Dave Glardon

Make ‘Em Feel Important

November 13, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, friends! I hope your Friday is going just right.

Yesterday was my wife’s birthday. She told me she didn’t really want a gift, but just to do something fun. Well, our community had planned a shuttle trip to three local microbreweries, so I was the first to buy tickets. The activity directors got wind of her birthday (why are you looking at me?) and turned it into a secret celebration of her big day. We had a blast.

The bus was decorated, we all had hats and noisemakers (bus driver LOVED that), and one of our friends made her a birthday cake – German chocolate, her favorite. At the end of the day, she told me it was her best birthday ever. That’s nice, but we got engaged on her 17th birthday, so now I’m officially in second place. I don’t mind. I’m still ahead of 63 others.

A person’s birthday is special. Social media often reminds us of who’s celebrating (or not) every day, and it only takes a moment to send a message. If you want them to feel extra special, take a few seconds to personalize it. If you really want to have fun, remind them of an embarrassing moment in their past. And if anyone does that to you, simply respond, “Have we met?”

I attended some management seminars back in the days when companies thought they were helpful. I always enjoyed them. One time as we were filling out our name badge (a time-honored activity in these events), the facilitator told us to write our name, followed by four letters – “M.M.F.I.” Oh, we had some fun trying to figure that out. He made us wait all day.

At the end of the class, he translated it – Make Me Feel Important. He said everybody you encounter has that sign plastered all over them. And, while some people have no qualms about asserting that message loudly to everybody in sight, most wear it in silence, hoping somebody will notice. I’ve forgotten much of what was taught in those seminars, but I’ll never forget that.

And here’s the thing – people who are the least accustomed to feeling important need it most. The CEO expects friendly admiration and attention. Sports heroes and celebrities usually crave a break from it. Politicians, on the other hand, hog up so much there’s not much left for anyone else. And believe me, lots of folks would be thrilled with the leftovers.

How about that janitor who quietly cleans the break room, completely unnoticed by those they serve? Or the neighbor who sits alone on their porch every day as the world goes by? From the most accomplished and wealthy among us to those who sleep under a bridge, everybody needs to feel like they matter. And, they do.

All it takes is a kind word, a genuine compliment, or simply asking (and remembering) their name. I have a hard time with that last one. I asked my vascular surgeon if my memory loss is related to my stroke three years ago, and she smiled as she gently patted my leg and said, “No.” Thanks, doc. In other words, I’m permanently stupid.

I once heard if you can’t remember a person’s name, ask them to spell it. If the answer is “T-O-M,” just wing it. “No ‘H’? Got it!” But even if you don’t like your name, it’s still a word you can pick out of any conversation. Don’t believe me? Let somebody say your name in a crowded room. Worse yet, as you’re walking past the boss’s office. Trust me, you’ll hear it.

But beyond that, it takes nothing to tell somebody they’re doing a good job, or to ask how their day is going. Pay a compliment if you can, but make it genuine. And non-creepy. Unless you were planning to visit HR anyway. But just a brief gesture of personal interest is all it takes to make a person feel appreciated. Whether it’s their birthday, or just the last Friday of the week.

The emotion you spark within that person will spread to others, possibly people you’ve never met, because people who feel appreciated are inclined to pay it forward. And if you don’t immediately feel better as a result, you could be beyond hope. I’m kidding, of course. The best remedy is to just keep doing it until it does feel good. Don’t think too hard on that.

And with that, I think I’m done for today. Pay attention to the people around you and remember, no matter who they are, they want you to make them feel important. See how many smiles you can share in the next few days. Meanwhile, have an awesome weekend

Be Sure to Thank Them All

November 11, 2026November 11, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Hello, and happy Wednesday! I hope your day is off to a great start.

I would normally have posted this Monday, but I wanted to save it for today. For those of us in the United States, today is Veteran’s Day. It’s a day to honor all who have served in our nation’s military. I’m one of them, and I appreciate the gratitude. Still, as I do every year, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the spouses and families whose support makes it all possible.

In my 12 years of Naval service, I deployed to the Indian Ocean three times. This was long before the days of cell phones and global internet. Our only means of communication was good old-fashioned snail mail. Sometimes the letters came out of sequence, and the answer to a specific question may not come for several weeks. That’s just the way it was.

