Thanksgiving — Page 3

Pie Before The DAY

August 29, 2018 By ChuckBehrens 1 Comment

What’s YOUR Piece of Pie?

Mine is Pecan Pie. . .

but Pumpkin will do just fine. . .

ESPECIALLY IF I DON’T WAIT UNTIL THANKSGIVING DAY

You?

Who was your best friend in 6th grade?

I had about two or three of them who we all hung out together

before, during and especially after school.

We were in Mrs. Glass’s class

and she was looking right at Louie Pepino and I

as she told us the story about the Ant and the Grasshopper?

Remember it?

The Grasshopper wasted his hold Summer playing and having fun while the Ant worked hard every day to prepare for the long Winter ahead and sure enough, when the Winter came, because the Grasshopper did no planning but just fooled around and had fun every day he died, while the Ant was nice and cozy enjoying the rewards of his hard work during the Summer.

I’ll never forget what Louie said to Mrs. Glass after she told this story.

“Mrs. Glass. . .

the Ant died one day too, didn’t he?

And. . .

and he never lived or had any fun at all.”

K A B A M

Louie got detention for a week

and didn’t have many Grasshopper moments after school

but he sure did become quite a Teacher,

himself in class that day. . .

one that I unfortunately mostly have forgotten than remembered. . . .

Y O U ?

If you think that being a

C a r i n g C a t a l y s t

means being more of an Ant than a Grasshopper. . .

t h i n k a g a i n

It’s even more than just

about balance.

It means having Pumpkin Pie before Thanksgiving

J U S T B E C A U S E

Somewhere in the 1990’s the term,

C o m p a s s i o n F a t i g u e

became very vogue in describing the mental distancing

some healthcare professionals as a way to protect themselves.

According to Carol Taylor, Director of the Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, she states setting realistic goals is key:

“You go into healthcare because you want to save or help people. Nowhere along the way does anyone tell you that doing good might be (end of life) hospice treatment, instead of the next best drug trial. We need to train and culture healthcare workers that this is a natural part of all of this. It doesn’t mean that someone failed. It’s getting to the point where it’s as acceptable to progress in a path toward a peaceful death as opposed to ‘I’m going to fight ever last inch’ Because you do get set up to think you’ve failed.”

THE LITERATURE

now suggests that we maintain a professional network of people who are also dealing with the same issues;

that we exercise,

that we read,

that we spend significant time away from ‘the office’

and more time with family

and friends,

maintain our sense of humor

and that we have more

G R A S S H O P P E R M O M E N T S

and less

ANT CONSEQUENCES

. . .that we have a Piece of Pie. . .

not just ONCE

but in

A W H I L E,

too!

So. . .

how about that piece of pie,

ANT BETTY?

Psssssssssssst:

Mrs Glass may not be all that happy,

but hey,

even she likes a good piece of pie—-

even if it’s not Thanksgiving!

Hmmmmmmmmmmm:

(HAVE A SECOND PIECE!)

THANK LESS DAY

November 30, 2016 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

W H E W

We Survived IT, huh?

O N E Down

(T H A N K S G I V I N G)

and two more to go

(C H R I S T M A S A N D N E W Y E A R ‘ S)

They kind of all blur together

as do many things

this time of the year. . .

H A N U K K A H and K W A N Z A A

i n c l u d e d

but it sort of all starts with that

T H A N K L E S S D A Y

The Research is clear:

GRATITUDE IS A SUPERPOWER

It’s been overly documented

just how grateful people enjoy the benefits

such as improved physical health

better relationships

higher self-esteem

and actual longer

l i f e s p a n s. . .

but here’s the real shocker:

Despite the benefits of

g r a t i t u d e

there’s an overwhelming vast majority

who aren’t grateful–

even less than a week ago on

T H A N K S G I V I N G D A Y

A very recent survey conducted by the Harris Poll

on behalf of Cleveland’s own

AMERICAN GREETINGS

sheds light on why people aren’t t h a n k f u l

during these wild 40-some days:

3 out 5 Americans

say they’d rather do something else

rather than reflect on what they’re

t h a n k f u l f o r. . .

A whopping 71% say that Holidays cause too much stress. . .

92% believe the holidays are a time

to say t h a n k s to family and friends

. . .but 1 in 5 confess

they are more grateful for material possessions

than p e o p l e . . .

12% admitted

they would rather spend time

on their smartphones

than have a meaningful conversation

with family. . .

O U C H

The Cure?

. . .wait. . .

is there an illness?

