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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, ". . . To the Beat of a Different Drummer,'" reads as follows:

At the website Yahoo!Answers, an unknown respondent wrote the following in response to this prompt: “Henry David Thoreau said.....march to the beat of a different drummer....?”  “In the conclusion to 'Walden,' Thoreau writes, "If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away." He meant,” said this respondent, “that one should do things in one's own way regardless of societal norms and expectations.”
    

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

Some of the items discussed in this essay may require giant leaps, and to accomplish and develop these skills requires baby steps.  Begin in small ways, and you are likely to make large gains.  Be patient with yourself, however, as you grow and change in positive ways.   Thoreau had it right.  To march to the beat of a different drummer, Thoreau said, “Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away."

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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Not Your Daddy's Retirement,'" reads as follows:

What prompted this essay was a “Saturday Essay” written by Dr. David Andersen for The (Toledo) Blade (March 19, 2005), entitled, “Retirement’s gift is the chance to blaze new trail.”  When I first read this essay, I was just interested in another person’s point of view.  I was closing in on my first ten years of retirement, and I found his perspective interesting but much different from my own.  Although Andersen closed the door on one “life,” he left the door wide open for a new one—“Looking out over what once seemed an abyss, I now begin to see instead, uncharted terrain.  The journey isn’t over.  My destination is still out there. . . .”  

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

“In conclusion,” Barnett writes in a summary to her essay that could just as well have been written for this essay, “you can take control over your time and get more done than you ever wanted. Although this requires careful planning and learning, you can accomplish all of your goals by not being a perfectionist, delegating to others, setting long and short term goals, planning and combining activities, prioritizing, getting organized, developing a realistic plan, keeping track of your time, and creating a personal mission statement.”

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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Travel (Introduction to the book Exotic Destinations and More,'" reads as follows:

When I lived in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), I mentioned to friends my plan to travel south to Chittagong, Bangladesh, and the woman to whom I was speaking said, “I would never go there, it’s too dirty.”  (Many cities in that part of the world are notorious for sacred cows walking free through the streets, pickpockets and beggars,  trash and litter.)  When I showed a department-store clerk a 20-yuan note, (worth $3.05 U.S.) and told her I had just returned from Beijing, Southeast Asia, she said, “Oh, I would never want to go there! . . . But I’m not much of a traveler anyway.”  This same trip came up in a discussion with close friends, and they said, “We would never do something so risky.”

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

This book (Exotic destinations and More) represents years and years of traveling.  Nobody could accomplish what is represented here in just one or two years.  We try now to make two major trips each year — one in the spring and one in the fall.  Because we have now seen so much and so many places, we have decided (at least in part) to try to be more selective in the choices we make.  That is, we are now going to visit those places we have enjoyed and would like to either see again or see more of.  But, there will be more essays, no doubt about that — since I have a blog that like an appetite, needs fuel.  I have a mind, too, that needs fuel, and travel experiences are one type of fuel I truly seek and enjoy.  I hope you enjoy these experiences as much as I did — and as much as I liked writing about them, too.

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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Exploring Australia,'" reads as follows:

The thoughts about Australia prior to our visit there ranged widely from a country with a primitive road system to an advanced, modern, industrial society.  The reason for this wide range of thoughts (and emotions, too!) is simply that my family had no idea what to expect.  For me, it was a six-month sabbatical, and I had made contact at four educational institutions to teach or lecture.
 

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

I delivered several lectures at the University of Western Australia, and our visit to Perth ended our six months in Australia — an interesting, spectacular, and memorable visit.  We did everything we could do within our time limit and budget, and it is a place to which we would gladly return.


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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Review of the Speech, 'Sticky Ideas,'" reads as follows:

(There is an important caveat to this review of the speech, “Sticky Ideas.”  This is my own speech that I am reviewing.  (I have never done this before!)  I conceived the idea; I constructed the speech; I delivered the speech.  To be certain, I am biased.  This review was written on the day I saw the speech published in the book Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 8e by Steven A. And Susan J. Beebe (Allyn & Bacon, 2012, pp. 410-414).  I had not read the speech for four years and, it was my re-reading of it after four years that prompted this review/essay.)

