Archive | Getting Through Life and Work

Constant Giving Psychology Away

I am honored to have been a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) since the early 1980s, when I was in graduate school. The APA is the largest professional organization for psychologists in the world, with over 133,000 members. On the day I am writing this post, I have renewed my APA membership for […]

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I have supported Melissa in her giving away psychology efforts for over 35 years.  Admittedly, some of the efforts she enumerated hopefully help with business development.  But, I agree that when someone has a special skill, talent, or knowledge, there are times when sharing that expertise is somehow warranted by our societal values.  I suspect […]

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Altruism & Helping Behaviors

Helping is one component of altruism. Other components are an orientation toward other people, instead of to oneself, and a generally prosocial outlook (as opposed to an antisocial outlook). Most theories of altruism include the component of enhancing other people’s welfare at some cost to oneself (in terms of time, money, etc.). Altruistic people are […]

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I was, for a couple of years, a Boy Scout, as well as a Cub Scout prior to the Boy Scouts membership.  Though I didn’t stick with Boy Scouts too long because music, band – baritone horn, took over my free time.  But, I was a scout long enough to learn about helping others.  The […]

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This Nickel

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 8, 2022

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights

Last night I heard a blues song in which the songwriter wrote lines like “what if this wall could talk,” “what if this door knob could tell who turned it,” and “what if these shoes could talk.” All of the lines led me to wonder who/what saw something, illicit, of course. In the vein of […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 8, 2022

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights

David and I have been writing our blog for over 9 years and I am fearful that his selection of this topic is akin to Fonzie “jumping the shark.”  Let’s hope not!  I don’t have much to say about the 1947 nickel  David found in the coin tray, but I do find it strange that […]

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Having Anyone over for Dinner is an Event

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 22, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Work-Life

David and I have hosted lots of parties, including dinner parties. Most of our guests think we are excellent hosts and they compliment us on our menu choices, meal preparation, and presentation. Even when we have guest for a simple meal of hamburgers cooked on the grill, we try to make it a special occasion […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 22, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Work-Life

As we are now catching up on years of missed television in the form of Downton Abbey, I will start by saying our dinners are not like theirs!  First of all, none of our parties require formal dress, butlers, footmen, or maids.  Despite our usual casual attire, Melissa typically has a razor sharp focus on […]

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The World is Round, I’ll Get There

For inexplicable reasons, I randomly remember various tag lines from television commercials and other types of advertising. Many times I can’t recall the product or service being advertised, but I remember the tag line or catch phrase. One of those I recall is “The world is round, I’ll get there.” The commercial involved a hippie […]

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I’ve heard David use the expression, “The world is round, I’ll get there” on many occasions, but I never knew, until reading his part of this post, its origin.  Before commenting on this quote, I will point out the amazing impact the TV commercials that aired in childhood had on us.  I can still recall […]

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Have Something to Live for

Have something to live for. It doesn’t matter what it is; having a goal or an event to look forward to is enough to keep most people moving ahead, even in times of strife. For some people, the anticipation of their next golf game among friends brings happy thoughts until game day happens. For other […]

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Having an interest in something or some things that challenge one, or are intrinsically rewarding, is not as difficult to do as perhaps, saving the world from polio or malaria (goals of the Gates Foundation).  But, having interests, an outlet for mind and body, is a positive thing.  I recently had someone, for whom English […]

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Things Easy for You Are Real Hard for Me

As anyone who knows me soon realizes, I am not a “normal person.” I never have been and I never will be. My mom used to marvel that, despite the many differences between people my age and me, I had the ability to make, and keep, friends. I have usually been accepted by people who […]

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I think sometimes about how the life Melissa and I share personally and professionally is built on trade offs of strengths and weaknesses.  Long ago, a client/friend remarked “David must be here to carry Melissa’s luggage.”  We were attending a conference where she was speaking, and this client/friend had invited her to speak.  He was […]

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Business as Usual

Business as usual is a phrase that typically means “everything is normal.” Except that, sometimes, it is not. And sometimes, it is normal in one place, not another. Because our work happens in the trial venue, we have to adapt to what is happening there. It might be normal there, and not here. An example, […]

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Although I have not lived full time in Fort Myers since soon after my high school graduation in 1976, it will always be “home” to me.  My family came to Fort Myers from Wakulla County, Florida in the 1920s, almost 100 years ago.  The images of many local landmarks and some of my favorite places […]

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Things Hard for You Are Easy for Me

Everyone is different from everyone else. Some people find it easy to do certain things, while other people have to work hard to accomplish a particular task, and others can’t do it at all. It just depends. I perform high level work, in a challenging occupation, that most people cannot do, while some people who […]

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I remember my mother quoting an elderly neighbor, who became a good friend of hers, saying “Mrs. Beach says, isn’t it good we are not all alike, life would be so boring.”  Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and it is the combination of peoples’ strengths that move society forward, if not as a whole, in […]

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When You Notice Something Nice, Say So

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 18, 2022

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Mental Health

Many people’s mothers, mine included, endorsed the premise, “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.” I’m not sure I agree with this notion 100%, but this post concerns the opposite situation, that is, saying something nice whenever it is possible to do so. I like to make people’s day a […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 18, 2022

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Mental Health

One of my nieces recently took a job at a large retailer where she monitors the self service check out.  One comment relayed to my by her dad, my brother, is that she finds people less engaging in that environment.  Indeed, when I use self checkout, it seems more “sterile” and less customer friendly than […]

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