G R A T I T U D E

just like

Love

Compassion

Care

Empathy

Sympathy

Kindness

can’t be legislated

but they can be

i n s p i r e d

and that’s where

y o u

come in

. . .or don’t;

There’s not much use for

a week-old over-done-dried-up-Turkey-Dinner

. . .in fact,

it just wouldn’t leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. . .

it’d be enough to make a person

p u k e. . .

I wish I could tell you exactly what to do

h e r e . . .

but I

or the Survey’s

or the Greeting Cards

or the Songs

or the Gifts

or the Meals

or the Parties

or the Masses

Psssssssssssssst of the Day:

Only you can. . .

Ironically:

That’s one of the things

I’m most

t h a n k f u l

Refrained

November 28, 2014 By ChuckBehrens 2 Comments

Come, have a seat with me.

W H E W. . .

we made it.

It’s OVER

and Beginning, isn’t it?

T H A N K S G I V I N G

Sometimes the best thing that can be said of it is:

WE SURVIVED IT.

We survived food–lots of it.

We survived family–lots of them.

We survived football–lots of it.

We survived early BLACK FRIDAY stampedes–lots of them.

WE SURVIVED the THANKSGIVING-TUDE

. . .barely.

There are the 3 6 4 other days we have to contend with us being reminded
why
how
that
we are a Thankful people.

So. . .

as you put the Feast coma behind you

as you begin that not-so-long journey deeper into Happy Holiday time,

How about a little REFRAINING?

No, not that kind of refraining from Something, but the Refrain of that Song that just won’t leave your mind now that you’ve heard a huge dose of it.

A simple Refrain of:

STILL THANKFUL.

Join me:

That we’ve yet to live a day where the Sun comes up and goes down. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For Hands to hold and be Held. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For Prayers answered and unanswered. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For Hearts that beat and enhances the beating of other hearts. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For Songs not yet written, still being Sung. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For bodies that break and heal. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For minds that don’t know everything but capable of learning anything. . .

STILL ThANKFUL

For pockets that aren’t always full but stomachs that mostly are. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For houses that aren’t paid for, but shelter anyway. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For jobs that might not always be fruitful, but pay the bills. . .

For clothes not always in style, but offering cover, comfort and warmth. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For all that is and isn’t, was and wasn’t. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

For____________________________________________________. . .

STILL THANKFUL.

I call it my THANKSGIVING CHAIR. I don’t sit in it as often as I should–especially when I need to the most: WHEN I’M LEAST THANKFUL.

But. . .more and more over these past few weeks I have made my way to THAT place a little more often.

Do you have a THANKSGIVING CHAIR?

Is there a P L A C E

–In Good and Bad–

where you just go, just go and sit…

Just sit and experience, THANK YOU?

In many different ways, in many different places, with many different people,

we celebrated Thanksgiving, YESTERDAY.

For all that now remains. . .continues. . .begins. . .may the Refrain be constant:

STILL THANKFUL

Come. . .have a seat with me.

Turkey’d

November 26, 2014 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Well. . .what’s YOUR Favorite Thanksgiving Story?

Did you ever hear the one about the Prince who DECIDED he was a turkey?

Well, that was exactly the case. He took ill and decided he was an actual Turkey.

He stripped off his clothes, he crouched naked under the Royal table and he refused to eat anything but crumbs which had fallen to the ground. The King was severely upset.

Many Doctors were called to the Palace to examine the Prince, but none–no one–could offer a cure.

One day. . .

You know there’s always a ONE DAY. . .

A Wise Man came to the King and said, “Let me live in your home that I might befriend your son. Be patient–that’s key–and I will make him well again.”

He gave the King a great present for any day of the year: H O P E

Immediately, this brave Sage approached the Royal table, stripped off his clothes and sat down naked next to the Prince under the Royal table.

“Who are you and what are you?” demanded the King’s son.

“I am your friend, a Turkey like yourself,” the Wise Man replied. “I thought you might be lonely and decided to come and live with you for a while.”

Some weeks passed. . . .

The Turkey’s grew accustomed to each other and soon become good friends. They ate crumbs, drank from tin plates and discussed the advantages of being domesticated birds rather than men.

One night, when the Royal family was having dinner, the Wise Man signaled to the King, whose Servants brought two silk robes and cautiously placed them under the table. The Sage quickly donned one of the robes and before the King’s Son could utter a word proudly announced, “There are some dumb turkey’s who are so insecure that they believe putting on a silk robe might endanger their identity.” The Prince thought for a moment, nodded his head and began to clothe himself.