It’s hard not to worry, especially when you find out about challenges your loved ones are facing. And there were hazards onboard as well. Less than a week after I arrived onboard, we had a fire below deck that burned all night and made US news. And every cruise would claim a few lives to onboard accidents. I remember every one of them. Our wives knew this all too well.

But we didn’t have to worry about how things were being managed in our absence. I deployed before our daughter’s first birthday, and my wife was left in a strange city with no transportation (she wasn’t licensed yet), little money, and a toddler to raise. She walked a mile each way along snow-covered walks to buy whatever groceries would fit in the stroller.

We fixed that issue before I deployed again. But when I came home the house was warm, the lights were on, our daughter was healthy, and there were no eviction notices on the door. She made enlisted pay keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, which was nothing short of a miracle. The Navy had a theory on that – “Your wife wasn’t issued in your seabag.”

I knew every time we went to sea that she’d be on the pier waiting for me when we got home, whether that was three days or seven months. And yes, I knew some guys who found out the hard way they weren’t as fortunate. Separation is hard on relationships. But the overwhelming majority of us never had to worry about that. And our wives didn’t have to worry about us.

As a ship and crew, we were able to make all of our operational commitments, plus a few extras that nobody had planned. Part of that was training. Part was leadership. Part was keeping the ship and planes in working order. But the biggest part was the ability to focus on our job without the distraction of challenges on the home front. We knew home would be okay.

And that’s true in a lot of professions. After my time in the Navy, I drove a long-haul semi for a while. If you see a truck on the road, odds are there’s a family at home keeping things going. The same is true of firefighters, police officers, flight crews, ship’s crews, oil rig operators, and a hundred other professions. When they go to work, somebody gets left behind.

Those are the people I think we should celebrate today, and every day. For me, being at sea wasn’t all that hard. I worked here, I slept up there, and I ate down there. That was my little world. But I also knew things at home would be fine, and that let me focus on my job seven days a week, twelve hours a day. I think our families deserved the medals.

So, as you think about the veterans in your life, or anyone whose job takes them away from home and sometimes into danger, take a moment to thank the unsung heroes who make it all possible. It’s hard living with your life’s partner or a parent whose job makes them unable to be home with you. Harder, even, than being the person who’s away.

That’s all for today. I’ll get back to the regular schedule in a few days, but this is something I wanted to share today. Thanks for listening, and have an awesome day!

Fresh Batteries Make Good Neighbors

November 2, 2026November 2, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! It’s a new day, a new week, and a new month. Let’s make all three great!

Welcome to November. I know, it slipped in under the wire with little fanfare, other than the semi-annual changing of the clocks for most of the nation. We don’t change ours because daylight is already abundant here. There was something else I was supposed to do as well, but I can’t remember. Who can even think with that smoke detector chirping all day?

Okay, I’m old but not senile. We’re supposed to change the smoke detector batteries when we change the clocks. It’s a good way to remember, but I think I may have missed that once or twice. We’ve lived here two years as of today, and it has never made a sound, not evenz

My wife has an unnatural fear of dying in a fire. I’m surprised we don’t have a smoke detector in every room including the bathroom. But that one would be going off all day. I once spilled bourbon in the motorhome and set off the propane detector. Good bourbon. Maybe it just wanted a sip. But as I learned, electronic sniffers can’t always differentiate between smells.

Still, it was nice knowing the device actually worked. Nothing like going to sleep with a slow propane leak and waking up dead because the alarm didn’t go off. Maybe that’s why I wake up so many times every night. Ours doubles as a carbon monoxide detector. I’m not sure I even want to test how well that works. At least I can smell propane. Well, in most rooms.

Where we live, the houses are close together. By close, I mean I can stand on my carport and touch the neighbor’s living room window. She’s asked me to stop doing that, by the way. But we’re all pretty conscious about fire, because one spark could wipe out an entire block. And let me tell you, nobody wants to go to Wednesday coffee after causing something like that.

One benefit of living so close together is that we take care of one another. If somebody is sick, we visit. If they’re hurt, we cook. And yesterday, when the entire state was under a flash flood warning, we offered towels to a neighbor with water in the house. Good towels. Hey, we’re old but we’re not cheap. I offered them some bourbon, too. It seemed appropriate.

