“Never continue in a job you don’t enjoy. If you’re happy in what you’re doing, you’ll like yourself, you’ll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you will have had more success than you could possibly have imagined. ”
― Johnny Carson
Stephanie Elliot said she was completely taken by surprise when her son, Xavier Elliot, told her that he wanted to make clothes for homeless children, after learning what it was like to be homeless himself.
“I think it affected him a lot,” Elliot of Phoenix, Arizona told ABC News. “Losing everything, having to start all over again, and seeing all the other kids in shelters — some of them were coming in from domestic violence and all they had were the clothes on their backs. So, he saw the need for it when we were in there.”
Once outfits are completed, Elliot said she and Xavier plan on donating them to a UMOM Day Center in Phoenix, among many other family shelters.
Now settled in a home, Elliot said she mends clothing for extra income, which is how Xavier got the idea to help out kids who are less fortunate.
Elliot, a mom of three, said she and her family were left displaced for nine years after her husband, a disabled veteran, was unable to receive the necessary treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder.
Xavier has already attended a design fashion camp and, with his mother’s help, will perfect the skills he’s learned to start making clothes for young people — including a special “Ninja Turtles” dress for a little girl who, Elliot said, lost her home in a fire.
“I sit out in my office sewing and he keeps me company,” Elliot said. “I was actually sewing a purse one day and he said he wanted to save his allowance to make clothes for homeless kids. I really never saw it coming.”
Soon, Elliot said a friend encouraged her to make a Facebook page to advertise Xavier’s new project titled “Clothes for Charity by the Elliott Family.”
“I posted it there and a couple of sewing groups I’m in and it was a huge hit,” she said. “I started getting emails from different news channels and we got a ton of fabric donations.”
When he returns from summer camp later this week, Elliot said, Xavier will be thrilled to expand the cause, which began earlier this month with the “Ninja Turtles” dress.
“He said ‘Do you think they’ll have outlets [at summer camp] so I can take my sewing machine?’ she said, laughing. “I told him to go and have fun.”
This six-month survey of U.S. employees’ satisfaction levels had some good—and bad—news for small business owners.
First, the good news: U.S. workers are feeling more satisfied than they did six months ago. Half of employees report having been recognized for their on-the-job efforts in the past three months, up from 44 percent in Fall 2011 when the last survey was conducted. And more than 80 percent say receiving recognition in the workplace makes them more satisfied with their jobs. Additionally, more than half believe their employers are doing a good job offering adequate recognition for work well done.
Now, the bad news: Even though many employees are happier with their jobs, things could be better for the 55 percent of employees who say they’re ready to leave their current jobs for a company that would better recognize their efforts.
Not convinced that recognizing your employees’ efforts is directly related to their satisfaction? Check out this data:
If you haven’t implemented some type of employee recognition program, now is the time. For a small business, recognition is easy.
For one thing, you’re probably out walking around and interacting with your team already (at least, I hope so). Be sure to provide ongoing recognition of their efforts by acknowledging them, thanking them, and calling them out in front of the rest of the team. Recognizing people’s efforts publicly is important—don’t just do it behind closed doors.
Of course, another often-appreciated way to recognize your people is with a written note. I know many workers who have treasured little mementos like this for years. In today’s instant-communication world, taking the time to write a note means a lot. (That doesn’t mean you can’t send a quick email to thank workers for their efforts, of course.)
Finally, consider recognition in a more tangible way, such as a gift card, cash or a paid day or afternoon off.
How do you recognize your employees? How has it helped you retain key people?
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X’s and then putting a big “F” at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child’s past records and she put Teddy’s off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy’s first grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners… he is a joy to be around..”
His second grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.”
His third grade teacher wrote, “His mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn’t show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren’t taken.”
Teddy’s fourth grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class.”
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy’s. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper That he got from a grocery bag Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.” After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her “teacher’s pets..”
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling* her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer…. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, “Thank you Mrs. Thompson for* believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.”
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, “Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.”
(For you that don’t know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)
Warm someone’s heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone’s life today? tomorrow? Just “do it”.
Random acts of kindness, I think they call it?
“Believe in Angels, then return the favour.”
★ℒℴѵℯ★ℒℴѵℯ★ℒℴѵℯ ℒℴѵℯ★ℒℴѵℯ★
┊ ┊ ☆
┊ ★
☆
I asked her for a piece of advice. She reached in her purse, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to me. It said this:
Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. Life is too short– enjoy it. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present and the future. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. If a relationship has to be secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
Take a deep breath, it calms the mind. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. It’s never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else. When it comes time to go after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer. Burn the nice candles, use the nice sheets, wear the nice lingerie, wear the nice clothes. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
Over prepare, then go with the flow. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years will this matter?’ Always choose life. Forgive but don’t forget. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and we saw everyone else’s, we’d grab our’s back. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need. Yield. Friends are the family we choose. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.*
This picture has gone viral.
And you’ll understand why in a moment.
That’s Officer Nick Struck from the Brighton, Colorado Police Department.
He’s trying to distract that little girl he’s holding.
He wanted to keep her from learning that her daddy just died in that car behind them after it rolled over.
Officer Struck told 9NEWS:
“My daughter, when she falls down and hurts herself, I sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.’
So I started singing it to the little girl.”
