle has been adopted by management strategists, to increase the effectiveness of groups working together as teams.
In a relationship, or a team, if each person is functioning from their strengths they can be more effective than if they were working as individuals.
You should learn to synergise. By doing so you will work more effectively.
4. Success
“Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9 – Living Bible
Again, we come back to the question “What is success?”
Answer: Success is finding love and fulfilment in your life. Love comes out of relationships and fulfilment is, in the words of the Marquis de Vauvenargues:
“To live up to one’s opportunities and make the most of one’s resources.”
Vilfredo Pareto explained the outworking of this principle.
Pareto claims that 20% of what we do produces 80% of the results. This also means that 80% of what we do only produces 20% of the results.
If I can find and function in my successful 20% all the time then I can produce so much more. To do this you will need at least another person who can cover the other things you aren’t able or didn’t do so effectively.
What is your definition of success? Love and fulfilment in your life are overarching prerequisites if you wish to succeed.
FEBRUARY 4
The Progress of Relationships
1. Dependence
“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”
Theodore Hesburgh
You’re born into this world, totally dependent upon your parents. A stable family home will provide you with a roof over your head, food and drink in your stomach, positive thoughts in your mind and love in your heart.
If a child grows up in a warm loving home, where the father shows his love for both their mother and them, then that child has a great start in life.
During the dependence period the child needs to be taught six things. I will use P.A.R.E.N.T. as an acronym.
P = People skills. Being taught how to respect and relate to others.
A = Affirming. Praise them more than criticise them. Express disappointment with their behaviour and not with them.
R = Right from wrong. Moral guidance in everyday things, like not taking another child’s toy without asking.
E = Enjoyment. Have fun with them. Turn chores into games.
N = New boundaries. As they develop, the boundaries must grow with them.
T = Taboo’s. Be prepared to talk about taboo subjects like sex, illicit drugs and alcohol.
These formative years mould us into the person we will become.
Do you remember your childhood with warmth? If so, your parents did the best they knew how.
FEBRUARY 5
2. Independence
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”
Plato (428–348 B.C.)
The first decade of life is the dependent stage. Some parents, out of sincere motives, try to do everything for their children. This results in the child staying in the dependent phase. They grow up thinking that they are the centre of the universe.
Parents need to prepare their children for stage 2 which is independence.
As children are about to come into puberty, it is good practice to explain that, during the next few years, they would be changing from being children to being adults. This means physical changes, but also during this time they should become more responsible for their lives. They would become more independent.
This is a vital period in our development. If we are not secure in our independence, we will struggle with the next stage which is interdependence.
Do you feel the world owes you a living? If so, you should work towards interdependence.
FEBRUARY 6
3. Interdependence
“Genuine freedom in personal and social relationships comes from a deep sense of security – knowing who we are, where we belong, and what is expected of us.”
Sidney J Harris – The Authentic Person
Harris lists the four factors that make for interdependence.
- Having a deep sense of security. Many employers fail to build this into their work force. The threat is “Your job is only secure as long as you perform to my expectations.” The same can be true in relationships. The implied and sometimes spoken threat is “You do what I want or I’m off.” A deep sense of security comes from knowing points 2, 3 and 4.
- Knowing who we are. Knowing our strengths and abilities.
- Knowing where we belong. Where we fit into the scheme of things.
- What is expected of us. The expectations of our partner or employer. One of the benefits of playing team games, like football or hockey, is that it teaches the principles of interdependence.
Interdependence is learning to be a team player.
Do you have a deep sense of security? If so, this affirmation will suffice:
‘I know who I am, where I belong and what is expected of me.’
FEBRUARY 7
Principles of Relationships
“Society is a necessary condition of life in this world and a necessary medium of personal self-realisation…”
Will Herberg
Some readers may have been to Austria on holiday and noticed some of the many different cultural practices to their own. For example, during wedding ceremonies it is customary for the bride and groom to be given a two-handed bow saw and told to go and cut down a small tree. This is to symbolise the need for give and take in the relationship.
Three Principles are foundational to good relationships.
. Mutual recognition. This means acknowledging each other’s strengths and abilities.
. Mutual respect. This involves giving each other freedom to behave differently.
. Mutual responsibility. This means both people must build towards each other if the relationship is going to work.
As these three principles are applied then there will be strong and deep interdependent relationships.
