10.31.10
Posted in Comedy Around The World, Humor attitude, Humor~Health & Goals at 11:09 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
This week’s Comedy Around the World goes biking. To a not-yet-Rails-To-Trails trail. Yesterday evening I rode with a friend on this remote trail. No pavement here—just dirt, large gravel, and occasional hay strewn over a newly drilled well.
We flushed 3 grouse, saw a deer jump across our path. But the most striking event was when we rode past a waiting porcupine.
He was just sitting by the side of the trail, almost as though he expected us to stop and stare at him. He was right: As we stared and stared, he raised his quills. Then, when he was bored enough by the interaction, he jogged/lumbered back into the woods.
My friend told me that porcupines, once out of the infant stage, have no enemies. “Except,” I added, “a bullet or a passing car.”
“OK,” he said, “I mean, no animal predators. The quills protect the porcupine from all danger, so that the animal can jog slowly through the woods, enjoying his time there.”
Humor is OUR quill collection.
How so?
Whereas sarcasm—the attacker of the forest—invites a fight, a good-humor nature repels attacks.
How so?
The non-offensive nature of situational humor is not only self-accepting, it’s also peace-enticing. It reminds us to have fun, relax, and enjoy life.
As stress, sarcasm, cynicism, and negative self-assessment come close, we only need to raise our quills, remembering our humor nature.
How safe, how relaxing, and how much FUN is that?
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Posted in Humor attitude, Humor~Health & Goals at 11:06 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
I picked up my cat and noticed a big round lump by his mouth. Almost looked like a grey marble. “Oh, no, ” I thought, “Not again…”
I went through the usual drill of a countryside pet-owner and got the rag. Got the nerve. And then yanked the marble-creature from my cat’s face. I held up my winnings and saw little legs kicking furiously.
Ticks aren’t pleasant. For anyone. But, I learned from the vet, they aren’t dangerous to cats.
They are VERY dangerous, though, to dogs and humans.
Humor is like that too. Not only does it leave you kicking your legs furiously, it can sometimes be deadly.
Same insect.
Same venom.
Same process.
But different outcomes:
Humor can be poisonous and biting.
Or it may be fun and enriching.
Which tick are YOU? How funny is THAT?
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Posted in Humor attitude, Humor~Events at 10:19 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
My friend Jay says jazz is “5 guys all playing different songs.” Whatever YOU think jazz is, here is one correct thing it is. Correction from Donna Bailey’s schedule:
Tuesday, November 16th from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
724-741-6015
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10.29.10
Posted in Humor attitude, Humor~Health & Goals at 12:07 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Slashpiledesigns
—where chemistry meets jewelry. Two non-usually related facets of our understanding. And they just smash them together!
I learned about these remarkable jewelry designers from their dad, Michel Neray and his wife Barbara. Their twin daughters thought up a brilliant way to differentiate themselves from the usual jewelry-as-flashiness-or-to-impress-others tact.
Theirs is jewelry as your own personal message—to yourself. If you’re a big fan of caffeine, you can wear the chemical molecule symbol for caffeine as a bracelet. Or how about an H2O necklace?
As if those weren’t clever enough… What struck me most about their jewelry was the “injuries” section.
Normally we want to hide our weaknesses, avoid getting hurt, forget about our pain.
But Slashpile suggests we celebrate our pain as a badge of honor. And even fashion! I laughed as I looked at the heart-encased broken leg, the stick figure with scoliosis.
Brilliant! If we can wear these drawbacks as not an identity, but merely as an accessory, maybe we can stop identifying ourselves with them and get on with our day?
Check out more of their designs on etsy!
What symbol are YOU wearing today?
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Posted in Humor attitude, Humor~Events, Humor~Health & Goals at 11:22 am by Dr. Trina Hess
- individualized creations
- acquired tastes
- allow freedom of personalized expression
- encompass all our emotions
- not understood by people outside the genre
- connect like-minded people
- form a community through words and music
That’s how humor and jazz are alike. And maybe that’s why I’m a big fan of Donna Bailey and her jazz music.
If YOU want to ‘get’ the jazz joke, check out these upcoming shows.
Friday, October 29th from 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Donna Bailey ~ Jazz at Andy’s
With the Andy’s Trio ~ No Cover
$6 Parking in the garage
Tuesday, November 2nd from 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Diva Tuesday at BLUE
Donna with Daniel May
Duncan Manor Plaza - North Hills
Allison Park, PA
Friday, November 5th from 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Jackson’s Southpointe
Donna with Joe DeFazio
1000 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA (Just off I-79).
