Some time ago, David and I wrote a post about something my mom used to say, “Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.”(https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/2019/03/its-later-than-you-think/) This post is a follow up and serves as a reminder that it really IS later than you think. And, for that matter, it really is later than I think too! A […]
Archive | Mental Health
John Lennon
It’s about time I wrote a post about one of my favorite people, John Lennon. I’ve been a fan of the greatest band of all time, The Beatles, since 1964, when my wonderful father bought me their first album, “Introducing …The Beatles,” released on Vee-Jay Records. Although I liked Paul, George, and Ringo, it was John who […]
I was poorly prepared for the world of The Beatles and John Lennon when I met Melissa. I was not familiar with rabid Beatles fanatics, or as they are sometimes called, Beatles Freaks. It took me some time to comprehend Melissa’s lifelong love of The Beatles and John Lennon. I mean, I knew who the […]
The M’s
I have a friend named Marilyn Einbinder. We met several years ago at a Passover Seder hosted by her son, Marc, and daughter-in-law, Susan. Marc and Susan are our wonderful Megan’s parents and it was Megan who invited me to attend her family’s Seder. Immediately upon being introduced to Marilyn, I knew we were going […]
I think it is wonderful that M (Melissa) and M (Marilyn) clicked as they did. We’ve told M (Marc) he should have introduced them sooner. One never knows in life when connections will be made and this one was a bit of a surprise. Marilyn likes living a rich, full, life, and Melissa shares this […]
Employees Should Cover Each Other
This is the 3rd in a series about “covering” or looking out for each other in a work environment. The need to do this is on a top down, down to top, and peer to peer basis. In the immediately prior post, I mentioned an employee who was hostile to another employee. The fact that […]
Although it has been over 30 years since I have been an employee, as opposed to an employer, I can recall what it was like to have co-workers and colleagues. The best example I am aware of is my colleague, and now, long time friend, Dr. Susan Broome, who looked out for me in an […]
Ziggy’s Birthday Is Still an Event
I will always and forever miss Ziggy. For those of you who never met Ziggy, he was my cat and my friend for 19 years. I loved Ziggy so much that, after his passing, I wrote a book about him. I fell in love with Ziggy on October 31, 1977. It is the only time […]
Ziggy lives on in many ways. Melissa’s book (available on Amazon) is high on that list. Ziggy touched many people’s lives and his story is entertaining. He was “old” when I met him, with old being relative – he was 9. But he and Melissa were inseparable. He did things his way, like Sinatra. And, […]
Cover the Employee’s Back
As I wrote the prior post about the need for employees to cover the boss’ back, I had this post, and the next one, in mind, because covering for each other is critical. It is important for a boss to keep the health and well being of the employees in mind. In our 30+ years […]
I strive to be a good boss. I thank all of my employees, and vendors, for completing tasks to which they have been assigned. I thank the employees at the end of every work day for everything they have done that day to help me. I am aware that, absent the help I receive from […]
Expand Your Horizons: Johnny Cash, Jazz…
Expand your horizons. Exit your comfort zone. Try new things. Visit new places. Meet new people. These are mantras to which I aspire. Many people are too afraid to venture outside things they’ve always done. They go to the same restaurants, then order the same things off the menu. When it comes to music, some […]
How broad one’s horizons, or comfort zones, are is probably relative. While some people consider Melissa and me to be adventurous in certain respects like music or food, I know, I for one, still draw a line somewhere. I know I have limitations based on foods because of 2 things. One is an allergy issue […]
Reactive v. Proactive
My mother used to tell me that she, as well as almost everyone else, would “have to get up before breakfast to stay ahead of me.” For readers of this post who are unfamiliar with, as Mom used to say “old South Carolina sayings,” this means that, all things considered, I work and move at […]
I don’t think of the proactive/reactive dichotomy as just an issue of speed, but of priorities. And, in fairness to our clients (attorneys), many reactive behaviors are a part of the job. They must react to rulings by the court, motions or pleadings by the other side, client demands, etc. It is not just attorneys, […]
Probing Questions and Difficult Answers
I went to my primary care physician recently for my annual check up. (As an aside, my physician is smart: He has a Ph. D. in addition to an M. D.) My physician is committed to helping medical students with their education. He has mentored medical students from The University of Miami for decades and […]
I loved hearing the story Melissa related about the young medical student shortly after her check up. It was a classic example of how Melissa’s interactions with the world are sometimes more than what people bargained for on any given day. I hope that, not only did this make a lasting impression on this future […]
Con Mucho Gusto
David and I have written in previous posts about one of our pet peeves, replying to “thank you” with “no problem.” We always get a little miffed when someone says “no problem” because we don’t think there is a need to mention any sort of problem when someone is being thanked for doing something. I […]
I do not speak Spanish. Living in south Florida all these years has not been enough for me to learn more than some basics and I depend on Melissa when we find ourselves in Spanish speaking countries, or places. But, it didn’t take me long to catch on in Costa Rica that the locals, Ticos […]