DEBBIE’S NEWSLETTER: January 12, 2024 / WHEN YOU SEE A NEED… DO SOMETHING.
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You Know When You Really Mean NO But Somehow Say YES?
That’s what happened when I got a text from my son-in-law last week asking for a favor. Could I babysit for their kids a few days so he could surprise my daughter and stay a couple extra days on their much needed ‘parents only’ vacation. The kids are 1 ½ and almost 5. I couldn’t love those kids more, but I was really too busy with work to say yes, so I stared at the text awhile before answering.
I did not want to be a party pooper, but ‘yoo hoo’ ‘hello’, I run a business here! Anyway I said yes and then wanted to slap myself.
SO…Apologies for no newsletter last week. It was pretty much all written and almost set to go out, when instead, I had to rush my 18-month-old grandson to urgent care first thing in the morning. I’d been up all night. Poor kid was delirious from fever and was screaming in agony from an ear infection. It was 19 degrees out and I had to wake up my 5-year-old granddaughter, bundle them both and get them hooked into car seats and go. Just trying to figure out how to hook these latest car seat fasteners puts me over the edge under normal circumstances. My nerves were shot. I was pretty sure I knew where the local urgent care was…but not exactly sure.
Anyway, in a panic with the baby screaming I called their neighbor Colleen who I adore, to make sure I was headed to the right place. Yes, she said, hearing the baby screaming she quickly asked, “Do you want me to come with you?.” “No that’s ok” I said, “but wow that was a very generous offer.”
But guess what. Colleen, a Grammie herself, showed up at urgent care anyway knowing I was in a bad spot and might need some help. And I did, as the wait was hours, and I had not slept, and it was hard to manage 2 small restless and sick children alone. I was really touched by her selfless generosity. She saw a need and did something.
BTW, this is the same neighbor ( Colleen above) who earlier in the year, just showed up with her medical kit to patch me up after she noticed the plastic bag I’d tied around my cut foot as a tourniquet. She spotted me limping with the kids to the car. Don’t ask. But same thing. She saw a need and did something without being asked. We did have a good laugh that day about the level of ridiculousness.
Plus she was an inspiration. My 5 year old granddaughter who helped her patch me up that day, blood and all, decided right then she wanted to become a Doctor. She’s been watching episodes of Grey’s Anatomy non-stop ever since. Last week she patched up a doll with a shark bite. LOL
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Meanwhile, I Just Bought Myself Another Pair of Leggings. Most Gals Like to Wear Leggings. So, Everybody and Their Mother Started Making Them for Everybody in EVERY SIZE. They Saw A Need And Did Something.
I don’t know about you, but I have a strong need to be comfortable in clothes these days. I work from home a lot, so I wear a lot of leggings. But they can’t be just any old leggings, they have to feel good, look decent and not make me look fat, in case I have to run out, which I always do. LOL.
Must not just be me. It’s predicted that 4 billion pairs of tights and leggings will be produced by 2027. These are incredible numbers that highlight a seismic and cultural shift according to the CNN article, “How leggings became a multibillion-dollar industry” By Scarlett Conlon, CNN
“The popularity of leggings is linked to inclusivity. Thanks to expanded sizing by both global and direct-to-consumer brands, leggings are inclusive to all body types in a way that other shopping categories like denim — and even stretch denim — have never been.”
However, you may have noticed plenty of guys these days want in on the comfort action too, and are buying jeans made of stretch fabric!
They’ll never admit it.
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Speaking Of Guys In Stretch Pants: Ex NFL Linebacker Brandon Copeland Saw a Need and Did Something.
Brandon Copeland realized how many athletes were unprepared for their future after sports, so he Co-Founded Athletes.org, a players association for college and up and coming sports stars. Brandon who played pro football for the Baltimore Ravens, and New York Jets, among others also got a terrific education at Wharton and is in his sixth year an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He’s creating a legacy beyond his football career by dedicating his time and knowledge to helping others unlock their potential.
If you missed him on The Debbie Nigro Show you can listen to the podcast or read the blog here. Dynamic Guy!
Brandon’s emphasis is on financial literacy. Highly educated and motivated, he’s committed to helping athletes make good legal and money decisions up front. He’s doing something so they don’t blow all their money and end up with nothing after their playing days are over. It happens a lot.
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You know how I always say ‘Risk it or Regret it’! Well, That’s All Fine and Dandy Advice Unless You’re Scared To Death of Taking Risks.
I subscribe to a great newsletter called ‘The Three Tomatoes’ and they recently featured an article by Sonia Satra, a mindset and fitness thought leader called:“The Art of Taking Risks: How to Overcome Fear for Lasting Success?” It’s for people who’d like to risk trying risk. If you need some help Sonia offers up 5 ways to help you step into your bold and best self. The good news she says, is we can retrain the brain and the nervous system to accept risk, even perhaps, find it exciting. Ooo la la, I sense somebody’s gonna go for ‘IT’ after reading this. Let me know.
Sonya saw a need to help shy risk takers, and did something about it.
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Finally, I Saw a Need for People to Step Up Communicating With People ‘In Person’ Like People Did in the Olden Days. So, I Wrote a ‘Little’ Book to Share My Knowledge.
You can pick up a copy here: How To Talk To Strangers / Advice from a Professional Stranger Talker.
I thought I could help facilitate better communication and conversations between people. It’s a small book with a big message that you can read in an hour. I saw a need and did something about it.
(PS Gotta admit it really made me smile that I got my first 5 Star review – from a ‘stranger.)
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My Point This Week Is: If You See a Need, Do Something About It.
Could be as simple as helping a neighbor or as dynamic as trying to help the world.
And should you need help figuring out how to get that something done, feel free to connect with me. I’m a pretty savvy brainstormer.
Best!
Debbie