Ask yourself the question, after hearing (or reading) a speech, and knowing that you were impressed by it, what is the ingredient or element that contributed most to that impression?  In some cases, of course, it is how the speech was delivered.  Often, delivery dominates people’s impressions because, first, it is obvious, and, second, because we judge others on how they look and behave.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

The language of the speech is colloquial with no special jargon, literary flourishes, or complexities.  It was delivered from a manuscript; however, I knew (and had practiced) the material thoroughly; thus, I delivered it without depending on the manuscript much at all, in an extemporaneous manner.  It took about 25-30 minutes to deliver the speech, and several questions from the audience of about 50, followed.

*This speech (“Sticky Ideas: Low-Tech Solutions to a High-Tech Problem,”) was originally published in Vital Speeches of the Day (1 August 2007): 73:8.

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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "There is So Much Pettiness in the World, " reads as follows:

As I looked at the political picture in the U.S. today, I thought of a quotation by Margaret J. Wheatley that so accurately captured the situation: “In our daily life,” she wrote, “we encounter people who are angry, deceitful, intent only on satisfying their own needs. There is so much anger, distrust, greed, and pettiness that we are losing our capacity to work well together.”  It's embarrassing to admit that we harbor pettiness in our lives, but the fact is that most of us do.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

“Those who occupy their minds with small matters,” said Francois de La Rochefoucauld, “generally become incapable of greatness.”  Although I am not seeking greatness, nor will I ever, such a quote offers some sanity in this world of pettiness.  I don’t get involved with it, I don’t try to change others, and I don’t lower myself to their level.  If you see pettiness of any kind, do as I do, smile, understand it, appreciate it for the pettiness that it is, and go on with your life.  It was Winston Churchill who said, “Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense”



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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "When I Cook Popcorn Over the Stove (Heart-Healthy Habits), " reads as follows:

It was an essay by Nanci Hellmich in the “Your Life” section of USA Today (March 15, 2011, pg. 3D), titled, “Doctor’s orders for himself: Even for a neurologist, adopting heart-healthy habits is a challenge,” that prompted this essay, and if the doctor’s [Ralph Sacco, president of the American Heart Association, a neurologist and chairman of the department of neurology at Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami] habits contribute to anyone else’s change of behaviors, then this essay has made a significant contribution.  Hellmich’s essay, obviously, had a powerful influence on me.
   
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

This was Hellmich’s entire essay.  There was nothing more.  What was amazing to me, after I read her essay, was that I am currently doing (and have been doing for more than 30 years) all that I can do to prevent heart attacks and strokes — according to Sacco and what Hellmich has written.  Sure, there is no guarantee just as there are no guarantees in life, but it certainly adds to your security, self-confidence, and composure knowing that you have adopted and are following heart-healthy habits.




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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraphs of Thursday's essay, "Nag, Nag, Nag --- A Humorous Essay, " read as follows:

An attorney arrived home late, after a very tough day trying to get a stay of execution.

His last minute plea for clemency to the governor had failed and he was feeling worn out and depressed.  As soon as he walked through the door at home, his wife started on him about,

'What time of night to be getting home is this? Where have you been? Dinner is cold and I'm not reheating it . . . . And on and on and on . . .

[This joke continues for several more paragraphs.  Read the rest of it on Thursday.]

  
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraphs of the essay

[Obviously, the following is the end of a joke that begins earlier in the essay.  Read the beginning of this joke on Thursday.]

All  the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy man.   He
fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly  during the entire
return drive.
    
The more he chided her, the more agitated he became.  He just wouldn't let
up for a single minute.
    
To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant.  As  the woman got
out of the car, and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old  geezer
yelled to her,"While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."    




