Are We Thankful?

Are We Thankful?

         Are we really thankful? The Thanksgiving holiday makes me think a little deeper about that. On Thanksgiving day it is easier to get in touch with all we have and to be thankful. The challenge seems to be the in between days when we have the routine of "life." Some days it is easy to be thankful . . . others maybe it seems impossible.

       It is interesting also to study the history of Thanksgiving in our country. Although the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the pilgrims in the early 1600's, and George Washington declared a day of "Thanksgiving" in the late 1700s, there were many lapses in the celebration of Thanksgiving. It wasn’t until Abe Lincoln’s 1863 "Proclamation of Thanksgiving" that Thanksgiving then became official.

        Perhaps we too "lapse" in our personal Thanksgiving. I have written elsewhere articles entitled Pursuit of Happiness and Have a Happy Heart, and although being thankful may be part of those perhaps it has another component. Thankful people appreciate what they have.

        Sometimes it is amazing to us at Daggett Shuler how seriously injured and disabled folks can seem to be so thankful even in their most difficult of circumstances. People who are in seemingly, to us, in very bad situations still can be thankful. Perhaps we can learn from them.

        As I was observing and wondering about some of our clients who remain thankful during what most of a would consider bad times, a common theme seemed to be developing. These people tend to look at what they have, instead of looking at what they don’t have.

         I suppose human nature causes many of us not to be so thankful during tough times. Maybe we can work to be super human and learn to see all we do have instead of what we don’t. Let’s be thankful!

Giving Thanks Safely

Giving Thanks Safely

        Our Daggett Shuler family wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. We also hope you and your family are safe, so we will share with you a few safety tips we have researched for the holiday.

      Home fires are the number one most frequent calls to fire departments, and cooking fires are the most frequent reason. Thanksgiving is the day with the highest number of home fires with three times more fires than on normal days. The leading cause of fire is unattended food on the stove or in the oven. Stay in the kitchen w/ cooking food. Pot holders and towels should be kept away from the stove. For more tips see www.firesafety.gov

        Food safety can easily by slip with large meals and lots of leftovers. Be careful to thoroughly wash hands and counters after touching raw turkey, and other meats. Be sure to keep hot food hot, and cold food cold until the leftovers are safely put away.

       Take careful when carving the turkey. We don’t take out the family carving knives very many times during the year, and so we usually are not in good practice using them. Please be careful carving the turkey and ham, and keep those knives out of reach of youngsters.

       Choking hazards are increased during big holiday meals. The very young and the very old are particularly susceptible to choking. Eat slowly and enjoy the meal. Only encourage talking after food is swallowed. Remind children to take small bites and not to talk with food in their mouths. 

        Take care of your pets too. They make like a little turkey, but please be sure to make sure the little pieces are free of bones. Turkey bones splinter causing a severe threat of choking and other damage.

      Lastly, Thanksgiving is the kick off for the holiday season. Safety first! Drinking and driving seems to go way up making our roads more dangerous. Please join our team and encourage safe sober driving as well as being defensive and courteous on the road.

        Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Veteran Appreciation

Veteran Appreciation

         Have you taken time to thank a veteran? Veterans Day seemed to sort of slipped up on me this year. We probably tend to take for granted the sacrifices of our living veterans who served honorably so that we all can be free.

       Maybe we can all learn along with the first graders. Veterans Day was originally Armistice day which was to commemorate the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. In 1954, after World War II, it was changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars. It is a day to honor and thank all of those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

An 87 Year-Old Veteran with First Graders

       There are currently about 25 million living veterans in the United States. These are the folks who have supported the law and legal system we have today. Our freedom is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. For most of the history of mankind the rules were determined only by the rich and powerful. Here, because of the freedom our veterans have protected, the law helps and protects all of us.

       Veterans Day is certainly a day to be thankful for in our country, for our freedom, and for those who have helped protect it. Please join us today by thanking a veteran and telling them we appreciate their service.

        Let us also thank our on duty service people around the world. Let us not forget that we are at war and our armed forces are defending our freedoms and sacrificing themselves for this country we love. Let us not forget the values for which they sacrifice.

       Happy Veterans Day, and Thank You Servicepersons and Veterans!

Internet Safety

Internet Safety

         Computers can be a terrific educational tool, and the internet makes the ability to learn and explore our world almost limitless. These learning opportunities are available to everyone and there is (usually) no charge. What a great opportunity! But, then, we also need to know what dangers are out there lurking.

        So many kids put their names, photos, and even addresses on My Space,Facebook, and other teenage internet spaces and then get into trouble with predators. Some recent studies show that approaching two-thirds of all teenagers have an online profile, and over one-third all of "kids" have been exposed to unwanted sexual material online.

        These issues are starting to become so prevalent that public service organizations, schools, local law enforcement, and even the FBI have become involved in efforts to help make the internet safer for our young people. State and Federal governments are beginning to pass laws regarding privacy and information regarding minors (under 18). The FCC now has guidelines and the authority to enforce them.

         What can we do to help our children? First, supervision, household discussions, and general household awareness of the issues. Recently there are a number of computer monitoring software programs designed to reduce the amount internet dangers.

         We can also look for other signs of "issues" beginning. We can pay attention to our phone and credit card bills for unusual activity which could indicate a problem. We can watch for signs of grades slipping, or unknown absences from school. Many of these signs could be very similar to what we see at the beginning of drug or alcohol use.

