Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Enjoying our time with Dave and Darlene

[Update: July 28th, part 2 has been posted.]

[July 28th, part 3 has been posted!]

NoPo came over early this morning with a valve for the fresh water fixture on the Q.  He and Don got the valve replaced in about tens.  Really tickled that it was so easy to fix.

About 11:30, we headed back to Jackson.  Even Clifford was happy to see Dave and Darlene again.100_1455

We had lunch at a quaint little local grille.100_1456Inside the grille.100_1457

After a very nice lunch and back at the Sutton’s, we admired the work bench Dave and Darlene built.100_1459

Bumper sticker on their truck.  Thanks, Dave, for your service to our country!100_1461

The front door to the condo they are renting.  It is really roomy with two bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, living room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast area and sun room The basement is not finished out, but is enclosed and provides space for their exercise equipment and tons of storage space.  And the view out the back is a golf course and very pretty.100_1462

None of us know the name of this tree.100_1464The flower wilts and falls away and the very hard green berry turns red and softens.100_1463

We were in the middle of playing cards when I looked up to see this huge tom turkey!!100_1469

There were three toms!  Look how big they are.100_1472

His beard is dragging the grass.100_1473

That’s two good-looking turkey legs!100_1474

Even though we haven’t seen Dave and Darlene since the spring of 2008, it feels like we just saw them yesterday.  Oh, wait a minute…. we did see them yesterday.  Oh, you know what I mean.100_1475

We taught them the “stupid game” aka Zilch and played one game of Spades which the Ladies handedly won and then it was time for us to go.  It’s difficult to part once again, but we are confident we will see them again.

Taking pictures of each other as we drive off.  It’s been fun!!!100_1479

The solar tsunami is scheduled to hit the earth’s atmosphere early tomorrow morning.  It’s been reported that it will be visible in Michigan looking toward the northern sky.  I may just try to get caught up on the blog until the wee hours and check out the northern lights!!


Brian Tracy said..."Eighty percent of life's satisfaction comes from meaningful relationships." Think about it...when you look back at the end of your life, what will really matter? I'm betting the top of your list will include the quality of your relationships.
So here's the question: If your relationships are one of the most important parts of your life, what are you doing to make them all they can be?

Here's a brief excerpt from The 100/0 Principle. Enjoy!

An Excerpt from The 100/0 Principle by Al Ritter

What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.
Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.
The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.
STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.
STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.
STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.
At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "That won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "That's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.
Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!
Principle Paradox
This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.

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