Life is full of surprises.

Last week our office hosted valley wide events for MichaelMaher’s Generosity Generation.  We heard that who, what, when, where, and how we respond matter.

This week we’re privileged to help with the 9/11 HealingFields at Tempe Town Lake as our nation prepares to honor its’ fallen heroes lost 13 years ago.

I am also very aware of families who lost so much within a mile of the GAT Stapley Office.  As of the writing of this blog, there are families still without electricity, their homes full of mud and water, and no idea how they will fix it all.  At the same time there are neighbors who are helping clean, tear out drywall, and feed children.

It is interesting as Mr. Maher said last week, “This nation is a nation of generous responders”.  We respond when there is need.  We are to be commended for that, I simply wonder what happened to courteous, gracious and being amiable as a routine part of life.

Many of you know I grew up in Texas.  My Mother and Dad taught me to be “kind and well-mannered” as a purposeful practice not simply in response to great need.

We were trained to make first impressions matter. “Yes”; “please”; “thank-you”; “May I”; “No, thank you”; and “I’m sorry” were common place in our daily conversation.

Gentlemen and young men said, “Let me get that door for you!” Girls and ladies said, “Thank you!”. We were grateful for other people. Children were taught to yield to someone else’s need.

We were careful in what, in how and to whom we communicated.

I’d love to get back to those days.

This week I want my verbal communication to be uplifting; my written communication in letters, cards, and memos to matter; my electronic communication via, the internet, Facebook, or Messenger to have encouraging words.  When I Skype I want others to know they really matter to me, ‘cause guess what they do.

Here in the United States there are telephones, cell phones, fax machines, computers, television and even radio.  We communicate all the time. 

We move so very fast and often we do not take the time to think about what we said. Nor do we consider to whom we said it.  Or for that matter how it impacts the receiver.

As Michael Maher said, “Communication is all about the response”.  I want people to know I have a high opinion of each person I touch and that I do admire those who step out and are generous to the needs of others.

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