         The number one thing we can do is communicate with our children regarding the very real dangers that exist. Parental guidance, support, supervision and communication go a long way toward heading off the dangers that are lurking. Please help us to help our youth. Thank you.

         Members of our Daggett Shuler Team speak frequently to school groups, youth groups, and parent groups on internet safety. We are available in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, Burlington, and throughout the Triad area of North Carolina.  Please contact us if you are interested in a presentation for your group.

Rules for Goblins and Ghouls

Rules for Goblins and Ghouls

       

~Halloween Safety Tips~

       We hope and your family have a happy and safe Halloween. While you are watching out for witches, ghosts, and goblins please remember a few safety tips so that you and your family has a safe and fun Halloween.

• Your children should be closely supervised by adults.
• Older children should go out in groups, never alone.
• Use flashlights and reflective clothing to make certain you are visible to cars.
• Always walk facing traffic (on the left side of the road). Take care when crossing streets.
• Walk - do not run on dark streets and driveways.
• Limit visits to homes of neighbors you know.
• Limit visits to homes that have their front porches lit with a welcoming light. Politely choose one piece of candy when you are offered a selection.
• Remember to kindly thank those who offer treats.
• Wear makeup instead of masks if you need to decorate your face.
• Be sure your costumes are comfortable and easy to walk in.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Refrain from eating candy while out trick or treating.
• Once home, adults should help younger children to sort candy and be sure all wrappers are in tact. Older children should do this too.
• Be extra careful of flowing costumes near open flames such as jack-o-lanterns.

       Have a goblin good time!

      Our Daggett Shuler Team wishes your family a safe and happy Halloween!

Elementary Leadership

Elementary Leadership

     All the recent news regarding the financial markets makes us think about our kids’ future, as well as our own. We recently attended a parents’ night at our kids’ school - actually, we went three times!

       Perhaps the most interesting part of the parents’ nights was a speech on developing children to reach their full potential. The lessons we heard apply to all of our organizations, pursuits, and even the financial markets.

      The presentation was artfully targeted to urge appropriate parenting leadership, which also seems to apply to leadership in general. The principles included a balance nurture, structure, and latitude. Providing all three principles becomes a difficult commitment in the face of challenges in our fast paced world but are essential for success.

       Nurture includes the desire of all people to be wanted and loved. Nurture is essential to give individuals a sense of belonging. Nurture is developed by showing love and respect, both directly and by example. This is an essential aspect in creating healthy people, organizations, and satisfying lives.

        Structure is the framework and expectations people have for their pursuits, responsibilities and ventures. Structure includes rules and guidelines that are required to be followed. It also includes process management protocols, as well as behavioral standards. Over time, structure becomes the values and culture of our organizations, and is reflected in all we do.

       Latitude is the freedom within the structure to use judgement to experiment and learn. Given this latitude people and organizations will have failures and setbacks. These are the areas for more growth and learning. If there are appropriate nurture and structure then the learning and growth are appreciated, accepted and raise performance to higher levels.

       Authoritative leadership within these three levels provides the best opportunities for future successes. Virtually every neurodevelopmental and psychological study supports these elements as building blocks for success.

       Balance between nurture, structure, and latitude is important. With the latest investment bank debacles it appears that the balance between structure and latitude were out of wack. We can imagine how nurture was probably out of balance too. Perhaps a few lessons in elementary leadership would benefit our political and financial leaders.

10 tips for Teenage Drivers

10 tips for Teenage Drivers

      Teenagers are known for making their parents nervous when they are behind the wheel. But for most parents, teenage drivers are a reality or a necessity.

       The AAA emphasizes a list of ten things that parents can do to keep their teens safe:

            1. Encourage teens to get enough sleep -- Teens need about nine hours of sleep every night and a lack of sleep can negatively affect vision, hand-eye coordination, reaction time and judgment.

            2. Eliminate distractions -- Cell phones, and especially text messaging, are hazardous distractions for teens and parents should insist that phones be put away. Look your kid in the eye and have him or her promise not to text and drive.

           3. Pick a practical car -- A teen should drive the safest vehicle a family owns. Things to consider are vehicle type; size (larger vehicles fare better in crashes); and safety technology (think front and side air bags, anti-lock brakes and stability control systems).

          4. Know and understand your teen -- Determine when your teen is responsible enough to get behind the wheel.

         5. No driving with friends or at night -- Research indicates that a teen driver's chances of crashing increase with each additional teen passenger. Teen crashes spike between 9 p.m. and midnight.

         6. Create a parent-teen driving agreement ---- Parents should establish rules and consequences that they and their teens agree on that extend beyond state laws.

        7. Set a time each week for discussion and review -- Designate a time to address concerns, review the teen's driving performance and chart the progression towards established goals and benchmarks. (Blogger's note: this may be impossible with hectic family schedules. Even a quick "how's the car working for you?" in passing could open the door for conversation.)

       8. Use a driving school -- Driving is a risky activity for teens and warrants professional instruction. Schools that feature cutting-edge curriculums, high degrees of interaction and professionally trained instructors are suggested.

       9. Practice, practice and practice some more -- As a supplement to formal driver education, driving sessions with parents provide teens with chances to reinforce proper driving skills.

     10. Be a responsible role model -- Teenagers learn from their parents' behavior and mom or dad's actions behind the wheel influence teenage driving behavior.

          Please join our Daggett Shuler team and Safe Sober Prom Night in helping to keep our teens safe!