When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home
in North Platte , Nebraska , it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions,
they found this poem.. Its quality and content so impressed the
staff that copies were made and distributed to every
nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Missouri .

The old man’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in
the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association
for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been
made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world,
is now the author of this ‘anonymous’ poem winging across the Internet..

Crabby Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . When you’re looking at me?
A crabby old man . . . . . Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . . . And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . ‘I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice . . . . . The things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . . .. Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . You’re not looking at me.

I’ll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . As I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten . .. . . . With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . Who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . With wings on his feet..
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . A lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . .. That I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . . . . Have grown and are gone,
But my woman’s beside me . . . . . To see I don’t mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play ’round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . .. . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . Shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . Young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . And the love that I’ve known.

I’m now an old man . . . . . And nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . .. . Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . Grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . .. . . Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . . A young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I’m loving and living . . . .. . Life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . . Gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . Open and see.
Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer . . . See ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet

An older person who you might brush aside

Without looking at the young soul within.

We will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM

The best and most beautiful things of

This world can’t be seen or touched.

They must be felt by the heart.

As we approach the Martin Luther King, Jr. annual holiday observance, states all over the globe including Georgia, are planning events, memorials, concerts and lectures, all in respect for this clergyman, activist and prominent leader for the African-American Civil Rights Movement.

This iconic man was known for his non-violent aspirations in fighting for justice and civil rights. His famous speech, “I Have a Dream” was presented following a March in Washington and he quickly became known as one of the most famous orators in American history. He was originally inspired by a visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace in India in 1959 and the deepening of his beliefs for non-violent activism became a stronghold for his ideals in life.

MORE | MLK Jr. Day and Day of Service events

King’s contribution on promoting non-violent fighting for racial inequality earned him the illustrious Noble Peace Prize in October of 1964. In the following years, he also became involved in areas that would help combat poverty as well as voicing his concerns over the Vietnam War.

On April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Years after his death, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004.

In 1986 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a US National Holiday.

I was working on a special project for a Camp Owner and Tennis Pro this past week. It was a fun assignment entailing the creation of a power point presentation, writing a script and doing a lot of research. The theme was merging technology with sports. It was a VERY enlightening topic and I learned so much doing the research and watching the videos.

There seems to be a question that kid’s brains are being “rewired” by all the new technology and parents would do well to set limits for their kids so they don’t suffer down the road.

Colleges and Universities across the nation are involved in high-tech study using Robots, and all the many uses of them, especially when it comes to helping kids who suffer the spectrum of Autism or Asperger syndrome. These Robots can also sing, dance, clean the house, are used in assembly lines for making cars, in hospitals for delicate surgeries, and yes, they are even trying to get involved in running and playing sports.

So what’s the issue? Kids need to exercise their body as much as their brains in this generation. It use to be that, “TV” was the culprit gluing our kids eyes to the tube, but now, it is of course, the computer, video games, Wii, x-box 360 kinect, robotics, DSL, iPhones, iPods, ipads, and “iwants” that seem to dominate the kids life now. Technology is here to stay, and we don’t want it to go away…it is amazing what the future is going to bring us that we would never suspect as being possible.

The answer is very simple. Merge sports and technology. Not Wii sports…outside, real live team-member interactive sports, or exercise, or just plain and simple, playing outdoors.

My daughter-in-law, who is a Speech Pathologist in the Schools, allows the grandkids to play tech-games only 1 hour per day. She also declares a technology free day, once a week, much to the kid’s grumblings, but found the kids will go outside and play with their friends, toss the ball, play basketball, or baseball, fly kites, or even breathe fresh air just tossing rocks in a pond. Then there is also sports or horse camp in the summer, and piano, viola, drum or guitar practice too each week.

Now I’m a savvy young “nanny” to my grandkids, and I need to keep up with technology as well for my business – but my big lesson from the younger generation, is that I too need to be careful not to get addicted to the computer, games, or TV  either. Ok, so my knees won’t let me run like wildfire anymore…but I DO walk my dogs every day and breathe that nice clean fresh air…and my legs are always moving when I watch “Dancing with the Stars!”

As we welcome in the New Year of 2012, we can all hope to share in the resounding and renewal of better times, politically, economically, and personally. As the years go by, we all resolve to make each new year better. We resolve to be thinner, kinder, exercise more, budget our money better, and work harder toward success in our work. Our determination is second only to the resolve to do better, period.

The irony of making those New Year Resolutions is that everyone is psyched out and raring to go that first couple of weeks, then the “mundane” set in quickly and our resolve is forever tainted until the resolutions for next year. How do we keep our resolutions?  Most likely, by not doing it the first WEEK of the year, but do it NOW…today, do not wait one more minute. Get a jump on it and make it – not a resolution but a change in your life. What I am resolving to do starting today!

