Hello friends and happy October!
This is one of my most favorite seasons, from the changing of leaves to anything made with pumpkin… I love it all! Today we kick off a three week Gracious Me series where we will focus on
Tricks or Treats of Gracious Living. ‘Tis the season, after all!
Because this is “Gracious Me” l wanted to start our series with simple ways we can treat others well. As the old saying goes, “It’s better to give than receive” in this case I think it’s better to “treat than be treated.”
Be people-oriented. Knowing the people in our lives is one of the first steps to treating them well. The best way to know people is to listen—really listen. If a friend has difficulty opening up, don’t stop trying. Ask open-ended questions to get the conversation flowing.
Care when life gets tough. When the going gets tough because of tragedy or change, it’s easy to slip away quietly because you don’t know what to do. Sometimes we have to get over our own insecurities and just act. Simply reaching out to say you care speaks volumes. The worst thing you can do is nothing, so pick up the phone! Sometimes people just need a listening ear.
Don’t neglect simple acts. Getting together over lunch, coffee, or drinks is an easy way to connect and catch up. Next time you get together with someone, try treating! The rule for treating says that the friend who invites is the one who treats. This doesn’t mean that every time you initiate a meet, you pick up the tab. But once in awhile is truly a treat, for everyone.
Remember the Magic Words. Please and thank-you will always be a magic treat! Don’t forget to use these magic words when you ask something of someone or follow-up with a “Thank You” or even better a Thank-You note when you are the recipient of a gracious act!
Let’s all take time this weekend to put our Gracious Me into action and reach out and treat someone else with kindness. I’d love to hear your favorite ways to extend acts of treating to others… Oh the fun we will have!
Happy Treating!