I joke sometimes, but last year the remnants of a hurricane took out a neighbor’s carport roof that doubled as a ceiling for the den. Within minutes, the aluminum structure had been removed from the street, and another resident had already gone to buy tarps for the open den. Nobody asked anybody to do anything. It was all hands on deck. That could’ve been any of us.

As much of the nation is descending into winter (no snide comments from you folks below the Equator), you’ll have ample opportunity to help a neighbor. When our snow-thrower was working, I’d bundle up and plow the sidewalks on both sides of the street. That was my silent contribution to the neighborhood. Well, that and wearing a shirt outside. The ladies pretty much insisted.

Especially this time of year, it’s easy to find people in need. They don’t always advertise, and you may even be one of them. Heating costs are rising, grocery prices are up, and gas stations now offer payday loans. All at the most expensive time of year. You may not have money to spare, but if you’re going to the store anyway, can you pick up a few items for a neighbor?

There are dozens of little things we all do that don’t require a lot on our end, but make a huge difference to someone else. How hard is it to take a plate of leftovers to a sick neighbor or shovel a path from their porch to the car? And you don’t have to do it all. Do you have a teenager who dared to utter the words, “I’m bored?” Come on, this is what you’ve trained for!

All it takes is paying attention and asking questions. That neighbor who has groceries delivered twice a week may be housebound. The one whose car hasn’t moved in weeks may need a ride somewhere. And sending your kid to their house with a shovel isn’t child abuse. It’s teaching them to put a little kindness in the bank. Because someday, they may need help, too.

That’s all for today. Try to find one kind gesture you can offer each day and see how you feel at the end of the week. I’d love to hear your stories. Meanwhile, have an awesome day! And change those smoke detector batteries!

Wanna Have Some Fun???

October 31, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good afternoon! I hope wherever you are, your day is going just about perfectly.

Yes, I know. I usually write in the morning. And this post is a day late. I haven’t forgotten what day it is. They say that day will come, now that I’m retired. I think that day will come now that I’m old(er) and starting to forget lots of other stuff. But, as I listen to all these other old(er) folks around me, I’m in good company. At least I remember where I hid the bourbon.

As many of you know, my wife and I live in an active 55+ community. By “active” I mean we can find amusement in the simplest of things. We spent two hours decorating our golf cart for a Halloween parade yesterday that Mother Nature vetoed. She won. The cart is still decorated. I thought about leaving it that way until next year, but the Christmas crowd may not approve.

And last night, we attended a Halloween dance. The theme was “favorite books” so we went as Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, complete with overalls, straw hat, and bare feet. It’s apparent people here don’t read much, because NOBODY got it. “Hey, farmer Brown!” If you felt a rumbling in the vicinity of south-central New York, it was Mark Twain rolling over in his grave.

But it’s all in fun. At this age, you find ways to amuse yourself. Especially in a community where there are no kids to make fun of you. If you ever saw me dance, you’d understand. And I sing almost as well. But I can ride a beer shuttle with the best of ‘em! It’s fun watching the younger people in a micro-brewery when the short bus pulls up and all the geezers walk in.

One of the shuttle drivers told me a couple of years ago, “You guys are fun. When we left the park, it was just quiet chatter among friends. After each stop, it got a little more animated, and on the ride home I was waiting for you all to start singing!” Believe me, they earn their tips. How would you like to be the designated driver for a dozen seniors on a four-hour binge?

Beyond that, people here are into every kind of hobby you can imagine, and all of those hobbies have a dedicated club, whether it’s cards, lapidary, ceramics, woodworking, music, art, cooking, shuffleboard, bocce, or pickleball. I say that as if I’ve played any of them. Okay, bocce is within my physical abilities. Shuffleboard, maybe, but I think you have to be older for that.

We even have a group that takes a bicycle ride every Monday. I was ready to go with them until I found out most have e-bikes and the average speed is about 15 mph. I have a me-bike, and I can’t pedal it that fast off a cliff. I’m trying to build stamina, but getting up out of the recliner isn’t what most experts consider a full-body workout. They need to try it with this body.

But with my weight loss (37 pounds over 5 months), this body isn’t quite as big a mess as I thought. Visually, yes. I own a mirror. I still live with back pain every day, but the flare-ups resolve a little faster now. And, for the first time in years, I can actually get up from the floor without an engine hoist. Toss a snake on the floor and I can levitate.