1. No matter how many blogs I write for others, I will make the effort to write my own blogs at a minimum once a month.

2. I will market my little newspaper called “The Writing Editor Daily” where I pass on current events that is tweeted by my followers both in the small business world, along with the Big Newspapers, magazines, as well as TV medians.

3. I will resolve to keep my Facebook and social media accounts CURRENT, and stay informed on my fellow contacts in friendship and business.

4. I am going to do plenty of research this year and write blogs about things that will be very helpful to others, both in business and in their personal life.

5. I will learn a new software program or attend a seminar every month just to expand my skills and knowledge and share ideas.

That’s it!  Starting today, I am on the job and doing it…to that end, I want to thank all my wonderful clients, friends, coworkers and professionals whom I have been blessed with working with this past year. You rock!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL!

 
Yes, fall is a poetic and romantic season that opens the doorway to the holidays.

It overshadows the commercialism and early season propaganda of celebrating too soon, the real reason for the season of Thanksgiving to Christmas.

A few quotes about fall from some of the greats…

“The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August; here and there, a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty that has seen one season too many.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees.” David Letterman

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all.” Stanley Horowitz

“Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.” Elizabeth Lawrence

“Neither spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.” John Donne

“October is a fine and dangerous season in America. It’s a wonderful time to begin anything at all. You go to college, and every course in the catalogue looks wonderful.” Thomas Merton

“I knew, of course, that trees and plants had roots, stems, bark, branches, and foliage that reached up toward the light. But I was coming to realize that the real magician was light itself.” Edward Steichen

“For man, [fall] is a time of harvest and of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing and of scattering abroad.” Edwin Way Teale

“My sorrow, when she’s here with me, thinks these dark days of autumn rain are beautiful as days can be; she loves the bare, the withered tree; she walks the sodden pasture lane.” Robert Frost

So too, fall is a time for contemplation. There is a warm renewal of the family, bonding again as they gather around fires warming the chilly night and closing the doors of summer. There is the smell of homemade soups that carries the aroma of home and hearth to anyone who visits. The ambience of candles as we snuggle up for the evening programs.

 Ahh…the serene beauty of it all…fall is definitely the start and finish of what life is all about.

As we approach this annual holiday weekend, it is a good idea for us to reflect on the meaning of being able to observe this federal holiday.

 First of all, Memorial Day is always celebrated on the last Monday of May.  It was formerly known as Decoration Day. The special day was declared in 1868, by General John Logan, the National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.

The very first Memorial Day was observed on May 30^th, 1868 by placing flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.  Finally, in 1871, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holidays to be celebrated yearly on the last Monday in May.

 Memorial Day has classically become the marking of the beginning of summer vacation season, and Labor Day, the closing of summer.

 Memorial Day has reached beyond remembering and honoring the soldiers from the civil war or any war, to actually honoring the deceased whether they were military or not.  Families have learned to celebrate with picnics, family reunions or get-together’s, to fireworks displays and parades, not to mention the Indianapolis 500 auto race which is held every year since 1911 on Memorial Day.

 On a consumer note, most sales are big on Memorial Day Weekend.  Many people take advantage of the savings to shop that weekend.

 Mostly however, in Washington, DC, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving our country.  The monuments are a heavy attraction during this holiday.  The usual celebration and this year is no different, is the National Memorial Day Concert,  the National Memorial Day Parade that includes marching bands and veteran units from all 50 states.  The parade is sponsored by World War II Veterans Committee and normally includes patriotic floats and USA helium-filled balloons.

 There is also the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally where thousands of motorcycles ride through Washington in an annual demonstration promoting the initiative to improve veteran benefits and resolve POW/MIA issues.

 Monday, May 30, 2011, 11 a.m. A wreath-laying ceremony and concert will be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of Memorial Day.

 Vietnam Veterans Memorial-Monday, May 30, 2011, 1 p.m.

This year’s annual Memorial Day ceremony includes Presentation of the Colors, remarks by a special guest and wreath-laying service.

 Whether in Washington or your own home-town, millions of Americans will be reaching out to our service men living and deceased to honor their love and dedication to the United States, which stands united through any type of war, disaster, or less than perfect politics. 

 God Bless America this Memorial Day Weekend.

Being a Leader is more than just having the title or ownership. The start-up phase and the established business management phase – may require two different types of people. Handling the responsibilities of a group or team is challenging and quite different than making the start-up decisions.

What makes a Good Leader? Certain capabilities, traits and skills, all factor into being a good Leader.

