Advice and Encouragement

Country Life

Backstory – Country Life

This story was written after my last shopping trip to our small town in the Shenandoah Valley. I was really impressed by what I saw and heard. Thought I’d write about it to share the benefits of shopping locally.

Consider This Show – Country Life

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Out here in the country, we can certainly enjoy life. We’re insulated from all the traffic furies of the cities. We have lovely landscapes, the mountains and the rivers. Used to be the one thing we bemoaned was the lack of interesting shopping. Our streets are not lined with boutiques and shoe stores like the cities are.

When we’re looking for some special item, we may turn to the Internet, rather than try to find it in a local shop. It’s fast and easy.

But if you have not tried to shop locally lately, you may be pleasantly surprised. Local stores can access that international market too. And there is a big advantage to actually seeing and feeling the merchandise before you buy, rather than just looking at a picture. You may find interesting clothing and giftware – from the next state or from across the globe.

Markets often have ethnic sections now. You can find wonderfully aromatic Indian and Asian foods, even out here in the country. Spice up in the Mexican aisle or go kosher in the Jewish aisle.

Another local source is the home business. People are designing jewelry, creating wardrobes, making furniture from real wood, providing decorating service. Of course, you have to know someone who knows someone to find these home businesses, but hey, that’s part of the mystique. And if nothing else works, there’s always the week-end yard sale, where one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

[Show #498]

Time to Hide?

Backstory – A Time to Hide

This story came from concern about the daily news in our country. While we await progress and decision making and leadership, what we receive is foot dragging, finger pointing and blame. We would not put up with it in our own life, why do we allow it in our government? Hear where we might look for guidance.

Consider This Show – A Time to Hide

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Americans are worried. You can see it in our words and hear it in the emails we exchange with each other. The questionable practices that brought us to this state of the economy have long been in place. It’s impossible to revise things over night. Our good days have suddenly become the good old days.

There will be no easy out or fast cure. So what do we do? Shall we hide until it all goes away? Shall we ignore it all or turn the other cheek, or just hope for the best?

But this is not the first time that America has faced economic challenges. It’s not the first time that others have stolen away what is rightfully ours. Whether it be our savings, our home, or a loved one. Life isn’t fair, but we sometimes lose what out to have been ours to keep.

It’s time for families to turn inward. Discuss what the hard times mean for you and for others. Acknowledge the stress created by not knowing what can happen next. Ask your parents and grand-parents how they survived previous downturns. Just talking out in the open can really help.

Remember that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain. Something to consider.

[Show #601]

Collector

Backstory – Collector

This story was part of a recording that did not get edited for the radio. There is no music intro and you won’t hear Alan Arehart introduce me. I wanted to share it with the special listeners who receive our Sunday stories. Those of you who collect any kind of themed treasure will relate, I believe. Let me know what you think.

Consider This Show – Collector

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I am known to be a collector. How about you? Does everyone know you are enamored of frogs or cute little mice? Does your head turn for giraffes or red poppies? Do they shower you with towels, scarves, cups and toilet seats – all emblazed with grapes?

If you are a collector, how did that come about? Why did you buy the first item in your collection? Your second?

I seem to be a volunteer collector – like those flowers in your garden that sprout up without your planting them. Something comes into my possession. Someone sees that I have that thing, so I must like that, So, they buy me another version – for my birthday, for Christmas, for Kwanzaa, to help me get well. Soon I have a dozen things with the same theme.

By now, any observer can see that I am obsessed with this collection with which I have been showered.

I do admit to deliberately collecting teapots. I look for unusual designs at auctions and yard sales and have some real finds. There are over 30 of them in the kitchen now.

But how about the butterflies? And the miniature shoes? Those just kind of fell into my lap.

And there they are – official collections, ready or not. I enjoy them every day and give thanks for friends and family who gifted me with so many of them that I became their collector.

[Show #341]

Hit By a Brick

Backstory – Hit by a Brick

This story was first presented a couple of years ago. It brought so many listener comments. It seemed to really hit home. So here it is again, for our new listeners and those who have been receiving our Sunday stories for years. Thank you so much for tuning in. Many of you respond by email. You can also post your comment on our blog. Hope you will do so, after listening to this story.

