Author Archives: RealityCheck

Reality Check: What does encouragement look like?

A friend for whom I have very high regard had a scheduling conflict. It looked like she’d be unable to attend a meeting I’d organized. I was disappointed. Then, she went out of her way to rearrange her schedule so … Continue reading

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Reality Check: If your past was a yard sale…

Even if you don’t love yard sales or flea markets, you probably know someone who does. While frugality is some of the incentive, for the passionate yard-salers, much of the joy comes from the hunt. The thrill of the hunt … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Abuse of Courtesy

If you have a telephone, at some point you’ve probably gotten a call that goes something like this: The phone rings. You answer. There’s a long buzzy pause as a piece of equipment somewhere figures out that they have a … Continue reading

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Reality Check: If only you had come with an instruction manual…

You know those instruction manuals that come with electronics, appliances, and other complicated products? Even though they are friendlier than they used to be, many people ignore the manuals and just push buttons till the thing does what you want … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Let’s talk failure…

Just when you thought these columns were all about joy, positivity and success, here comes one on failure! I’m grateful to one of my readers for inspiring me to examine failure and how to define it. There’s a practical application … Continue reading

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Reality Check: You’re probably not alone…

“So much paperwork. And it’s all so confusing.” That’s Wanda’s description of her plight right now. She’s entering a stage of life where changes must be made. Many of those changes involve finances. Thus, they involve paperwork, meetings, and decisions. … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Presuming Good Intent

If you’re going to make an assumption about someone, it’s more helpful to assume that they have good intent rather than bad. What do you think of that? Let’s eliminate the situations where the assumption of good intent is obviously … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Unintended Effects

When we interact with people, we have control over how we behave. We can choose our actions, our thoughts, perceptions, and to some degree, even our feelings. What we can’t control is what others do. Smiling at a stranger doesn’t … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Help Yourself? Here are some resources…

Self-help may not be as effective as professional help. But if you can’t, or don’t want to find a suitable professional to help you work through your challenges, then self-help is better than no help at all. Last column, I … Continue reading

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Reality Check: There will always be an Irma

Are there people in your life who bug you? Treat you badly? Is this the story of your life? Sweet little Mary was picked on throughout her first year of school. Her nemesis was Irma, a big girl in a … Continue reading

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