Leadership Capabilities Include:

• Passionate about people
• Performance management
• Building effective teams
• Performance Appraisals
• Coaching
• One-on-ones
• Touch-points
• Giving Feedback
• Managing change
• Managing conflict
• Employee Service

Leadership Traits

• Initiative
• Flexibility
• Persistence
• Resilience
• Passion

Leadership Skills

• Managerial courage
• Persuasiveness and influencing
• Presentation skills
• Telephone skills
• Verbal communication
• Running meetings
• Written communication
• Negotiation
• Listening

These lists outline the Leadership criteria to be an effective leader. However, it doesn’t stop here…no, it’s just the beginning. Now we group the skill levels to form the techniques used by Leaders.

Managing Teams

 One on Ones – underestimating their value will be your downfall.
 Setting Expectations – your commitment to clarity
 Start-up meetings – make a difference.

Leading People

 Can you assess their performance?
 Performance Management
 Delegation –
 Hands on during Change

Leadership – Ongoing

 Building company spirit
 Driving culture change
 Demonstrating your people value
 Motivate Me!

The bottom line in Leadership include all the above, but none of them matter if you don’t possess the PEOPLE SKILLS. This would include:

 Be Trustworthy
 Inspire People to Work Toward a Vision
 Be Aware of Your Impact on Others
 Accept Responsibility for Your Actions
 Lead vs. Manage
 Have High Self Worth and Self Esteem – Invites Respect

This list would also include the intangibles, Passion, Compassion, Understanding, Empathy, Perpetuity for ongoing goals and success mindset and most important, the ability to communicate.

“There, now that isn’t asking much is it?”

Congrats, now you are a successful leader. C’mon, it wasn’t that hard – you were BORN to be a leader!

There was a HUGE debate going on and posted on the “Linked In” website regarding the Virtual World. The issue was regarding whether you should drop the name Virtual Assistant from your title, logo, or whatever, and use other options to promote yourself, or your small business in the virtual world…or EVEN in the real world!

The debate went on for several months, and came to no definitive conclusion, more – that it was a voting platform to see who agreed to dropping the name vs. who disagreed. Now this is not the platform to vote either way…even though my profound belief is that anyone that is setting up business in their own home, are virtual any way you look at it. They also assist business people with whichever specialty niche they possess. So, on a personal note, although I thought the initial discussion was very good, I think it soon became a contest, and reply’s became redundant and serving no real value after a while. If you want to call yourself a VA do so, if not, don’t. That simple – no one has to “prove”  their title to be successful in the virtual world.

Here is what the International Virtual Assistant Association has to offer…as stated right on their website. They offer first, their definition of a VA.

“What is a Virtual Assistant?”

Virtual assistants are independent contractors who (from a remote location, usually their home or office) support multiple clients in a variety of industries by providing administrative, creative, and technical services.

“What is the International Virtual Assistant Association?”

The International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional education and development of members of the Virtual Assistance profession, and to educating the public on the role and function of the Virtual Assistant. The IVAA provides continuing education, networking opportunities, member benefits and optional certification to its members, as well as provide a member directory and Request for Proposal (RFP) system for parties interested in utilizing the services of a member virtual assistant. http://www.ivaa.org.

Now, who is, The Georgia VA Connection? (GVAC)

Simple too…we are a State member site that is a direct connection from IVAA. So far, there are 10 states that expanded locally to promote virtual business (ideal for businesses who don’t want to go out of town to hire a VA) and the GVAC is the newest member site dedicated to:

Promoting IVAA
Virtual Assistants
Connecting local businesses with Virtual Assistants in Georgia
The bottom line? Change your business name if you must, that’s fine, but don’t go down that lone mental- health road of losing your identity of who you really are, and always will be…a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT, no matter what your “title” is.

Thanks to Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) and The International Virtual Assistant Association (IVAA) for making the industry what we are today… not hundreds, but thousands of happy VA’s providing Virtual Assistance all over the world!

This event is an annual Lottery where you simply purchase a ticket for $25.00 (which is tax deductible) and you have 60 opportunities to win! That is because if your name is pulled as a winner for one drawing, it goes right back into the hat with the chance to win again! The best part however, is helping all those families who are struggling with finances due to their loved ones suffering from Brain Cancer, which is where the proceeds go for this non-profit.

Go ahead and have some fun and perhaps win once or MANY MANY times!!

Provides Direct Financial Aid to Qualified  Brain Cancer Patients & Their Families

MAY DAYS DRAWING – $2,500 Cash Grand Prize

Plus Daily Cash Prizes

Win Often In The 5th Annual May Days Drawing

A $25 Donation GETS YOU A TICKET

You can win more than once!

Each ticket will give you more than 60 chances to win!

http://www.mission4maureen.org

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