724.743.5005
Tuesday, November 9th from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
SIBA DIVA NIGHT
Donna with Joe DeFazio
530 Northpointe Circle
Seven Fields, PA 16046
724-741-6015
Friday, November 19th from 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Jackson’s Southpointe
Donna with Joe DeFazio
1000 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA (Just off I-79).
724.743.5005
Monday, November 29th from 7:00 PM
Donna and Adam Brock join the Trinity Jazz Orchestra
Central Assembly of God Church
155 McGovern Road
Huston, PA
And for more information or to contact Donna, just go here:
Donna Bailey
DBS Jazz Productions
For booking info call: 724-469-1246
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10.28.10
Posted in Humor attitude at 8:00 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
For the world to change, as John Mayer would say.
For the ideal picture to come to fruition.
For everything to be in place.
For peace of mind.
This morning, my kitten Maestro didn’t make her usual all-out sprint to the back porch for her breakfast. Instead, she took a leisurely jog and then once inside, she hardly touched her food. I thought something was wrong. Maybe she didn’t like this new food. Maybe she’d gotten in a fight last night and was hurt. Maybe she was sick.
Thoughts roiled in my mind. Until I saw something out the front door.
A mouse. Maestro had bitten off the head and pulled out its intestines. I had all the proof I needed right there on the front door mat. So THAT’s why she wasn’t hungry! And why she seemed so worn-out!
Our expectations are like my hypotheses about Maestro’s behavior. In a word, they’re usually wrong. They usually don’t represent the truth. And we believe in them anyway.
Worse, we usually act on those beliefs, and then feel bad, ineffective, sluggish, and stupid when our expectations falter. There’s a better way: avoid expectation. How?
We have to get to a place where our humor really is OUR humor. Where, if there are no laughs, WE know we are helping ourselves to health, stress-reduction, and a better way of life.
But this doesn’t always happen. In some cases it CAN’t happen, especially if your workplace isn’t in any hurry to create a fun-filled environment for its workers.
So what do we do?
Wait until everyone’s in a good mood so that we can be, too?
Wait to feel good until after we’ve gotten lots of laughs and affirmation?
Wait till everything’s perfect, all ducks are in rows, until we try out our sense of humor?
No. We think, act, and live a humor-lifestyle regardless of our expectations. Regardless of the outcome.
We do it not for laughs. We do it for us.
Why isn’t YOUR cat eating its food today? How funny is THAT?
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Posted in Humor~Events at 7:23 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
The Roadmap to 2020, an unprecedented collaboration of the nation’s major women’s business organizations and entrepreneurial thought leaders, was released last week, launching a comprehensive action plan to achieve exponential revenue growth and job creation among women’s businesses over the next decade.
“Roadmap 2020″ recommends nothing less than a paradigm shift in women’s business development—from early entrepreneurial education to policy support to capital availability—designed to enable the creation of at least 6 million new jobs over the next ten years.
Quantum Leaps, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the National Association of Women’s Business Owners (NAWBO) jointly released the Roadmap 2020 report at WBENC’s 11th Annual Women in Business National Conference and Business Fair before some 2,500 corporations and women business owners in attendance. It was presented on behalf of the 10 women’s business organizations and 20 companies that were supporters and collaborators in Roadmap 2020.
“Roadmap 2020 not only tells us how to create more jobs—but also how to improve the quality of those jobs, with higher salaries and better benefits, in growing, innovative companies,” said Virginia Littlejohn, CEO and co-founder of Quantum Leaps, the nonprofit that mobilized Roadmap 2020 participants. By galvanizing the leadership of the women’s business community, Roadmap 2020 will drive change on the national and grassroots level, and dramatically sharpen the nation’s competitiveness.
Roadmap 2020 prescribes agents of growth all along the business continuum:
- Start-up companies should focus on goal-setting for growth, and training to enable that growth, instead of income substitution,
- “The Missing Middle” – those companies past the start up stage, but with some potential for growth – need vision, strategy, benchmarking, coaching and mentoring
- Multi-million dollar businesses can expand through peer mentoring, globalizing, and increased access to corporate and government markets
- Businesses of all sizes need access to capital
Quantum Leaps will organize a strategic think tank in the fall to specify the next steps in implementing Roadmap 2020 recommendations.