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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraphs of Thursday's essay, "You Must be Joking!, " read as follows:

A newlywed couple just moved into their new house. One day the husband comes home from work and his wife says, "Honey, you know, in the upstairs bathroom one of the pipes is leaking, could you fix it?"
    
The husband just looked at his wife and said, "What do I look like, Mr.Plumber?”
A few days went by, and he comes home from work and again his wife asks for a favor, "Honey, the car won't start, I think that it needs a new battery. Could you change it for me?"

"What do I look like, Mr.Goodwrench?" was his response.    

[This joke continues for several more paragraphs.  Read the rest of it on Thursday.]
  
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

[Obviously, the following is the end of a joke that begins earlier in the essay.  Read the beginning of this joke on Thursday.]

    
The plane moves faster and faster down the runway and the people sitting in the window seats realize they're headed straight for the water at the edge of the airport. As it begins to look as though the plane will plough in to the water, panicked screams fill the cabin. At that moment, the plane lifts smoothly into the air. The passengers relax and laugh a little sheepishly, and soon all retreat into t heir magazines, secure in the knowledge that the plane is in good hands.
    
In the cockpit, one of the blind pilots turns to the other and says,"ya know, Bob, one of these days, they're gonna scream too late and we're all gonna die."
 




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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "The Adrenaline Rush, " reads as follows:

When the bus driver unloaded our bicycles in a parking lot at the very top of the mountain just outside Vale, Colorado, I could feel the rush.  I felt addicted to excitement, to the adrenaline rush, to the danger inevitably and invariably involved.   At that point, we were on our own, and although I was with a friend, we had no intention of going down the mountain together (we never discussed it).  The trail was narrow, steep, with numerous curves, other riders traveling in the same direction, and, for me, totally unpredictable.  The adrenaline rush of the ride was there for the taking, and I reached out, seized it, took hold of it, and rode it with all the speed my body could deliver.  It was a highlight of my life, and the memory is clear, vivid, and energizing to this day.  (Thank goodness I didn’t crash!)
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

There are, of course, many ways to get a similar adrenaline rush, but for me these have been some of the most impressive.  Hey, when you know how to get it, enjoy getting it, then who needs drugs or alcohol?  I’m not an addict, I have never been one, and I don’t intend to become one, but the adrenaline rush provides a great natural high that is truly fulfilling.   




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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Seventh Anniversary (of writing essays for the blog), " reads as follows:

This is truly hard to believe — but I say this every year!  A seventh anniversary means the completion of about 364 essays and 364,000 words!  Had you asked me when I started whether I would reach this goal, the answer would have been an emphatic, “No way!”  I didn’t think it would be possible to make it for a single year, much less seven.
   
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

I am thrilled to have a blog.  I love writing essays, and I am pleased to be able to share my thoughts, ideas, and emotions with others.  If this wasn’t true, I would bring all of this to an end.  If you — my readers — have any ideas to add, or if there are topics you would enjoy seeing me write about, please contact me.  I always love hearing from my readers.   




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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Standing on the Sidelines --- With Wisdom, " reads as follows:

It’s not quite the same as sitting in the gymnasium bleachers watching your grandson play basketball and seeing — before the children (3rd and 4th graders) — the appropriate moves, possible openings, or potential plays.  It requires little skill or wisdom to be a bleachers-sitter at a kids’ basketball game, true, but it was during one of the basketball games that it came to me: How wonderful — after a lifetime of education, knowledge, and experience — to stand (or sit!) on the sidelines with wisdom.
    
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

“Wisdom” does not guarantee that you won’t make errors or have failures; “wisdom” guarantees nothing!  But, what it does is provide the mettle — strength of character, moral fiber, determined resolve, and courageousness — that adds character, fortitude, and spirit to the personality.  It’s a little like the answer to the question, “Why do you do body-building exercises?”  The answer is clear: It adds tone to the body.  “Wisdom” adds tone to the personality, color to viewpoints, flavor to decision-making, and quality to life.  Wisdom is what makes standing on the sidelines so insightful, worthwhile — and entertaining!  And, most important, standing on the sidelines with wisdom is what makes a life.      