Do you find it difficult to build relationships? If so, then you should apply these principles which will enable you to build better relationships.
FEBRUARY 8
“Embarrassment means literally to ‘stop’ or to ‘bar’. When it occurs, a social encounter grinds to an unpleasant halt.”
Judy Gahagan – Interpersonal and Group Behaviour
1. Mutual Recognition
I once heard a story. A married couple joined a strict and very authoritarian church. The husband was a chef and the wife was an accountant. Therefore, he did all the cooking and she looked after the finances.
The Elders asked to see them and told them: “It’s the woman’s place to do the cooking, and the husband should deal with the finances.” So, they did as they were told. Within a month they had nearly starved and the finances were in a terrible mess. One evening the couple discussed the situation and decided to go back to the way things used to be.
This couple’s relationship was based upon mutual recognition. They were functioning from their strengths and not their roles.
They were using their strengths for their mutual benefit.
Do you know your strengths?
FEBRUARY 9
“. . . the teaching of the law by the priest will not be lost, nor will counsel from the sage, nor the word from the prophets.”
Jeremiah 18:18
2. Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is a natural outflow of mutual recognition. As differences of personality, ability and thinking are recognised, the next step is to respect those differences.
Jeremiah 18:18 refers to three leaders in Israel. The priest, the sage, and the prophet. In his book By What Authority the late William Barclay made these comments:
“The prophets would think of the sages as lacking in zeal for God, for the sage is altogether a quieter and less flaming personality than the prophet. The priest would resent the coldness of the sage to the cult (ceremonial and ritual). The sage with what he regarded as his superior wisdom would find the prophet arbitrary and hard, and the priest narrow-minded . . . “
Mutual respect shows itself in giving others freedom to think and act in a way that is different to you.
Can you respect other’s strengths?
FEBRUARY 10
“Only people who avoid love can avoid grief. The point is to learn from it and remain vulnerable to love.”
John Brantner
3. Mutual Responsibility
The final principle upon which relationships are built is this:
Both people must accept a mutual responsibility to build towards each other.
The leadership of the Church of Rome is called the Pontifex, with the Pope being the Pontifex Maximus. The word ponti = bridge. The pontifex means literally bridge builders. When we build relationships, we are bridge building with other people.
To build a bridge, you must start from both sides of the river and meet in the middle. Unless people both sides of the river accept their mutual responsibility to build towards each other, the bridge will collapse.
Do you find it difficult to build bridges? You should build towards anyone who responds to you.
FEBRUARY 11
Perfecting Your Relationships
“Do unto others what you would like them to do to you.”
Jesus – Sermon on the Mount
Having looked at:
. The purpose of relationships,
. The progress of relationships, and
. The principles of relationships
… we come now to the perfecting of relationships. On this, I feel it best readers are introduced to the road by which relationships are perfected.
To make it simple, and easy to remember, the road stands for:
R = Remember important information
O = Open channels of communication
A = Assert yourself
D = Develop sensitivity
At this point, it is best asking: Where do your relationships need improving?
Any weaknesses are best addressed by learning to perfect your people skills.
FEBRUARY 12
Remembering Important Information
“Memory is what tells a man his wife’s birthday was yesterday.”
Mario Rocco
The Duke of Wellington claimed that when Napoleon was on the battlefield it was like fighting an extra 40,000 men. Why? Because Napoleon could motivate his army.
He motivated them because he knew:
. All of his officers by name.
. What town they came from.
. If they were married and the wife’s name.
. What battles they had been in.
On the night before a battle, Napoleon would stroll through camp and talk to the officers, ask after their family and home town. He would then discuss the other battles they had been in. This made each officer feel as though he was a personal friend of Napoleon. No wonder they were well motivated.
Do you remember important information?
I will develop my memory more.
FEBRUARY 13
Remembering Names (1)
“I remember your name perfectly, but I just can’t think of your face.”
Attributed to Rev. W.A. Spooner
A woman was walking down London’s Regent Street when she saw two men coming towards her. She knew she recognised one but was not able to put a name to the face. The two men were about the same age as her son, so she assumed they were her son’s friends. To avoid any embarrassment, as they got close, she smiled broadly and said “Sorry! Can’t stop! Lots of shopping to do!” and hurried on.
As soon as she had said it, she realised who it was. It was Prince Charles with his personal bodyguard.
If your memory does let you down in various situations you can train your memory to recall important information.