“The Roadmap to 2020 is leading a transformation and connecting women in business around the world,” said Marilyn Johnson, vice president of Market Development for IBM. “IBM is proud to be the lead corporate sponsor of such a high-impact global initiative.”
Roadmap 2020 recommendations focus on six key areas: Measuring Economic Impact and Job Creation; Entrepreneurial Training; Innovation, Technology and Sustainability; Accessing Capital; Accessing Markets; and Building the Movement.
Through 32 core recommendations, Roadmap 2020 challenges policymakers, corporations, financial institutions, educators and the women’s business community itself to enable women’s business to access more capital, more corporate and government contracts, more expansion and responsible risk. Among the boldest recommendations are:
- Expand the role of the Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) beyond oversight of the Women’s Business Center (WBC) program to other growth-focused initiatives, including access to capital and access to markets
- Increase communication and collaboration among women’s business groups
- Encourage federal, state and local governments to accept third party certifications for women’s business enterprises (WBEs)
- Expand entrepreneurship education into ever younger populations
Supporters include the Association of Women’s Business Centers, Center for Women’s Business Research, Count Me In, Direct Selling Education Foundation, Enterprising Women, WEConnect International, Women Presidents’ Organization, and Women Impacting Public Policy.
Click here to download the full Roadmap to 2020 report.
ABOUT NAWBO
Founded in 1975, NAWBO propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. More than 35 years later, NAWBO is still the only organization that solely represents the interest of women entrepreneurs in all industries. The organization’s mission is to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of its members and promote economic development; to create innovative and effective change in the business culture; to build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and to transform public policy and influence opinion makers. To learn more about NAWBO, visit www.nawbo.org.
Learn About NAWBO in Person
When: Saturday, October 30. 2010 10 AM to Noon
Where:
Grace Robinson Insurance Agency
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
5108 Baum Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Office: 412-682-7383
Why:
To Learn About NAWBO During the
National and Local Fall Membership Campaign
Meet the Current Board and Find out about upcoming board vacancies
Learn about Branded NAWBO National Advocacy Efforts in DC for Women Business Owners
Find out about local NAWBO alliances and programs
Discover How a Board Position or Committee Membership with NAWBO Greater Pitt
can advance your business credibility
Help NAWBO Greater Pitt Develop Their 2011 Meeting and Outreach Program
Gather info on NAWBO National Resources and Partner Perks such as UPS special shipping rates
and PR Newswire Membership and others
Understand the Issues Facing Women Owned Business Nationally and Locally
Hear About Awards for which NAWBO Can Nominate Your Business
Be Informed about upcoming signature events for NAWBO
Make the Connection Awards
Girls Going Places Annual Conference
2011 NAWBO Day
You business can appear on the NAWBO PittsburghTV channel, be one of the first, register now!
Who Should Attend
Members, Prospective Members, Non Profit Leaders and Potential Sponsors
Take advantage of additional member discount membership rate offered by NAWBO Greater Pitt of $25.00 off membership in addition to rate offered by NAWBO National of $25.00 off annual rate
Current NAWBO Greater Pittsburgh
Board Members
President, Maureen Ciarolla, AmeriSourceTrust, EnvyWhiteSmile
President Elect, Meenakshi Kapoor, Symphony Enterprises, LLC
Treasurer, Pat Staudt, Allegheny Marking
Immediate Past President, Jill Kummer, BlackTie-Pittsburgh
Public Relations Director, Joanne Quinn-Smith, Dreamweaver Marketing Associates
Finance Director, Diane Pearson, Legend Financial Advisors, Inc.®
Membership Director, Sunita Pandit, Mrs. Cardiology
Program Director, Mary Pam Kilgore, Kilgore Business Services
Public Policy Director, JoAnn R Forrester, SI Business Associates, Blue Ribbon Profiles
Your name could be on this list
Sponsored by
Grace Robinson, State Farm Agent
Personal Message from Grace Robinson
If you are looking for a term insurance product that also accumulates a cash value, the State Farm® Return of Premium policy may be appropriate for your needs. Talk to StateFarm Agent, Grace Robinson today.