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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "The Importance of Great Expectations, " reads as follows:

Throughout my life, I have always expected good things to happen.  It could be a result of my family, education, or many experiences, but I think it may be something else.  From a very early age — as far back as I can remember — I always did well in school.  For all the home work and preparation I did for my classes, I was continually rewarded positively.  This buoyed my confidence, of course, but also, it propelled me to continue in the same direction.  Positive results provide a template for continued similar performance.  
      
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

Positive results provide a template for continued similar performance.”  I truly believe that success in school, for me, is what allowed or prompted, if you will, the production of (or adoption of the worldview)  great expectations.  And it is those great expectations that have, on a continuing basis, resulted in the great successes I have experienced.



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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Ann Arbor, Michigan --- Where I Grew Up, " reads as follows:

I lived in Ann Arbor from 1952 through 1965 (sixth grade through my master’s degree from the University of Michigan (UofM)) — 13 years total.  I say this only to provide some perspective regarding this essay.  During that time my family moved twice.  We began our stay in a house at 701 Sunset Road high above the city (as high as you can go above a city in which there are no mountains, only minor hills) and ended our stay at 1476 Kirtland Drive (a Drive my parents named after Michigan’s Kirtland Warbler), in a house just blocks from what was then called Ann Arbor High School (Pioneer High School now).  All of my memories of Ann Arbor are positive, and that, too, colors the nature of this essay.
   
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

As you can see, I was an energetic youth.  You can also tell from just these descriptions, that I led an active life.  What made it particularly exciting was the variety.  I was never still, never bored, never unengaged.  For me, Ann Arbor holds wonderful, fulfilling, pleasant, and satisfying memories.   




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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Grow Up!, " reads as follows:

When I gave my lecture on “How to become a writer” to fifth graders, I had a young fellow ask me after the lecture was over, “Were these the things you did to become a writer?”  Although I would have loved to say, “Yes, exactly!,” I had to be honest with him.  “No,” I said, “but I didn’t have someone come into my class in the fifth grade and tell me what I’ve told you today.  These are things that I learned and am now sharing with you.”
   
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

At the end of Chapter 6, “Get Out of Your Comfort Zones,” and as part of the conclusion to that chapter, I write what could be the theme or thesis of the entire book: “What many people fail to realize is that, indeed, they are in charge of their lives—qualified, capable, and able—and they have the key to their prison cells if they would just find it, put it into the lock, turn it, open the door, and allow themselves to be catapulted into new and uncharted territory” (p. 17).     Catapulted, I might add, into new and uncharted territory that could best be characterized by “growth.”  At least when someone tells you to “Grow up!, after reading You Rules, you will know how to do it.



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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "When the time is right, " reads as follows:

It is during January and February when I experience some of my most productive time when it comes to writing.  I am able to “stock-up” on essays for my blog, write reviews of books for my blog, and compose speeches and other items, like no other time during the year.  For example, since January 14th, 2011, when I finished reading page proofs for the 10th edition of my textbook, Communicating Effectively (McGraw-Hill), I completed more than 30 essays and nearly 25 book reviews.
    

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

If I have the proper mindset, my attention is sufficiently focused, and I am filled with  passion, then I have happily discovered that with some relaxation and patience — perhaps even turning my attention to other things than the project at hand — I can accomplish what I need to do.  It is as if I am offering directions and guidance — albeit surreptitiously [acting with stealth] — to the behavioral centers of my physical being.  In the end (when the time is right), I am simply programming my self for productivity.
   




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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first two paragraphs of Thursday's essay, "How Do You Know?, " read as follows:

Our life can be our insurance policy.  It doesn’t work for everyone; however, it can work for you if 1) you think about it, 2) prepare for it, and 3) use it.
   