FEBRUARY 14
Remembering Names (2)
“It is the disease of not listening, the malady of not marking, that I am troubled withal.”
William Shakespeare – Henry IV Part 2
The reason most people do not remember another person’s name is, in Shakespeare’s words “not listening… not marking.” There are three reasons as to why this is the case:
Sound – When you are introduced to someone, listen carefully and make a mental note of their name. Then use it as often as you can in the course of the conversation. Get to know the sound.
If you’re not sure say “I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name!”
Association – Find someway to recall their surname. You need to create an image in your mind. A male’s surname, for instance, might be Dix which is 10 in French. You might envisage that person dressed as a Frenchman with a big 10 on his shirt. Or you might link it to Dixieland and see him playing in a traditional jazz band in New Orleans.
Sight – Get a good look at them, so that you have a mental image of their face. Then you will likely link it to the name.
You should endeavour to remember people’s names where you have a propensity to forget.
FEBRUARY 15
Remembering Names (3)
“The good shepherd . . .calls his own sheep by name.”
Jesus
The use of association to remember peoples’ names is the most crucial and also the most difficult stage. We can explore this further:
Names linked to trades – like Carpenter, Butcher, Baker, Smith or Miller. Imagine the person functioning in that job.
Names linked to places – Muddy Waters, Joan Rivers or Roger Moore. See them in these environments. Also, names linked to towns or cities like Michael York, Abraham Lincoln, John Denver or Jack London. Imagine them sightseeing around these places.
Names linked to things – Harrison Ford – see him in a Ford car. If someone’s name is Wellington, then see them in boots, or if it’s Mackintosh, see them in a raincoat.
Which names do you need a picture for?
I will use my ingenuity.
FEBRUARY 16
Remembering Names (4)
“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”
Prof. William James (1842–1910)
One of the main ways in which a person feels important and appreciated is when someone remembers their name.
By now, though, you might be suggesting that I’m only using easy names for purposes of illustration. What if the name you’re trying to remember is Polish or a Russian name?
Well, let’s look at film directors Roman Polanski and Stanley Kubrick.
The Roman’s carried a standard into battle. It was a brass eagle on a pole. So, see Roman Polanski on skis carrying a Roman standard; hence – “Roman pole on skis.”
For Stanley Kubrick see him looking like a cube shaped brick.
The more way out the image is, the easier it is to recall it. If you can’t find an image, use your imagination to find a word that rhymes with the name. So that you have got a hook to recall their name.
If you are still struggling with names you should develop your own system in how those names might easily be recalled.
FEBRUARY 17
Remembering Appointments and Dates
“Weak ink better than strong memory.”
Confucius (551–479 B.C.)
Personally, I do not think it is worth cluttering up your mind with remembering appointments and dates. Write them down.
. Keep two diaries. A desk diary by your phone and a pocket diary. Each day transfer any new information from the one into the other. This way you will not double book things, also if you misplace your pocket diary, you have a back-up.
. Get a birthdays and anniversaries wall calendar. This way you can keep a permanent record hanging up, that will remind you of impending events. Remember to check it each week.
You can also get computer programs, so that when you switch your computer on, the screen displays forthcoming birthdays or events before you get into the main menu.
Is your day organised? You should remember important dates.
FEBRUARY 18
O = Open Lines of Communication (1)
“Everyone likes a compliment.”
Abraham Lincoln (1806–65)
Learn to compliment and thank people. So many people only hear criticism.
I remember having a meal with an acquaintance in a restaurant in a town where I previously lived. At the end of the meal we asked to speak to the manageress. She promptly came over and, very politely, asked what the problem was.
“No problem,” we replied, “we just wanted to compliment you on the quality of the food and the service Heidi our waitress has given us.”
The manageress’s reply amazed me. She said:
“In all the years that I have worked here, you are the first to ask me, to give me a compliment and not a complaint.”
Learn to show appreciation.
When did you last compliment someone? Start expressing your gratitude today.
FEBRUARY 19
Open Lines of Communication (2)
“The measure of mental health is the disposition to find good everywhere.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
There is an old saying which says, ‘You catch more wasps with honey than with vinegar.’
You get better service with compliments than criticism. When you compliment someone – S.M.I.L.E.
S = Speak clearly. Don’t mumble as though you are ashamed to be paying them a compliment.
M = Mean it. Be sincere in your praise.