Grace Robinson, LUTC, MBA
State Farm, Agent
Grace Robinson Insurance Agency
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
5108 Baum Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Office: 412-682-7383
Fax: 412-682-2472
PA Best 50 Women In Business Award
“Every Day is an Opportunity to Serve You”
Signature quiche and scones sponsored by
Diane Stoughton
Zoe’s Herbs & Teas
42 Wabash Street
West End Village
Pittsburgh, PA
412-458-1202
This is a no fee event but you must Register at:
For additional info:
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10.25.10
Posted in Humor attitude, Humor~Health & Goals at 3:44 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
I
was excited about meeting a celebrity who had run for the presidency of the United States! But when I arrived at the campaign event, I wondered: “Just where is Steve Forbes?” He was at the picnic table, getting
potato salad.
All of a sudden, I realized that my insecurity- rolled-into-my-amazement was unjustified. We were on a more human level We were BOTH there, eating potato salad.
Made me think of how many other times we’re stifled, or that we stifle ourselves. We don’t act, don’t offer, don’t contribute. We feel insecure among these ‘perfect” ‘celebrities’. We’re not worthy!!!
But the reality is, when we keep a humorous mindset, we will ALWAYS remember our humanity, and that of others.
*We’ll remember that we’re not any better or worse than anybody else.
*We’ll recall that there’s no need to feel insecure or unworthy.
*We’ll know on a fundamental level that we don’t have to ‘prove’ anything.
*We’ll remember that it’s OK to want to have fun.
*We’ll remember HOW to have fun, because we’ll know that:
We are ALL just eating potato salad from the same table in life.
Thanks, Tom!
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Posted in Comedy Around The World, Humor attitude at 3:32 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
This week’s Comedy Around the World goes to Cranberry Township, PA. Site of election campaigns and lots of picnic food. Last week my friend Tom Baker, of Baker Leadership, said, “I’m going to meet Steve Forbes tomorrow.” It was a campaign event for Keith Rothfus. Because some of my web pages have actual cobwebs on them, I decided I’d go and get another celebrity photo to update my website’s photo gallery!
Although I was excited about meeting a celebrity, I was still a little uneasy. Not just about the secret service-type people standing around. But because I in fact had absolutely nothing to offer. I wasn’t in the voting district of Rothfus. The only person I knew at the picnic was Tom. My camera wasn’t working, so I would need to borrow someone else’s. When we’re confronted by these feelings of utter uselessness, what do we do?
What did I do? I got carried away by the excitement. By the picture that was bigger than my little lackings.
Sure, I couldn’t vote for Rothfus, but I could talk to his mom at the picnic table.
I could talk politics with the other people there.
I could, basically, just have FUN! And focus on that!
Why not?! Why do we always feel we need a reason to exist? Why can’t ’fun’ be our reason?
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Posted in Humor attitude at 2:44 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
A handshake should be firm. Confident. Use the whole hand, grasp strongly.
That’s just “common sense”, right?
Well, not if you’ve had hand surgery. Then everything changes. A firm, strong handshake is threatening, and it can be perceived as rude. And it hurts!
That’s been my dilemma these past months. How to tell people they’re shaking my hand too hard, without making them feel insecure about doing something they’ve always been taught was “right.” Some people aren’t aware that shaking a woman’s hand isn’t the same style you’d use to greet a man. Whether the woman is in a business suit or not. So—those people aren’t even hip to the common sense about that facet of etiquette.
Should I be blatant? And wear my bandage tape, in the only color I could find: bright white? And worse, the bad finger is my middle one. There’s really no way to be inconspicuous about that.
In my effort to hide this weakness I’ve been hurting even more. Just like the study at Allegheny College on musicians who were learning a new piece of music. The musicians who played timidly, not wanting anyone to hear their mistakes—they took much longer to learn the music. But those who just played, mistakes and all, and didn’t cover up mistakes or failings: it took their brains a much shorter time to process and master that new piece of music.
When we’re so hell-bent on being, feeling, appearing perfect, we’re not doing ourselves any faovrs.
1. We’re bringing unnecessary stress on ourselves.
2. We’re making others feel stupid once the truth comes out.
3. We’re shutting ourselves off from other sources of healing and information.
4. We’re prolonging the healing process.
5. We’re not speaking our truth.
I’m not hip enough for the fist bump. I’m pretty sure high five’s are only for peole who like basketball. So what should I do, because I meet losts of people who have VERY strong handshakes.
Want truth? Get tape…
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