We purchase life insurance, automobile insurance, and house insurance, and we spend a great deal of our money on these insurance policies.  Seldom, however, do we spend as much money on any other kind of insurance policy.  It is, perhaps, because these are obvious, they are what everybody does, and, as much as possible, they protect us from unexpected disasters, calamities, and accidents.  Word of mouth from others who have been protected from such situations by their insurance policies is often sufficient testimony to convince us of the need for it.
   

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

The idea of being able to face any aspect of your life or any new experience with all of your skills and abilities at their peak can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.  That is, if you know that your engine is tuned and fully fueled, you are ready to compete with any other vehicle in its class, and that information allows you to be confident, self-assured, and ready for action.  It is as if your success is pre-conditioned and that strength then energizes you to be the winner that you are.  That is when your life becomes your insurance policy, and the answer to the question, “How do you know?” is clear.  I know I can face any obstacle, any problem, any predicament, and arrive at the best solution possible — because I have all the skill and ability I need!





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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "An Amazing Coincidence --- Sister Camille's Experience, " reads as follows:

On Friday, February 11, 2011, I received a message on my answering machine.  The name was garbled; however, the phone number for contacting the party was clear, and I copied it down.  In going to my computer, my son had forwarded a message to me from our andthensomeworks.com web site which duplicated the answering-machine message.  The message was as follows:
   
    “Your father-in-law is a long time friend and mentor of mine.  Something has come to my attention that I would like to discuss with you.  I will be out much of today; however, I’d appreciate a phone number where I might contact you.”


Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

We found an answer to this amazing coincidence that was simple and to the point: When a book is “donated” to the Maumee Public Library (part of the Lucas County Public Library system) it is given to .Friends of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. Friends of the Library (FOTL) is a nonprofit organization that encourages, promotes, and supports the ongoing operation of the Library, and “donated” books are sold (often at Amazon.com) to support FOTL operations.  Sister Camille purchased the book at Amazon.com, and it was supplied by FOTL.



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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Coping Skills: How to Handle Life's Challenges, " reads as follows:

In a book by Ruth David Konigsberg, The Truth About Grief (Simon & Schuster, 2011) one of the ways Konigsberg focuses upon when it comes to successfully coping with grief, is having effective coping skills; however, the question quickly comes to mind, “What does that mean?” or “Do I have effective coping skills?” or “How can I develop the proper skills so I am prepared to face difficult (stressful, hurtful, or pressure-related) situations?” or  “How can I handle life’s challenges in the most effective way?”


Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

Answers to the questions raised in the first paragraph about developing coping skills such as, “What does that mean?” or “Do I have effective coping skills?” or “How can I develop the proper skills so I am prepared to face difficult (stressful, hurtful, or pressure-related) situations?”  “How can I handle life’s challenges in the most effective way?” should be clear now.  Much of what you can do must take place early — planning ahead.  The more skills you have in place and the more you have used before (so they are habitual or automatic), the easier it will be to handle life’s challenges.



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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "When I die, " reads as follows:

I don’t think about death.  It has really never been on my mind.  However, I have had deaths thrust upon me in a variety of ways.  I had to identify my father’s body when he died with his boots on teaching a seminar at the University of Michigan while I was a student there.  My mother died in a nursing home in California.  My mother-in-law died in a Hospice facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  One of our close friends died of lung cancer at 45 years old, and he never smoked.  The main benefactor of the church I attend died, and I went to his funeral.  And, with a father-in-law who is 98 years old, death is likely to be thrust upon me once again.
   

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

My life is what it is, and that’s it.  I was thinking as I wrote this essay, what would I want written on my gravestone?  Then I thought, no, there will be no tombstone.  Remember: cheap!  On the post-it-note attached to the urn that holds my ashes — and there doesn’t even need to be an urn, for heaven’s sake! — it can say in small print: “He left this a better place.”  Without an urn, put the note on the lower left (not on the right!) of the bathroom mirror, or write it with your finger in the thin layer of dust on the mantle!



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