If there’s a theme to today’s post, it’s that every moment we’re breathing, life is moving on. We can embrace that or try to fight it, though the graveyard is full of people who lost that battle. The fact is, we only get one life, and our goal should be to make it the most exciting ride possible. You know, like a rollercoaster with no seat belts, but not quite so masochistic.

The fun is all around you. Maybe not exactly the fun you were hoping for, but enjoyment is in the eye of the beholder. Anything can be fun. Except a broccoli-eating contest and the resultant air quality afterward. Trust me on that. But if you want to learn how to make things fun, just watch a child. Their imagination knows no bounds, and they can teach us a lot.

That’s all for today. The weekend isn’t even half-over, and you’ve earned some enjoyment. It’s the simple things that count, and they are the ones you and your family will remember for years to come. So, find your fun and make the most of it. Meanwhile, have an awesome day!

Your Vote Matters More Than Your Opinion

October 26, 2026October 25, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope this finds you happy, healthy, and at least hopeful. That can be a challenge sometimes, especially in this political environment.

Few things will turn a conversation lively like the mention of politics. For most of my life, that was a forbidden topic in social situations, for that very reason. You didn’t ask people about their sex life, and you didn’t ask how they voted. That was back in the day when you voted in a cloaked booth. And then they tabulated the results on an abacus. Yes, I’m that old.

Somehow, over the years, both topics have become a lot less taboo. People are more comfortable speaking their mind in public, especially behind the relative safety of a keyboard. Social media tends to bring out the worst in some people. And the closer we get to election day, the worse it gets. I look forward to election day for one reason – no more commercials.

Okay, as a 12-year Navy veteran, it runs a little deeper than that. To me, there is no more sacred right than the right to vote. It’s important enough that I would drive a friend to the polls, knowing their vote would counteract mine. We can debate the validity of the electoral process, but in almost 69 years I’ve never seen any evidence that my vote wasn’t counted.

If we accept that premise at face value, we have to also admit that when we don’t exercise our right to vote, somebody else will vote for us and they will decide the outcome of the election. If you’re okay with that, and really don’t care how things turn out, do your own thing. Just accept that, at least in my presence, you’ll lose your right to complain. Sorry, I make the rules.

That aside, ballots can be hard to interpret, especially in the verbiage of proposals, levies, and bills. Throw in a constitutional amendment, and the experts on both sides will work overtime to make sure you’re thoroughly confused. And this year, we have to contend not only with the normal political noise, but also with content generated by AI. Oh good, the voice of authority!

If you haven’t already voted, this is the perfect time to go online and take a look at your precinct’s ballot. It’ll look exactly like the real thing, and you can take a few minutes to educate yourself regarding those issues. While you’re at it, take a few minutes to fact-check the things you’ve heard about the candidates. You may be surprised at what you find.

All of this requires us to set aside our pre-conceived notions of the good and bad in candidates and ballot measures alike. That’s a hard bone to chew, because it means momentarily setting aside loyalty to any party or politician. In some cases, it means challenging, at least internally, what we hear around the dinner table. And I’m not just talking about the “mystery meat.”

Once you’ve done your due diligence, vote your conscience. But remember, your neighbor, your boss, and your drunk uncle, all have that same right. You don’t have to agree with the way they vote. They don’t have to agree with you. What’s important is that we participate in the democratic process with complete integrity and don’t impede others from doing the same.

If you’re one of the few who are able to have a civil and open-minded discussion of politics with people of a completely opposite slant, I wish you’d mentor the rest of us. I’ve seen politics divide families, friendships, and even congregations. We each get one vote. Is defending how we vote worth the almost inevitable anger or hurt feelings? Just vote and be quiet.

This isn’t a topic I normally take on in my posts, but I think it’s important to take a step back and put things in perspective. I have close friends and family members who don’t agree with me politically, and that’s okay. I love them just the same. And that’s the key to keeping politics in perspective. Yes, it’s about moral values. I get it. But it’s also about differences in opinion.

That’s all for today. I hope you hung in there with me to the end. If political discussion causes you stress, step away. And if people insist on force-feeding it to you, send them away. Life is too short. Do your part and let that be enough. Your sanity will thank you. Have an awesome day!

