Although not many of us want to admit it, we’re all pretty self-centered. Someone drives too slowly in front of us and we get mad because they’re messing up our schedule. Our child gets in trouble in school and we’re embarrassed because it reflects poorly on us. A coworker gets credit for something we did […]
Conversation Dominators. We all know at least one. It’s the woman at work who only asks how you’re doing so she can jump in and tell you how she’s doing. It’s that guy next door who has to let you know all about his son’s great accomplishments in sports, but never asks about even ONE […]
“I’m sorry,” is one of the first things we’re taught to say when we’re children. However, something happens to us as we grow up that makes it harder and harder to apologize for our actions. Whether it’s an unwillingness to admit we’re wrong, or a dislike of taking responsibility for their actions, these people instead […]
Any parent can tell you the most annoying question kids ask is, “Why?” Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green? Why do I have to take a bath? Although it may sometimes feel like kids ask these questions merely to annoy us, kids ask them because they’re trying to understand their world. […]
As January is a time for reflection on the past and planning for the future, I decided to go back through every blog post I’ve written since I began the Practical Communication Blog on May 31, 2011. In reviewing where my blog began and thinking about where it’s going, I came across this particular post […]
Every year, many people resolve to make the coming year their “best ever” by making resolutions for better behavior. The most common resolutions include losing weight, exercising, stopping bad habits (smoking, sugar, etc.), getting a better job, etc. As this is a communication blog, over the past few weeks I’ve been collecting reader-submitted suggestions for […]
I’m all about building rapport, communicating, and creating great relationships with people at work, including your boss. However, there are some things you should just keep to yourself if you want to continue to be successful, and climb the ladder, in your career. Yes, I realize when you read some of these items, some of […]
This week will be the last week of radiation treatments for my Doberman Pinscher Jack. Every morning for the past three weeks, we’ve traveled together to downtown Houston to spend an hour or two at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists. He receives his treatments and I wait. Prior to Jack’s cancer diagnosis, I never would have thought […]
At this time of year, many parents are facing their only (or last) child’s high school graduation. In a few short months, their children will go off to college, leaving them alone in the empty nest. When my one and only child went to college for the first time, many friends and family members asked […]
For the past two years, I’ve planted a vegetable garden. Last year, I really tended it. I watered every day, fertilized, fussed, and worried over it. My reward? A whole lot of nothing. I harvested one zucchini from my zucchini plant before worms demolished it. My cucumber plants turned gray and withered, and a mouse (and […]