There were six people in the car.
Two adults and four children.
And it appears no one in the car was properly restrained.
Because all of them were ejected.
Officer Struck told 9NEWS:
“When you hear that there’s children involved, I’ll tell you what, everyone that responds to that scene, you get that pit in your stomach.”
“The first thing we do when we get on scene is we just try to, if we can comfort anybody, of course we’re going to go to the kids.”
The little girl’s father was the only person killed in the accident.
The other adult and three of the kids were taken to the hospital.
But the little girl in the picture wasn’t hurt.
Officer Struck said he could relate to her because he has a young daughter at home.
“I have a two-year-old daughter and she’s my first kid.
So, of course, your first thought is that could be your little daughter.”
The picture was taken by Jessica Matrious.
She just happened to be passing by at the time.
And what she captured is a piece of police work that we don’t see very often.
As Officer Struck told 9NEWS:
“I’m not a medical person, but I know how to give a hug to somebody, and you better believe every one of those officers on scene would do the same thing.”
The Brighton Police Department posted this picture and the story on their Facebook page.
They said:
“We are extremely proud of the men and women of our department!
Good work, Officer Struck!”
One person left a comment saying:
“His photograph symbolizes what police work is.
Giving a bit of comfort while in the background total chaos is going on.
Great photo and great job Brighton Police Department. “
And another person wrote:
“While it’s never going to detract from this little lady losing her daddy, the officer has made her trauma just a little more bearable.
I hope he stays in her life in some form.”
I salute Officer Struck.
And I sure hope that little girl is going to be okay.
At some point she’s going to learn that daddy is not coming home.
And she’s going to need all the support she can get.
Quotes from Officer Struck courtesy 9NEWS
Picture courtesy Jessica Matrious via Brighton Police Department Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brighton-Police-Department/422571431253696?hc_location=ufi
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr.. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
‘Hello Barry, how are you today?’
‘H’lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas. They sure look good..’
‘They are good, Barry.. How’s your Ma?’
‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’
‘Good. Anything I can help you with?’
‘No, Sir.
Jus’ admirin’ them peas.’
‘Would you like to take some home?’ asked Mr. Miller.
‘No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ’em with.’
‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?’
‘All I got’s my prize marble here.’
‘Is that right? Let me see it’ said Miller.
‘Here ’tis. She’s a dandy.’
‘I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?’ the store owner asked..
‘Not zackley but almost.’
‘Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’. Mr. Miller told the boy.
‘Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.’
Mrs… Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.
With a smile she said, ‘There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances.. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever..
When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.’
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts…all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket.
Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes…
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
‘Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.
They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size…..they came to pay their debt.’
‘We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,’ she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ..’
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral :
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles:
A fresh pot of coffee you didn’t make yourself…
An unexpected phone call from an old friend …..
Green stoplights on your way to work…
The fastest line at the grocery store…
A good sing-along song on the radio…
Your keys found right where you left them.
Share this with the people you’ll never forget.
I just Did…
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED
~Author Unknown
Are happy workers more productive? Should employers and managers hire people that are more positive and happy?
These questions have occupied researchers and psychologists in recent years in an attempt to provide definitive evidence of a link between happy workers and greater productivity. Since 2006, conferences attracting hundreds of experts on the topic have been held worldwide as researchers consider whether employers and managers should hire people that are more positive and happy and whether they should be creating the kind of conditions that enhance worker happiness.
In my National Post column titled Put On a Happy Face, Pile on the Profits (Oct. 31, 2007), I cited research that shows a 1% positive increase in a worker’s relationship with the boss is equal to a 30% increase in salary. Psychologists and researchers from around the world, including studies by Ed Denener, Martin Seligman, Daniel Goleman, Stephen Post, Ruut Veenhoven and John Helliwell have all concluded the following:
*Creating conditions under which workers feel happy about their work results in greater productivity and other positive work behaviours.
* Happy individuals are more likely than their less happy peers to have fulfilling, positive relationships, superior work performance and robust health.
* Happier people tend to get better performance evaluations and higher pay.
In my two decades of working with senior managers — including chief executives — focusing on developing productive workplaces, employee motivation and peak performance, it is clear the vast majority of happy people get more enjoyment from their jobs, are less likely to be bored and enjoy better relationships with their superiors and peers.
They tend also to have more mastery over themselves and their surroundings in order to achieve their goals. They are more serious, intentional and organized about accomplishments and are persistent, autonomous and responsible.
So the question becomes are workers happy as a result of satisfying work, or are they happy to begin with and therefore become more productive employees? In a similar vein, are people happy because they have attained a certain level of wealth, success and status, or have they attained those things because they are happier and more satisfied with themselves? In other words is it correlation or cause and effect that creates happiness?
In my experience, and it’s being borne out by recent research, happy people become more successful and productive. People’s success in life, rather than being the cause for happiness, as we commonly think in our society, just may be the outcome of happiness. And that success includes being a more productive worker.
In a competitive global economy in which companies are struggling to survive and succeed, recruitment, retention and engagement of the top talent have become critical management challenges. If happy workers are more productive workers, it is incumbent upon employers and their managers to make a happy frame of mind a criteria for hiring, and also create working conditions that encourage happiness. Consider it one of the most significant strategies for improving bottom-line performance.
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