EILEEN MCDARGH'S
Resiliency Report
Published monthly and when the mood strikes.
Update from Eileen
I’ll bet most of us breathed a collective sigh of relief to close the door on a year marked by a reversal in fortunes and freedoms. If you’re like me, you clung tighter to your loved ones and tried to rein in the excessive buying. Just “being together” seemed gift enough.
Perhaps you went out of your way to connect with family and friends. Nineteen gathered at our Christmas table, presenting a picture perfect—if somewhat chaotic—view of the generations. Our first guest room was occupied by my good-sport, 85 year-young Mum from Florida. My oldest daughter and son-in-law from Oregon claimed the second room. The Boston contingent of my twin’s family, with 10-year-old Sasha, slept in a rented motor home, its international orange extension cord serving as an umbilical cord to the house.
The three-and five-year-old kids snuggled on air mattresses at the foot of our bed. Sister Susan and her mellow black dog took the sofa. One year-old Keaton got his own playpen while two-year old Siena shared the floor with our son and daughter-in-law. I couldn’t help but remember a line from a Don Blanding poem: “Walk very carefully. Make your step hesitant. One of these babies someday might be President!”
Confusion reigned and rained. Yes, I mean both verbs! And we wanted it no other way. The totality of sharing 24-hour days in close quarters is wacky, weird, and wonderful. Conversations spring up at odd times. You see things you might have missed. You file away memories for that day in which someone will be missing from the celebration. And you know a new meaning of grace and gratitude.
Now I’m ready for my silent time, for the order and cleanliness to return, for our structure to resume its pattern. But you know, I’m thinking about sleeping on that air mattress. Maybe outside. Christmas reminded me that breaking the pattern is good for the soul!
May this year bring you the grace of precious moments, gratitude for all your connections, and the comfort of knowing that broken patterns bring new experiences.
What wonderful memory can you bring forward? The magic is still there!
Looking For A Holiday To Celebrate? December Is Loaded With Them.
December is a fascinating month. It offers both celebration and solemnity, serious awareness, and crazy fun. Out of curiosity, I researched just what is celebrated in this month. Many of us know about Christmas, Hanukkah, Boxing Day (English), and Kwanzaa (African American), but how about these:
Peppermint Bark Day
National Bartender Day
National Green Bean Casserole Day
International Cheetah Day
Panama Mother’s Day
Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day
Stupid Toy Day
Look on the Brightside Day
National Whiners Day (note it is AFTER the bright side folks)
International Cello Day
The list is endless. In fact, it looks to me that you can name your holiday! Write and tell me what it is at eileen@eileenmcdargh.com. How will you celebrate it?
Discover A Magic Moment With Me. Come Back 21 Years.
December 2023
Tips For Energizing Yourself
Buy the tiniest spiral notepad you can find. Keep it in your pocket or purse. Use it for writing “Ahhhh” moments. These are the times you see, hear, or smell something wonderful. Could be the smell of baking bread as you enter the grocery store. It could be the giggle of your children in the bathtub. Perhaps you notice the mackerel pink clouds of the morning sky.
Jot it all down. Read it before you go to bed. I’ll guarantee you’ll sleep better!
Have You Ever Wondered…
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?
What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?
(Questions are compliments of humorist Dolly Howard.)
Remarkably Bright Creatures
I defy you to put down this marvelous novel by a young, first-time author. Who would think that a giant octopus and an elderly cleaning woman find friendship AND solve the mystery of her missing son? If you watched the documentary, My Octopus Teacher, you will understand the truthfulness of the plot.
A Resiliency Secret: The Power of Doing Something New
As I watch myself and my colleagues move into the aging process, I see us holding back and holding on. Tried and true seems bright and new. Only it is not. I think my 96-year-old mother was quite right when on her death bed she proclaimed, “Let’s be daring. Let’s have an adventure.”
About Eileen
If you are looking for a unique keynote speaker in resiliency, a facilitator for executive retreats, a speech coach or an emcee/moderator, then you want to work with Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE. Eileen has spoken for audiences as large as 15,000 and facilitated groups as small as 18! She is the author of seven books and other products that you can find in her online store. The British Research firm of Global Gurus ranked her #4 among the top 30 communication gurus worldwide. Why not hire Eileen for your next event?
Ranked 3rd!
This is the 6th year in a row that I have been ranked in the top 5 in communication. Global Gurus surveys some 26,000 business professionals to determine rankings plus professionals also vote.
Yahoo!
Thank You!
