The Ice Scraper

Image by Ekler via Flickr

I have an ice scraper for my car somewhere in the garage along with a lot of other stuff that prevents me from being able to park my vehicles inside. This morning I needed the ice scraper, but I was lazy.

Instead I started the car, turned on the defrost, and backed out into the street. I rolled down the window and pulled an Ace Ventura as I drove a few feet so the sunlight would be able to reach my windshield. I put the car in park and sat there enjoying the radio while occasionally the windshield wipers scraped across the glass, checking to see if the ice was ready to be wiped away.

Then I saw a dark shadowy figure approaching the car with something in his hand. "I'm making someone nervous by sitting in front of their house," I thought. Then all of the sudden the shadowy figure started scraping my windshield. I felt bad, but I was impressed, thinking about the nice neighbors I had.

I rolled down the window and said "Oh that's OK, you don't have to do that, I'm not in a hurry." About that time the windshield wipers swept across catching his scraper.

"You're going to ruin your wipers!" he said.

He finished scraping the windshield and I sat there in shame, knowing I could have done this for myself. Instead a 60+ year old neighbor who I had never met crossed the street and gave me a stark reminder of something my father would have done.

I rolled down the window and told him thank-you and began to drive off. He didn't say anything, but the look on his face had said it all. He must have been thinking - no, I know he was thinking "this guy's an idiot, I declare." I left without dispute.

You don't see this everyday

That title of this video is very accurate and for whatever reason, it has made me laugh.

Standing on Shoulders

Image via Wikipedia

A lot of people have paved the way for you and I. Things are not as difficult for us as it was for those who came before us. They give us a better vision for the future because they allow us to stand on their shoulders.

By staying fit, learning to balance, and choosing carefully who will stand on your shoulders, you'll stay on the shoulders of those below you a lot longer.

Stay fit by always learning. Stay balanced by keeping your focus on the goal.

Ask Authentic Questions

Image via Wikipedia

It looked like Seth Godin was reading Mark Sanborn, and Mark Sanborn was reading Seth Godin.

I took a look at my reader this morning and saw Godin posted about asking good survey questions on Saturday. That same day, Sanborn was discussing the idea of authenticity in his post.

Sanborn's next post was about the art of asking good questions. Godin followed up on his next post discussing the importence of authenticity.

Do you see the connection? I'm just wondering when they are going to start reading my blog. Anyway, whether they conspired or not, this circumstance caused me to combine the ideas of their posts into one point. When asking questions, ask authentic ones. That should give me plenty to think about today.

*Also, Godin confused me about Mother Theresa being athiest. I know he has a sharp mind and there may have been a point I missed. Here's an authentic question. Based on what Godin said, would it be safe to say that Godin is Christian in the same way Mother Theresa is athiest?