Outsmarting Ourselves

 

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome back to the Inspire Halton Update Feed, where we send you stories to improve your live and the lives of those you love. Today we’re going to talk about knowledge and our occasional lack of it.

It doesn’t seem that long ago.

I was moving for the second time in my life. I’d already started a new school. I’d made friends and started to settle in. But I hadn’t moved into my house yet.

It was a beautiful new place, much larger than the place I’d previously lived in. I couldn’t wait for the change.

The closing date came; we left our old house for good.

We moved in with our four beautiful cats.

But, by the next day, disaster’d struck. One of our cats was missing.

We searched all over the house, we looked in boxes. I, in despair, walked around the neighbourhood. And I realized something.

All the houses looked the same. There was no way my cat would find its way home. I’d lost him.

I got home, nearly in tears, and went upstairs to bed.

Days later, we were looking in the basement and who did we find but our cat, alive and well. Apparently he’d been scared into hiding by the change of location but was otherwise fine. 

Man, I was happy.

Oftentimes we overestimate our conclusions. We’re brilliant beings and right many times, but sometimes we need to let go of our judgements, our assumptions of what something means; to do as much as we can, then let our work play out.

As I’d done all I could to find my cat, you can do all you can to win someone over, get a raise, or enact change. But, if it doesn’t appear to work, give yourself a break.

You never know, you could be wrong and that person might be a future ally. Your boss might change their mind the next day and your efforts might suddenly become fruitful.

You never, really know for sure…

Alex H.

The Added Benefits

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome to the Inspire Halton Update Feed, posting incredible stories and lessons to improve your life and the lives of those you love. Today, we’re going to talk about ‘added benefits’.

Now, many of you may know Regis Philbin, host of Live! with Regis and Kelly (originally Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee) for twenty-two years. I personally was introduced to his work when he was running Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

I remember my Uncle mentioning how Philbin had cool ties. Doing some research now, I find he had a whole monochromatic line of shirts and ties for Van Heusen during the millionaire days. Philbin, a talk show host, became a fashion icon.

It wasn’t the first time he did something unusual for a presenter. Back in the 60’s when he was working on The Joey Bishop Show, Philbin ended up putting out an album on Mercury Records after singing with his idol, Bing Crosby, on an episode.

Regis Philbin was and always will be remembered as a TV icon − he’s starred on it for over 50 years (apparently he’s starting a new show up on Fox this April). But, with that job, he’s also become a leader in fashion and singer at different periods of time.

My point? Simply because you do one job or thing doesn’t mean you can’t get the added benefits of tasks that fit with it. As the lecturing college professor can be an author and a student, so can you put on other titles that float around your work, enjoying opportunities surrounding your main purpose.

Female employees can also be mothers, firemen scout leaders, burger flippers volunteers. Life is rarely as clean cut as television and movies would have us believe.

Many investors diversify to take the ups and downs of the market. Instead of relying on only one meaning in your life, why not get many? Chances are you already serve more than one purpose. Why not try something new and reap the “added benefits” of that area?

Regis is still a television host but his other side-careers make him one of the most interesting we’ve had the pleasure to watch. When it comes down to it, and the end is near, allow yourself the benefit of knowing you, your family and friends can realize you were an interesting person.

After all, few are proud to call themselves average.

Alex H.