Articles by Barbara Glanz, C.S.P. - Speaker, Author, Consultant

Barbara's Articles

Celebrate the Gift of Life!

By Barbara A. Glanz

I recently read the following poem:

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why we call it "the present!"

Whenever I speak to an audience, I share this beautiful thought with them. Because I speak on "CARE Packages for the Workplace--Dozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work," the idea of each day being a gift is central to my message--that we each can choose to send our CARE packages, to make a difference in every interaction we have with anyone. Every day offers us unlimited opportunities to make a difference in our world by showing just a little more CARE-ing to those around us.

I also share with them my strong belief that every person we meet is a gift to us. We have the choice of "unwrapping" that gift and making a human level connection by finding out something about that very special person, or we can choose to take care of whatever business is at hand and simply ignore the human being in front of us. In our world today I see so many unwrapped gifts-- lonely, hurting people whom no one seems to care about.

I have made it my personal mission in life to try my hardest to recognize these folks as human beings with a story and to acknowledge their uniqueness in whatever ways time will allow. Sometimes it is only a quick smile or touch on the arm, a "thank you" for going out of their way for me, or a simple personal question and then truly listening to the answer. At other times I am blessed to be able to really hear some of that person's story, and I always feel as if I have made a new and special friend.

Mother Teresa says, "Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier." May I challenge you to make that your philosophy of life? Every day is a gift, and no matter what your work is, you have the opportunity every day to open the gifts God has placed all around you. Don't let the tyranny of the urgent rob you of the very special gift of CARE-ing!

BARBARA GLANZ BIO

For free articles you can use in your company newsletters and an archive of dozens of immediately applicable "Ideas of the Month," go to www.barbaraglanz.com. Barbara Glanz, CSP, works with organizations that want to improve morale, retention, and service and with people who want to rediscover the joy in their work and in their lives. She is the author of CARE Packages for Your Customers: An Idea a Week for Customer Service (McGraw-Hill 2007), The Simple Truths of Appreciation: How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference (Simple Truths 2007), What Can I Do? Ideas to Help Those Who Have Experienced Loss (Augsburg Fortress 2007), The Simple Truths of Service -- Inspired by Johnny the Bagger by Ken Blanchard and Barbara Glanz. (Simple Truths 2005) , Balancing Acts -- More than 250 Guiltfree, Creative Ideas to Blend your Work and your Life (Dearborn 2003), Handle with CARE -- Motivating and Retaining Employees (McGraw-Hill 2002), CARE Packages for the Workplace -- Dozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work (McGraw-Hill 1996), The Creative Communicator (McGraw-Hill 1998), CARE Packages for the Home (Andrews McMeel 1998), and Building Customer Loyalty (McGraw-Hill 1994). As an internationally known speaker, trainer, and business consultant who has a Master's degree in Adult Education, Barbara lives and breathes her personal motto: "Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm^TM." She has presented on all seven continents and in all 50 states since 1995. For more information, she can be reached directly at 941-312-9169; Fax 941-349-8209; email: bglanz@barbaraglanz.com; website: www.barbaraglanz.com.