“Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Sunday night, I walked into a local restaurant to pick up my order of Chinese food. I looked over to the soda cooler, and saw that they were out of lemonade, my drink of choice. The woman at the counter recognized me and grabbed my order. As she rung in the charge, she looked at me and asked, “You’re not getting a drink tonight?”
I explained that they were out of lemonade. She shared that during the off season, that often happens. I live in a town with a lot of summer tourists, and apparently, I’m one of the few people who drink lemonade all year. She then asked if I’d ever tried pineapple soda. I wasn’t even sure what that would taste like.
“Give it a try. If you don’t like it, next week, the entire meal is on the house.” How could I resist an offer like that?
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Topics:
reflection,
appreciation,
positive,
people,
moment,
happiness,
joy,
little lessons,
kindness,
wonder,
parents,
beauty,
perspective
Another year, another 52 Little Lessons shared. Learning to slow down. Learning to listen. Learning to pay attention. Learning to live.
I’m grateful for everyone who takes the time to share my journey and the little lessons that I learn along the way. Your support is essential to my writing, to this blog, and to my next steps forward. Thank you.
Here the countdown of your 10 favorite “Little Lessons” of 2019:
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Topics:
reflection,
friendship,
leadership,
personal relationships,
appreciation,
positive,
mother,
happiness,
little lessons,
kindness,
help,
parents,
service,
volunteer,
nature,
walking,
quiet
What a year! 2018 brought a lot of changes for many of us, myself included. The closing of my running career has opened up new paths, new opportunities, and new outlooks on life.
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Topics:
goals,
inspiration,
love,
learning,
appreciation,
challenge,
little lessons,
kindness,
help
“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
In many ways, the day was no different than the many others that preceded it. The sun came up only slightly earlier than the day before, the temperature was nearly the same, and so was the low humidity. Even the days’ schedules were similar.
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Topics:
appreciation,
positive,
happiness,
joy
For the last decade, I’ve been invited to present at the “Fall Mailers Conference” sponsored by the Central Missouri Postal Customer Council (PCC). The event is held at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. For two days, mailing professionals from across the state gather to attend classes, visit with vendors, and network.
The attendees are the real attraction at this event – it feels more like a family reunion than a conference. Greeting each other with hugs, sharing stories of what’s happened over the last year, and creating memories for the future. I’m over 1,400 miles away from my house, but this Bostonian feels like he’s “come home” when he arrives at the lake.
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Topics:
appreciation,
thoughtfulness,
gift,
Santa
A typical Monday morning. The car arrived before dawn to take me to the airport for a multi-city trip. A friendly greeting from the ticket agent when I checked my bag. No lines meant I could breeze through security and get to my retreat – AKA the Delta Sky Club.
While my travels have taken me to airports around the country, The Boston Sky Club is the best. Maybe it’s because the agents always greet me with “Good Morning, Mr. Fallon” – even before they’ve scanned my boarding pass. Or maybe it’s because of the conversations we share about the important things in life – vacations, time with loved ones, and coffee. They make me feel that I’m more than just a customer.
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Topics:
customer service,
appreciation,
travel
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” – John F. Kennedy
Decades ago, my Aunt Jean took me to my first high-end restaurant. She explained the menu and wine list to me, and how to ask for help from the wait staff. After we ate, she went through the bill and demonstrated how to calculate the tip. Since I went to college near her office, my aunt would schedule dinners like this on a regular basis. Those dinners prepared me for the business world as much as my classes did.
It was time to carry on the tradition. Last week, I took two of my nephews out to a nice steakhouse in Boston. I shared what I’d learned from my Aunt Jean, and from the next 35 years of fine dining. We laughed, told stories and promised this would be the first – not the last – time we’d have a night like this.
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Topics:
communicate,
thankfulness,
appreciation