Some days later the Wise Man once again signaled the King. Broiled Beef, baked potatoes, and fresh green vegetables were brought and placed on the ground near the Sage. Looking quite pleased with himself, the Wise Man bit into his food and shouted, “ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! It’s good to be a Turkey sophisticated enough to enjoy the food of men.” The Prince readily agreed and hungrily ate his fill.

Eventually, the Wise Man called for some silverware and asked to be served from the King’s good china. “After all,” he explained to the Prince, “Why shouldn’t intelligent Turkey’s want the best for themselves?”

Finally, after many months, the Sage came and sat by the table. While eating and drinking with the Royal family, he called down to the Prince and said, “Come join me. The food is the same but the chairs make an appreciable difference. Besides, we Turkey’s have a lot to offer. Why should we restrict ourselves by remaining so distant? Certainly our ideas can benefit the minds of men.”

The King’s son, The Prince, came and sat by the table. It was only a matter of time until he was cured.

W O W. . .

Who would have ever thought that maybe the best Thanksgiving story wasn’t about a Turkey at all?

THANKSGIVING

might just become more than a day, more than a season, more. . .

It just might become a legitimate Lifestyle

WHEN you actually JOIN Another

so that they might become more than just a SOMEONE. . . .

Meet you under the Table;

We just got Turkey’d

for GOOD. . . .

Happy Thanksliving.

A Good Day

November 24, 2014 By ChuckBehrens 4 Comments

Do you have less than 6 minutes. . .to spare?

It’s not that very long of a time…just barely more than what could actually be called a “MOMENT.”

Everything S H O U T E D

in me, NOT to post this Monday Morning video of the fabulous photography of Louis Schwartzberg…because we just don’t HAVE. . .

or TAKE the time to NOTICE

or RECOGNIZE

. . .See

. . .Look

at what is more a part of us than our next breath and just as important.

SERIOUSLY…did you watch it?

5:54

Did you?

This is THANKSGIVING WEEK.

With each passing Thanksgiving, I’m finding it’s not the day or the food, or the football games or the Gathering. . .it’s not a Season or a Day or a Moment…it’s a Lifestyle.

W H E N. . .

I F. . .

We understand that it’s NOT who’s around the table, but WHO’S NEVER ABSENT FROM IT. . .

IT’S A GOOD DAY!

Don’t wait for Thanksgiving to happen on the last Thursday of every November. . .

Celebrate it NOW!

. . .It’ll only guarantee one thing:

A GOOD DAY!

Psssssst: And That’s enough!

The Two Most Under-Heard-Words

November 27, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

I get a Standing Ovation after every talk I give!

Maybe you’d never know unless you were actually There!

Many times near the end of a presentation, as a way of THANKING folks for their attendance and their attention I usually have them stand up all together. I tell them that there are two words they never hear ever enough:

THANK YOU!

And then, because none seldom do, and THEY never would, standing there, I tell them to give themselves a long over due, sincere, well-deserved Standing Ovation. And they do! Loudly! Exuberantly! With Smiles, Whistling, Yaaaaaaaa-hooooooing included…and, and exactly to the penny, what did it cost? What did it deposit in their respective emotional 401k’s?

You can Suppose about it all you want, but it’s more than mere theory or hunch now. Studies have been done and documented with not so surprising results: IT WORKS! IT’S LIFE-CHANGING!

These studies have actually concluded that the expression of sincere gratitude can have some fairly profound and positive effects on our health, our mood and most definitely our relationships. Shocker, huh?

Ok, don’t believe the Studies from the University of Texas Health Science Center or the University of California at Davis or the University of Miami or the University of Washington…use yourself as your own laboratory.

Keep a daily journal of just three things you are thankful for and why.

Make it a practice to tell someone that’s significant to you something you appreciate about them every day.

Look in the mirror when your combing your hair or brushing your teeth and think about something you have done well recently or something you like about yourself.

Maybe it’s true: If you’ve forgotten the language of gratitude, you’ll never be on speaking terms with happiness.

The world doesn’t always have to have a reason to kick you in the teeth every time you smile, but it does. Still, walk in your field and cultivate this attitude of gratitude, and PRESTO: things don’t just look better–THEY ACTUALLY GET BETTER!

Thankfulness feels good, it’s good for you and it’s a blessing for the people around you. It’s such a win-win-win that I’d say we have a cause for gratitude…even without a day just for THAT.

Please, Stand, Give yourself a Standing Ovation! And. . .

Thank You!

Happy Thanksgiving.

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