I = Individualise it. Mention them by name, and their attitude or action that has impressed you.
L = Look at them. Smile at them. Make them feel special.
E = Explore. Try to find ways to praise other people.
An elderly woman was never known to criticise anyone. One day she was asked about those who create and thrive on hatred.
She replied: “If we were half as persistent in doing good, as they are in doing evil, we would be much better people.”
Constantly explore how to compliment or thank people.
How many people did you thank or compliment today? You should commit to having an attitude of gratitude.
FEBRUARY 20
Open Lines of Communication (3)
“There are no unhappy marriages, only marriage partners who are immature.”
Dr David Mace, author of How to Have a Happy Marriage
Psychotherapist Eric Berne developed a way of evaluating how people talk to each other; he called it Transactional Analysis, or T.A. for short.
According to T.A. we can communicate in three ways:
As a Parent – the words and attitudes of our parents.
As a child – expressing hurt emotions from childhood.
As an adult – The objective, assertive decision maker.
How Does This Work In Life?
Imagine a husband is going out to work. He calls to his wife “have you seen my car keys?” She can answer in three ways:
Parent – “If you hung them up where they belonged, you would know where to find them.”
Child – “Why do you always blame me when you lose things.”
Adult – “They were on the dining room table last night.”
The key to open communication is speaking adult to adult.
This is the outworking of the principle of mutual respect.
FEBRUARY 21
Open Lines of Communication (4)
“It is from the heart’s overflow that the mouth speaks.”
Jesus – Matthew 12:34 (Knox’s Translation)
According to T.A. problems emerge in relationships when there are crossed lines of communication. When someone, for instance, speaks to another adult as though they were a child this is likely to cause resentment which in turn can kill communication.
Two Difficult Periods of Transition
Teenage. During the teenage years there is a need to change from a parent to child, to an adult to adult relationship. This transition takes careful handling and open communication, to avoid misunderstanding and resentment.
Old age. When parents get old and feeble another change takes place. The parent becomes dependent on the child, so the roles are reversed – the child becomes the parent and the parent becomes the child. This can be as trying as having children going through their teens.
During these transitions the principles of mutual recognition, respect and responsibility are crucial.
Do you have any crossed lines? You should listen for your parent & child.
FEBRUARY 22
Open Lines of Communication (5)
“When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”
St Paul: 1 Corinthians 13
Recognising childish words and ways.
Childish words. The dependent phase is summed up in the word “You”. The independent phase in words like “I”, “me” and “my”. The interdependent phase in “we” and “us”. Thomas Harris popularised T.A. in his books I’m O.K. You’re O.K. Harris sums up the child’s attitude as I’m Not O.K. You’re O.K. In other words, self-pity. The child expresses itself in phrases like “It’s all right for you. . . “
Childish behaviour. If a two-year-old finds, that by having a temper tantrum, his parents let him have his own way, then this may well become a permanent behaviour pattern. I have known men in their later years who, when they weren’t getting their own way at a business meeting, would throw a temper tantrum until they did.
That is childish behaviour.
Does your child take over at times? If so, acting like a mature person will help you resolve the issue.
FEBRUARY 23
A = Assert Yourself (1)
“Cowardice asks the question, Is it safe? Expediency asks the question, Is it politic? Vanity asks the question, Is it popular? But conscience asks the question, Is it right?
Martin Luther (1483–1546)
There are six principles in assertiveness. To help you remember them I will use the acronym ASSERT as an outline:
A = Accept yourself. The basic principle of mutual respect.
S = Specify your principles. Before you can be assertive you need to have a clear outline of the principles upon which you will not compromise. You will then know at a glance if it’s a matter of principle or taste.
S = Stick to the point. When you confront an issue don’t get side tracked. Keep repeating yourself ‘till they hear you.
E = Express how you feel. Examples include, “I feel that hurtful or offensive.” “That makes me feel angry …taken for granted.”
R = Refuse, don’t reject. Say no without feeling guilty. Refuse to accept their behaviour, not them.
T = Talk calmly. Don’t loose your cool and rant and rave at them. Just make your point in a clear and composed way.
Do you find it easy to be assertive?
(You should expect mutual respect).
FEBRUARY 24
Assert Yourself (2)
Coping With Sarcasm
“I’ve had a wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.”