#daveglardon #motivational #humor #politics #voting #opinions #values #mentalwellness #DemocraticProcess

What’s Your Fairy Tale?

October 23, 2026October 23, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is starting off just right.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a way to envision your future with absolute precision? To know right now that you may go through some hardships along the way, along a path that was nothing like you’d imagined, but on the other end of it all was the best life you could imagine, in just about every respect. Would you work a little harder? Would you worry a little less?

We’ve talked about this concept several times over the years. The life you dream about can be the life you live, as long as it’s in line with your deeply rooted values. Sure, we can all fake it for a short time or even try to change our values to match our situation, but any success we find in that scenario will be short-lived. For lasting success, we must be true to ourselves.

As a teenager, I saw myself as a rock star. Not just a star, a mega-star. I would travel the world in a private airliner with me at the controls. I would live on the water in Fort Lauderdale with a large yacht at the dock. I would have my own helicopter to get me to the airport, and I would play for thousands of screaming fans every night. You can stop laughing now.

I look at where I am today, and it’s so completely different in almost every way. I’m not rich, I’m not well-known, and I can’t play the guitar any better than I did fifty years ago. But I am living the life we’ve dreamed of for at least the past twenty years. Sure, there are some things I’d like to improve. And I know how to do that. So, any failure at this point is on me.

Have you ever taken time to nail down a vision of your perfect life? I’m not talking about a passing fancy, but really thinking about the various aspects of your ideal reality. Where would you live? What would you do? What kind of people would you be around? What would you do for fun? What kind of person would you be?

That last one is important, because some people are content with being a jerk. And if that’s your thing, more power to you. But most of us have a vision of ourselves in which we’re both successful and kind. We see ourselves as strong in the face of adversity, but magnanimous in the face of mistakes. Something like an honest politician, as if such a thing exists.

But the point is, we should all try every now and then to envision the future of our dreams. I’m not talking lottery-level dreams, but things you believe you can realistically achieve in your lifetime. Once you have that vision in mind, you can begin to see ways you can make it happen. If it’s a matter of money, figure it out. Make the math work. Cheat if you have to.

A close friend used to ask, “What would your dreams look like if you knew you couldn’t fail?” That’s powerful. Though maybe that should be, “… if you knew you wouldn’t fail.” I’ve met people who could mess up a peanut butter sandwich. But if you knew everything you want is within your reach, would that change the things you spend your time chasing?

Take some time this weekend when things are quiet and try to define a vision of your ideal life. Get a clear image in your mind and then write it down. Try to define as many aspects as possible of the life you want to enjoy and the person you want to be. Put it somewhere that you’ll read it from time to time. Try not to always do that on your worst days.

Your vision will change over time, and that’s okay. That may be because your values or goals have evolved, and it may be something forced upon you by circumstances over which you have no control. Life can change in an instant. But when it does, we need to reassess our abilities and assets, and plan a path forward within our new constraints.

Well, that’s all for today. My wife and I have a sign on the front of our house that says, “Our Happy Place.” What would it take to make you do the same? And whatever that is, I sincerely hope you achieve it. That’s my wish for every one of you. Enjoy your day and please have an awesome weekend!

One Small Hole Can Sink the Ship

October 19, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Good morning and, dare I say, happy Monday! I hope your day and your week are off to a great start!

I’m sending this one out a bit earlier than normal. Sure, same day, but to some readers it’s a completely different time of day. In fact, for most of my readers, it’s dinnertime or later. So, to those of you in China, I’m doing this for you! For several weeks, your readership has been many times higher than the rest of the world combined. Welcome to the party!

I guess it just goes to show that a message of hope and positivity can bridge not only languages, but civilizations and political ideologies. That doesn’t surprise me, because at the end of the day we all want the same thing – a life of health and happiness, and enough wealth to make it enjoyable. What that means is entirely up to you. We all define success in our own terms.

When people ask what I write, I tell them motivational humor. “Why? What are you trying to accomplish?” Well, I want to help people find a higher level of success in life. Besides, I’m writing a book, and I’d like to find an audience who may want to buy it. Let’s be real, posting blogs online isn’t a profitable enterprise. It’s something you do as much for yourself as anyone.

