Another day older and deeper in debt

Okay, so that’s not the birthday song you had in mind. And I’m not really deeper in debt – unless we’re talking about the debt I owe my loved ones. Okay, now even I’m going to hurl. In all seriousness….

I always liked my birthday. I like the emails and phone calls. And I like the cards and, dare I say, even the presents. I’ve only opened a few so far. Most will wait until after the Carrot Cake that Davis made for me. No matter what it tastes like, it’ll be the best cake I ever had. He’s so proud of it! It took a long time to make and Andrew (bless his soul) was ever so patient “helping” him.

I got a poker table from my parents. Yes, they know me. From my friend who just got back from Israel, I got Michal Negrin earrings. They’re beautiful. I got beautiful pipe-cleaner jewelry which I’ll treasure always.

But my biggest smiles today were from the calls, emails and cards. So many people thought of me and I am touched. Which brings me to my point… (I had a point?)

We come in contact with people all day long for business and social reasons. How much trouble is it to connect? To remember? To ask how the dog is or to remember that your client’s son was sick or to ask how the charity race went…. Building relationships is more than a chore or means to an end. It’s a way to make the experience of working together better for all. True connections last. They matter. The supplier you used whose name you can’t even remember is not your business partner, is he? Make an effort. You’ll benefit in ways you don’t even recognize. And so will the people whose lives you touch.

And if you are curious how old I am today….I’m the square root of 1936.