Articles
Combat Loneliness With Love
Dale rolled over in bed and glanced at the clock. It read 6:02 a.m. It would be another hour before sunrise.
The Benefits Of Consulting Colleagues
Long before business meetings included projections and metrics, the people sitting around a table talked about how things were going. They asked about the families and inquired about the “work family”—the gang that worked together all day.
Cutting To The Core Of Your Character
I do some consulting work regarding the completion and structure of bid documents and contracts. Unlike my previous career in government work, these private-sector clients can make decisions based on emotion and preference.
Eyes On The Road
I recently saw a truck commercial where the driver took his hands off the wheel and began to play patty-cake by himself. As the music swelled with the beat, he sat back comfortably, presumably to await the oncoming 18-wheeler being driven by a guy who was probably busy trying to reset his cell phone clock.
Spend time getting tangled up in each other’s business
I don’t know many families that still collectively sit down to dinner anymore. In fact, I’ve seen a lot of modern homes with a “breakfast bar” but not many with actual kitchen tables.
Yes, You Do
Now in its eleventh season, The NFL Today television show precedes the weekly Sunday 1 p.m. football game with five men who exchange predictions, status reports, and game scores. Most of the hosts are former football players and coaches, and their knowledge gives viewers an inside track on issues that matter to the game.
Build Faith
Most days I take the same on-ramp at the same highway intersection. On this particular day, I was greeted by a giant orange sign that warned me of a “Flagman Ahead.”
Lighten Up
While wandering through a gift shop recently, I came upon a shelf full of mugs and miniature trophies. Each was emblazoned with a bold line that read, “World’s Greatest Dad.”
A Glass Half Full
Carolyn tied off the blue recycling bag after rinsing out the bottles and placed it in the bin the city had provided. Its “Environmental Conscience Day” had been advertised in the local papers for months and was meant to encourage conscientious consumer attitudes going forward.
When Forty Winks Are Not Enough
Sleep-related problems affect 50- to 70-million Americans of all ages and socioeconomic classes, according to a 2022 study completed by www.sleephealth.org. Evidently, the most common disorders include insomnia, sleep-apnea, restless-legs syndrome, and narcolepsy.
Turn The Page
Now, in my second year of retirement, my children tell me I am assembling a sizable list of “get-off-my-lawn”-type platitudes. Until they are pointed out, I am pretty unaware of how they sound, but once they’re repeated, I understand the looks my children give each other as I pontificate.
A Father’s Pledge
My father, Ronald Henry Ciancutti—son of Henry Ronald Ciancutti and future father of me, Ronald Drew Ciancutti—stared at the ceiling in the gymnasium as the light grew brighter in the early morning hours.
One Wonderful Life
I was pounding tomato stakes along the side of the house where the sun shines most of the day. With a five-pound sledge in one hand and a bundle of twine in the other, I rounded the front of the house.
The Lens Of A Lifetime
Now and then I mention some little illustrations to my 16 grandchildren. The habit developed while raising my five kids, coming from my romantic “poet’s” heart (for which I am often accused).
The Basics Of Belt-Tightening
A friend of mine does small- to medium-sized construction jobs—he installs driveway fences/gates, room dividers, drywalls and tapes a kitchen ceiling, etc. Most of his business comes by word of mouth. People see his work and ask who did the job.
From Student To Teacher
A sad part of being 60+ is seeing mentors pass on, and even some peers. I am acutely sensitive to old movies and programs, and often hear characters say things like, “Dad, you’re in your 60s now.
Avoid Being A One-Trick Pony
Ever been accused of being a one-trick pony? In the animal kingdom, it’s probably a compliment: the dog that jumps through a hoop, the elephant that sits up. But clearly NOT Koko, the gorilla that mastered sign language. But if you’re a one-trick pony in the human species, that accusation can be quite an insult:
The Lens Of A Lifetime
Now and then I mention some little illustrations to my 16 grandchildren. The habit developed while raising my five kids, coming from my romantic “poet’s” heart (for which I am often accused).
One Wonderful Life
I was pounding tomato stakes along the side of the house where the sun shines most of the day. With a five-pound sledge in one hand and a bundle of twine in the other, I rounded the front of the house.