But last week a close friend asked me the same question, and instead of the rehearsed answer, I gave it a little thought. I finally told her I’m trying to help readers achieve a higher level of self-actualization. That’s more than just success. It’s more than just making your dreams come true. It’s about fully experiencing life on your terms, or at least on terms acceptable to you.

If you took Psychology 101, you’ve heard of self-actualization. It comes from the mind of Abraham Maslow who, in 1943, defined the human “Hierarchy of Needs.” It takes the shape of a pyramid, with physiological needs (air, food, shelter, etc.) at the bottom of five levels, going through safety needs, love & belonging, and esteem, with self-actualization at the top.

The idea is simple – you have to fill in the bottom layers before you can build higher. Unless you’ve got adequate food and shelter, acceptance and esteem are pretty low on the list of priorities. And even if you do achieve self-actualization (not everyone does), let somebody hold your head underwater, and you’ll drop right back down to the bottom of the pyramid.

When we talk of success, people always think of business and financial success. That is, after all, what we’ve been conditioned to think. But it occurred to me that, in the pursuit of self-actualization, we need to be successful in not some, but all areas of our lives. And sure, that’s a tall order. But it is attainable. It just takes a lot of work and a little luck.

That’s why I talk sometimes about health. You can be as successful as you want in your career, but health can halt your progress faster than anything. Take it from the guy who went for a leisurely bicycle ride three years ago and ended up having a stroke. It can happen to any of us. I was able to go back to work. Not everyone has that option.

I talked Friday about being kind and ending everyday interactions in a way that leaves others feeling valued. Unless your ultimate aim is to be the world’s most formidable jackass (I think that title has already been claimed), kindness will factor into your best version of yourself. You can’t spread misery and enjoy happiness.

Finally, I talk a lot about dreams. I think dreams are our most important possessions, because it’s from dreams that life’s greatest achievements are born. In the words of Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” But the opposite is also true – if you can’t dream it, you probably can’t do it. Dreams are that important.

So, if you’ve noticed a gradual change in my writing, it’s just a natural part of this blog’s growth. As a comedian, they told us it takes 6-8 years to find out who you are onstage. I think the same is true of writers. We evolve, partly from our own needs and partly from getting to know our readers. So, please, introduce yourself. We could become best friends!

That’s all for today. I don’t think there’s any overriding message, other than in order to be the ideal version of yourself (in your own mind), you’ll need to find success in every area of your life. I’m not there yet, but I’m working on it. And that’s all any of us can ask of ourselves. As for how we get there, that’s a journey we can take together. Have an awesome day!

Make Sure They Remember You!

October 16, 2026October 18, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is off to a great start!

A few days ago, I called my insurance company to find out why they didn’t reimburse any of the money I paid for my hearing aids. To save myself and the insurance a little I went to a big-box retailer instead of a hearing lab. My benefit pays 80% after deductible, and my deductible was met in January, so I felt good about the purchase. That should have been my first sign.

As it turns out, this retailer isn’t in my network. None are. And apparently my deductible for out-of-network providers is five times higher than my in-network deductible. Long story short (too late), it was all out-of-pocket. I wasn’t happy. I made sure she knew I wasn’t happy. It didn’t make me happy, but dammit, everybody knew I wasn’t happy! Including my wife.

A day later I was in the pharmacy to change my insurance info and pick up a prescription. I was treated with the same warm service I’ve come to expect from that store, and at the end the pharmacist asked if he could do anything else for me, and I said, “Yes – have yourself a really awesome day!” He was speechless. I bet his wife would love to know that trick.

I love ending transactions with people that way, whether it’s in-person or on the phone. People don’t expect it. They expect the same mechanical response they always get, as the encounter trails off to nothing and they’re left waiting for the next customer who may or may not be in a good mood. And let’s face it – in customer service, the odds are not in their favor.

When the conversation isn’t going as I’d hoped, I try to re-state my position, in case I missed an important point the first time. Then I remind myself this person doesn’t make the rules. I’ll tell them I’m not upset with them personally. That’s as much for me as for them. But once I say that, the ball is in their court. We can play nicely, or we can throw jabs.

