3 Quotes from a Magazine, another and a bit of a funny story from a friend.  A fun week ahead…let’s GO!

“The average human heart beats 100,000 times a day.  Make those beats count.”

“Life is an adventure in forgiveness.”

“Don’t count the days….Make the days count.”

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen,”.  Bobby - age 7

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George, age 92, and Edith, age 89, had been seeing each other for 2 years when they decided that life was too short and they might as well be together for the rest of their lives.

Excited about their decision to become newlyweds, they went for a stroll to discuss the wedding and what plans needed to be made.

Along their way, they found themselves in front of a drugstore.

George said to his bride-to-be, “Let’s go in. I have an idea.”

They walk to the rear of the store and address the man behind the counter:
“Are you the owner?” asked George.

The pharmacist answered, “Yes, sir, I am. How can I help you?”

George: “Do you sell heart medications?”

Pharmacist: “Of course we do.”

George: “How about support hose for circulation?”

Pharmacist: “Definitely.”

George: “What about medications for rheumatism, osteoporosis & arthritis?”

Pharmacist: “All kinds.”

George: “How about waterproof furniture pads & Depends?”

Pharmacist: “Yes sir.”

George: “Hearing aids, denture supplies &reading glasses?”

Pharmacist: “Yes.”

George: “What about eye drops, sleeping pills, Geritol, Preparation H and ExLax?”

Pharmacist: “Absolutely.”

George: “You sell wheelchairs, walkers & canes?”

Pharmacist: “All kinds and sizes. Why all these questions?”

George smiled, glanced shyly at Edith and replied to the pharmacist, “We’ve decided to get married and we’d like to use your store as our Bridal Registry.”

People call me an optimist, but I’m really an appreciator….When I was six years old and had scarlet fever, the first of the miracle drugs, sulfanilamide, saved my life. I’m grateful for computers and photocopiers…I appreciate where we’ve come from.   — Julian Simon

What kind of influence are you having? 

“Whether or not we realize it each of us has within us the ability to set some kind of example for people. Knowing this would you rather be the one known for being the one who encouraged others, or the one who inadvertently discouraged those around you?” ~ Josh Hinds

More than a few of T4d readers took exception to last weeks ”multitasking is dead” piece by Timothy Ferriss.  For any who missed it - I’ve included it below, followed by a wonderfully written response from t4D reader, Carol Sass, who takes his multi-task to task

“Multi-tasking is dead. It never worked and it never will. Intelligent people love to sing its praises because it gives them permission to avoid the much more challenging alternative: focusing on one thing.”   -Timothy Ferriss 

Hi Kirk!    Even though I retired a few months ago, I still enjoy your column. 

As you intend, they make me think.  And here’s what I think about multi-tasking:   I’m not sure what Timothy Ferriss was thinking about when he said ”Multi-tasking is dead.”  Maybe he was talking about people who talk on the phone when they are driving - which is, of course, a dangerous thing. 

But I have to disagree with his premise that it never worked and never will.    Multi-tasking is alive and well and living in every woman I know.  While I’m washing dishes, I listen to books on tape.  While I’m on hold with the insurance company, I’m making a grocery list.  While I’m sitting in the dentist’s waiting room, I’m crocheting a prayer shawl.   Digging in my gardening helps me think about God and all the beauty in this world.  In fact, most of my time is spent multi-tasking.  Mutli-tasking makes drudgery/boring into joyful/interesting.   Moreover, multi-tasking can be a great way to develop and maintain relationships.  When my husband and I sit in our hot tub every morning to start the day, we count our blessings and share our gratitude for our wonderful life.  When we I go for our daily walk, we talk about everything under the sun!   When I’m making cookies with my granddaughter, I hear all sorts of things about her life.   

The thing is… you need to know when it is important to focus - and when it isn’t.  If I’m learning a new skill, it needs my focus.  If I’m listening to a friend talking about her cancer, she needs my full attention.  If I’m writing a letter, I shouldn’t be watching a sitcom on TV.    

Intelligent people don’t need permission to avoid focusing on one thing.  Intelligent people just need to determine when they should focus on one thing - and when they can happily multi-task.  

Keep up the good work!  Carol Sass

I will keep it up Carol…not to the level that you do… but I will certainly raise the bar.

Kirk

The most important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one’s work seriously and taking one’s self seriously. The first is imperative, and the second disastrous. ~ Margaret Fontey