Consider This Show – Hit by a Brick

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A young executive was driving through our town in a shiny new Jaguar. He was looking good. Suddenly a brick came out of nowhere and hit the side of the car. He slammed on the brakes and looked around seeing a guilty looking young boy of about ten standing on the sidewalk. He ran up to him, angry and grim.

“Why on earth did you do that” he asked, shaking the kid. “Look what you did to my new car.” As tears streamed down his face the child said, “It was the only way I could get someone’s attention. My brothers’ wheelchair tipped over and I can’t get him up. No one would stop to help me.”

Well, the pair ran to the overturned chair and the driver helped right the chair and seat the handicap boy. After making sure both kids were okay and accepting their thanks he walked back to his car and felt the new dent and something occurred to him. He had been so caught up in the success and the perks, like his new car, that he had let slide the more important things, like paying attention to those he loved.

He decided right there and then to listen and watch and know where he was needed and respond before he had to be hit by a brick. Don’t wait for a brick to head your way. Take time to notice where you’re needed and be there.

[Show#293]

Responsible Fatherhood

Backstory – Responsible Fatherhood

The young man in this story is actually my grandson. As a single father, he had the best of intentions but little knowledge. The resource suggested was a big help to him.

My great grandson is now a happy, well-educated and content little guy who is the pride of both of his parents. Hear the resources suggested to his dad and pass the word along to any young father who is being celebrated today. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads.

Consider This Show – Responsible Fatherhood

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I talked with a young father after the last show we did on dads. He was a sincere young man with a son less than a year old.

He confessed that he didn’t know how to be a father. He was not sure what was expected of him. His model for fatherhood in his own life was not good. He wanted to be sure he would not fall into the mold of the father he grew up with.

I referred him to a website. Fatherhood.gov.

Although mothers have created many means of getting together and sharing problems and solutions, historically fathers have not.

The slogan on the website – Take time to be a dad today. It’s a clearing house for responsible fatherhood.

President Obama called for a national initiative to endorse and support responsible fatherhood.

The call was answered! There are now chat rooms and local groups of fathers who get together to discuss how to balance work and family life.

The website is a good addition – it’s www.fatherhood.gov.

For those who don’t reach out for help, the best advice is to be patient. Listen. Pay attention to what your kids are trying to tell you. Be responsive. You don’t have to be their best friend.

Just be a loving, caring dad who is there and who keeps his promises.

[Show #350]

Filing

Backstory – Filing

I’ve had careers that always involved administration. I had to keep files and pull files and make files available. It was one of the most difficult tasks for me to conquer. You would think that computerization would have solved my filing challenges. No way! They get lost in the computer as easily as they disappeared in the filing cabinet.

I envisioned that a major benefit of retirement would be – no more files. Then I found out about all the paper work involved with Medicare, IRAs, activities of grandchildren and keeping track of birthdays and other celebrations of relatives and friends.

Hear about my filing adventures and strategies in this week’s story.

Consider This Show – Filing

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Has anyone figured out a good way to file papers? I am very good at filing. Putting papers away. What I can’t seem to master is FINDING THEM AGAIN when I want to get them back out.

I remember a rule of filing. You eliminate everything that is redundant. For instance: If you were filing something for the US Department of the Interior. You would not file under U for US because you might have a lot of US stuff. You would not file under D for Department because you might have a lot of departments.

You would file under I for Interior and then add – US Department of. OK, that sounds simple.

Now where do I file the plumber’s invoice? In the house file? The plumber’s file? Alphabetically under his company name? His name?

Maybe I should just do what my guy does. One large box into which goes every paper that passes through his hands. Receipts, letters, solicitations, reunion notices, discount coupons. All in the box.

What do you think? Is it better to spend the time filing them away in an organized manner? Or spend the time finding them amongst a myriad of jumble when you need them?

If I had to keep score, I’d say that each method, for us anyway, takes the same amount of time. The only difference is that he does not get to have cool rules like – Interior, US Department of.

[Show # 334]

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