Thankfully, most interactions lately have been pleasant, even enjoyable. I think a lot of that is my expectation going in – if I expect conflict, it usually doesn’t take long to find it. But when I go in expecting a reasonable conversation and at least an attitude of concern on their part, things seem to go much smoother. And some have even bent the rules in my favor.

But at the very end, when the encounter is over and I have one last chance to end it on a positive note, I take that opportunity. “Have a nice day” is kind and peaceful and warm. It’s also the most automated thing you can say, like two dudes nodding in passing and saying, “Whassup?” Trust me, you may not want to know. Let them keep their secrets to themselves.

And we all know “can I do anything else for you” comes straight out of the training manual. It’s an automated way of asking you to leave. “We’re done now – bye!” And they expect an automated reply. But when you hit them with something they didn’t expect, they not only hear it, they dwell on it for a second. In that brief moment, you’ve made their day … and yours.

Because you can’t make somebody else smile without smiling yourself. It may be inside, where nobody can see it and accuse you of being happy. But it’s there, nevertheless. It makes you feel good and you probably remember it long after they’ve forgotten. I do. Maybe that’s a sign I should be doing it more.

You’ll undoubtedly have several encounters with live human beings this weekend. Some will be nicer than others, but they all have one thing in common – they had a day before you showed up, and it may have been a really bad one. I’ve seen near-rage smoothed over with a gentle word. But it has to be genuine. A heartfelt kindness or compliment can change everything.

Give it a try. Make it an intentional part of your interactions. Find something nice to say about them personally (“You have an amazing knowledge of your company’s rules!”) and leave them with a smile before you walk away. Don’t just wish them a nice day. Ask them to please enjoy the rest of their day as if it’s a personal favor to you. Try it one time and then tell me how it felt.

That’s all for now. Spread some cheer this weekend and if you like how it feels, keep doing it! Kindness is contagious. So is malice. We decide which one we choose to spread. We all know how negativity feels, so let’s try on the other shoe for a change. And please, have yourself an awesome day!

Dog Slobber Tripping You Up?

October 12, 2026October 13, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Good morning! It’s Monday again, as if you needed a reminder of that. I hope yours is starting off nicely.

At the start of each week, I try to figure out the things I need to do before week’s end. I tried that last Monday, as you may recall. I’d like to say life got in the way, but that wouldn’t be nice. It’s also not true. What mostly got in the way last week was me. I did everything except what I was supposed to do and then spent the weekend trying to catch up. But the pool was nice.

So, this week, part of my list is pre-populated. I’d like to say I won’t accept any excuses, but I’ve met me. I know better. My lower back is already giving me an excuse, and that one is kinda hard to ignore. But part of coming here and telling folks how to move forward is admitting when I’ve messed up and getting back on track.

For me, that means getting active and building some strength and energy. It’s amazing how fast we lose it when we don’t use it, especially as we age. Also, I’m taking medicine to help me lose weight. It works great, except it has this side-effect of losing muscle faster than fat. I need a pill that turns bourbon into muscle and fat into poop. Anyone???

I’ve got a bicycle sitting on the carport. It’s a nice one, too, but it’s covered in dust. The last time I rode it, I had a stroke. Not a stroke of genius or a stroke of good luck – just a plain old, garden-variety stroke. Some of you may remember. It wasn’t a bad one, and I came away unscathed, mostly. Except now I have an excuse when I say something stupid.

Earlier this year I put air in the tires and took a short ride down the street. The gears weren’t shifting right, so I brought it home. A week later, the tires were flat again. So, I installed new tubes. But it still wasn’t shifting right, so a neighbor tuned it up for me. Now the tires are good, it shifts perfectly, and the chain is oiled. I even wiped off most of the dust. I’m out of excuses.

So, what’s stopping me? I’ve wondered at times if my hesitance is due to the way my last ride ended. I’d like to think I’m not afraid, but Pavlov’s dog proved that two seemingly unrelated things can be completely intertwined in the brain. For the dog, a ringing bell meant food was coming. Maybe in my mind, that bicycle caused the stroke.

Okay, we both know better. But Pavlovian conditioning is very real and it can be crippling. My wife had a head-on collision 23 years ago, and to this day her heart stops if a semi next to us drifts an inch in either direction. She can drive, but she doesn’t really want to. And in heavy traffic, I won’t let her. Not with my nerves in the car.

