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Small Talk Tips for Parties and Events

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:59:57 +0000

This month I've been asked a lot about small talk. Specifically, how to chat with strangers and acquaintances at things like parties and other events. If you've ever heard people chat about small talk at a party, it can be fun or a painful experience. LOL! Some people are really great at it, and just by listening to them you want to jump in and join the conversation. With others? Not so much.

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Do You Give More Energy to the Toxic People in Your Life Than the Supportive Ones?

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:52:30 +0000

Like everyone, I'm always trying to find a way to make my personal relationships better. I think it's something many of us work on continually. Some relationships are much easier than others, however. Specifically, if you have someone in your life who is negative or even toxic. Now, you'd probably want to ask, why would you keep a toxic friend in your life?

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More Benefits to Knowing Your Neighbors

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:51:29 +0000

I've talked about the importance of getting to know your neighbors before, and that's why I really liked this added benefit I found on the Shine blog. Turns out knowing your neighbors can get you help faster when you have a medical issue like a stroke.

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Happy Mother's Day

Sun, 13 May 2012 06:14:43 +0000

A very Happy Mother's Day to all those celebrating today. We're going to brunch today (which really is a standard for Mother's Day, isn't it? But that's a good thing because I enjoy brunch probably more than any other type of meal. Maybe it's because we don't have it all that often.)

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Friends Celebrate Maurice Sendak�s Life

Sat, 12 May 2012 06:47:11 +0000

I can't think of a better way to leave this world and head to the next than by having your friends there at your bedside, laughing, eating jellybeans, and celebrating your life. That's what happened with author Maurice Sendak's last day on earth.

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Small Talk Topic: Dinosaur Farts

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:49:59 +0000

People ask me quite often about what to say during small talk. There are a lot of options, of course, and news items are one of them. Sometimes I come across an interesting article and can't resist sharing it here so you can make the most of it during small talk. I may start doing that on a regular basis. Stay tuned.

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Jaques Prevert on Happiness

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:57:35 +0000

I love this quote from Jaques Prevert:

"Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it."

It's so easy to think that happiness will never find you again when you're going through a rough time. But it will. You just have to keep your heart open so you can let it in.

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Quiet by Susan Cain

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:28:37 +0000

Just finished a really interesting book called, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking written by Susan Cain. The author herself is an introvert and provides insights and validation to the benefits of being "quiet."

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Scarlett Johansson Says Stop Being Rude

Tue, 08 May 2012 06:42:43 +0000

Man, I so agreed with this quote I recently heard from Scarlett Johansson. She said, "I'm constantly surprised by how rude people are." Don't we know it! Are people more rude than before? Or are we just noticing it now? I think sometimes people act rude without realizing it. In Johansson's case, she said people will try and take her picture sometimes even when she's having dinner with someone or in moments where she's trying to have a conversation with a friend.

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Have You Ever Read the Castle Books?

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:26:18 +0000

I watch the show Castle occasionally, and a few years ago I read the real-life book by the fictional Richard Castle, Heat Wave. As a writer myself, I was intrigued ...

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