Trader Joe’s has earned the distinction of being “America’s Favorite Grocery Store” three out of the last four years and for good reason. This past November, my wife asked me to go to Trader Joe’s with a grocery list containing nine new holiday novelty items that were featured in its monthly publication—The Fearless Flyer. Since…
I received the following email from a subscriber in response to a recent Reminder titled, “Make it Easy for others to be Nice to you.” I sat next to her during a seven hour flight from Panama City to Buenos Aires. She said, “Ross, what that hospital employee told you, it is really true….I felt…
Mel Brooks is an 88 year old film director, screenwriter, comedian, actor, producer, composer and songwriter. At the present time, he’s appearing in his first solo stage production which means he’s still going strong. According to a blurb compiled by Ann Oldenburg that appeared in a recent issue of USA Today, Mr. Brooks offered this…
Opportunities abound for us to volunteer our time at churches, non-profit social service agencies, hospitals and schools. Volunteers derive a great deal of satisfaction from their efforts because those efforts are usually directed at making someone’s day a little bit happier, brighter or easier. This, in turn, provides volunteers with a sense of purpose and…
Recently I had to go to a hospital twice daily to receive an infusion of an antibiotic. On one occasion there was a man receiving a blood transfusion who was also going through chemotherapy. His wife was there with him. There was also another woman who was receiving a blood transfusion who was also going…
Four of Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday” guests recently shared some lessons they wish they had known when they were young. These lessons were posted in the “Impact” section of the July 1, 2014 issue of The Huffington Post and are presented in excerpt form below: John Mackey, Co-founder of Whole Foods: “Talk less and listen more.” Sue…
A recent Dear Abby column carried a poem titled Decide to Forgive that was written by Robert Muller, a former assistant secretary-general of the United Nations. Several lines in the poem caught my attention: To forgive is the highest, Most beautiful form of love. In return you will receive Untold peace and happiness. The column then ended with this…
I recently received an email informing me that November is “Gratitude Month.” I have no idea who wrote the original email, but it contained a list of 20 simple ways to show your appreciation to someone who has done something nice to you. I’d like to share half the list with you today and the…
A friend shared this quote with me at a recent meeting. It makes so much sense. If you don’t start, you can’t finish. If you don’t attempt, you can’t succeed. A philosopher once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” The same is true a journey of a single mile.…
Most people tend to hang out with people who are roughly their same age – and for good reason. Their children are probably close to the same ages, they grew up in the same era and remember many of the same historical events; so there’s a certain comfort level associated with doing this. As comfortable…