The point of all this is that we need to pay attention to those Pavlovian events that may be getting in the way of what we should be doing. I’m not talking about the little jobs I never got done last week. I’m talking big picture. You know, like riding a bike. Okay, maybe not quite that trivial, but you get the idea. For me, that’s just one step in my journey to better health.

What’s standing between you and your goals? That’s not always so easily identified. More often than we may realize, there’s some dark event in our past that we associate with whatever we were doing at the time. And that’s not entirely bad. It’s what kept the first caveman from picking up a rattlesnake again. But bicycles and strokes? Come on, Dave!

If we can identify those negative events that are holding us back, the solution seems pretty simple – try again, but don’t blow it this time. Success breeds success, and failure breeds fear. Keep trying. All it takes is to hit the ball one time, and you’ll swing a little harder the next. Learn to work past those fears, and nothing can hold you back.

That’s all for now. Think about those silent factors that may be standing in your way, and why. What are the real hazards, and which can we write off to Pavlov and his slobbering dog? Separate those, and you’re on your way. Have an awesome day!

Hold That Sneeze!

October 9, 2026October 9, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is off to a great start.

It’s October, and this is the time of year we start paying closer attention to our health, especially on this side of the equator. Winter is around the corner, and that means cold & flu season, not to mention a whole host of other ailments. And with the holidays coming up fast, nobody wants a head cold or worse. Especially the people sitting next to you.

This is also the time of year doctors remind us about vaccines. This can be a sensitive topic, and normally I’d stay out of it, but let’s be real … vaccines have saved millions of lives, and evidence of side effects just doesn’t support the hysteria, especially among people like me who aren’t qualified to make that determination. I wouldn’t let my doctor tell me how to do my job.

All I’m going to say is make an educated decision, not one based on politics or the latest gossip on social media. Here’s something to think about – when was the last time you saw YOUR doctor on social media? All those “doctors” online may not know a stethoscope from a speculum, but they’re full of advice. Talk to a real doctor or do some research – in a library.

Beyond that, what do you do to keep yourself healthy? Do you try to eat healthier foods at home instead of grease-burgers at the local dive? Do you exercise a little more, like maybe a walk after dinner? Do you at least send your kid out to shovel snow, so you don’t drop dead yourself? That’s the kind of anaerobic exercise that can really mess up your plans for the day.

Beyond the typical “diet and exercise,” do you take vitamins or supplements? We’re all very different, and what’s good for one person isn’t always good for another. That includes broccoli, in case my wife is reading this. The problem is that most doctors aren’t fans of vitamins, and if you want to get solid advice, you need to find one that’s a little more unbiased.

Most people my age trust an older doctor more, but not me. I want somebody who just passed a final exam of the latest in medical knowledge and still remembers it. Somebody who’s new enough to know they can still learn. And who is curious enough to study non-traditional treatments or at least observe how they work on their own patients.

Just a funny little aside – my wife had major abdominal surgery this summer, and has had a really rough recovery. She was talking with her surgeon’s nurse practitioner about her trouble sleeping, and I mentioned that she’s used edible marijuana in the past, but hadn’t used it since the surgery. The NP looked incredulous and asked, “Why not???” I like her.

And I’m not suggesting that as a way to keep you healthy through the winter, but it does has a way of making those dreary days a little less stressful. All I’m saying is find what works for you. And once you find it, put it to use. We had a treadmill in our old house. I used it all the time. To stack boxes and hang clothes. I got more exercise pulling the handle on the recliner.

Make a commitment to your health the same as you would your partner or career. Decide now you’re going to BE healthy this winter and beyond. Make a plan – it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Just a few things you can commit to doing every day to maintain or enhance your health. Yes, we’re all going to die anyway, but wouldn’t it be nice to at least enjoy the ride?

Set aside some time this weekend to assess your current health and formulate a simple plan for making the most of it. Put it in writing and then commit – sign it. You don’t have to show it to anyone else, but put it someplace you’ll see it at least once a day. Okay, if you want a reminder every time you mess up, show it to one of your kids. They’re good at that.

That’s all for now. A lot of us have reached that age where health is much more important than it ever was before. If you’re not that old, you will be, and the decisions you make today will impact your lifestyle once you reach that age. Give yourself a running start. Meanwhile, have an awesome day and an even better weekend!