Groucho Marx (1895–1977)
Groucho made this comment as he was leaving a party. This type of “put down” is humorous but also hurtful. Imagine how you would feel if you were the hostess. I will use the acronym S.A.R.C.A.S.M as an outline in being able to cope with such situations.
S = Source. Who said it? Is the person to be taken seriously or was it said as a joke? Are they really concerned about your wellbeing? They may be right, but do they have the right to say it?
A = Ask yourself. Are they insecure and constantly need to put others down? Are they going through a bad time? Are they resentful of me?
R = Reject negative criticism. When Buddha was verbally abused by a man, he replied “My son, if someone declined to accept a present, to whom would it belong?”
The man answered, “To the one who offered it”. And so, said Buddha: “I decline to accept your criticism.”
C = Come backs. Beware of using insults as come backs. It could result in violence, especially in a bar. A woman criticised Winston Churchill, saying, “You’re drunk sir!” Churchill replied: “Madam, you are ugly, but tomorrow, I’ll be sober.”
A = A slip of the tongue? It’s a rule of life that 10% of the time you won’t be able to avoid hurtful comments. Even friends might say something they wish they hadn’t.
S = Signals. Pretend to be bored. Fake a yawn or look away. Flick an imaginary spot off your shoulder.
M = make light of it. If possible, agree and make a joke of it.
How do you cope with criticism?
A good coping mechanism is to have tough skin and a tender heart.
FEBRUARY 25
Assert Yourself (3)
Giving Criticism
“You have to be little, to belittle.”
John D Murphy – Your Life Magazine
The old saying ‘You don’t have to blow out someone else’s candle to let your light shine,’ is particularly relevant to criticism. Some people think they must put others down to feel good about themselves.
Make sure your criticism is always POSITIVE:
P = Private. Never criticise in public.
O = Open with a compliment.
S = Share from concern. Think about how you share.
I = Impersonal. Criticise the act not the person.
T = Talk it through. Explain how you feel.
I = Invite co-operation. “Can we work this through together?” Demanding only produces resentment.
V = Vision. Find ways to improve the situation in the future.
E = End as friends.
If you do feel the need to criticise, try and always to give positive criticism.
FEBRUARY 26
Develop Sensitivity (1)
To Your Partner
“Creativity is so delicate a flower that praise tends to make it bloom, while discouragement often nips it in the bud.”
Alex F Osborn
Success in a relationship, comes from being sensitive to the needs of the other person.
This principle applies:
. In business. When a salesman knows the needs of a buyer, he can successfully sell to him.
. In medicine. When the doctor/therapist knows the needs of the patient, they can successfully treat them.
. In marriage. When you are sensitive to the needs of your partner, you can build a successful marriage.
Here’s a practical exercise that will help you to become more sensitive to your partner. Have a relaxed meal with just your partner. After the meal, ask each other two questions. Listen to each other and discuss the implications and the application of what you’ve shared.
Question 1. What is it like being married to me?
Question 2. How could I make our marriage better for you?
Do you know your partner’s needs?
FEBRUARY 27
Develop Sensitivity (2)
To Your Children
“It takes mutual respect to make a family work, not because parents and children are equals, but because they have an equal right to be respected.”
M Kelly – The Mother’s Almanac
Parents need to spend quality time with their children, listening to what they have to say, and how they are seeing things. Your children are growing up in a completely different world to the one you grew up in.
In an earlier generation people could walk out of a job on a Friday and start another one on Monday. Today’s youth can study, go to university, obtain a degree and still not get a job.
For the previous generation, the world was their oyster. This bred optimism. We had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Stevie Wonder. The youth of today have no cash, no hope and no wonder.
Learn to listen to your children. Develop a sensitivity to them. Don’t say, “I can’t understand my teenager, he won’t listen to me.”
To understand him you need to be listening to him.
Do you listen to your children? They should be treated with respect.
FEBRUARY 28
Brave New World
“An entirely new system of thought is needed, a system based on attention to people, and not primarily attention to goods.”
F. Schumacher – Small is Beautiful
In one of his books, John Powell highlights a principle of successful living, writing: “There is a law of life as real as the law of gravity, that we should love people and use things and not love things and use people.”
We need relationships not only to survive but also to succeed.
We must build on the principles of mutual respect, recognition and responsibility. As we do, we will develop strong and healthy relationships. This will build a stronger, caring society that is more concerned with people than with material possessions.
Are people more important to you than possessions?
You should put people before possessions.
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