While I’m still in my 30′s, age discrimination is something you’d have to be hiding under a rock to not know it’ s happening.  It’s increasingly becoming more of a problem too as older Americans have to go back to work in order to keep up with the cost of living.  Someone very close to me is currently at the receiving end of a younger managers constant rant and scrutiny all because of their age.  Shame on them and shame on you if you are trying to make someone’s life miserable because they’re older and therefore you deem them incompetent.

For heavens sakes,  these people are quite competent.  Some, yes, may move a little slower, they may not be as tech savvy.  However, they are full of wisdom, full of experience and quite frankly, they have a better work ethic than my generation and the ones that follow.

The next time you decide not to hire someone simply based on their age or mistreat them in any other way for that matter, remember, these were our babysitters  growing up.  These were our teachers and swim coaches.  These are are mom’s and dad’s and one day it’ll be you!

What I’ve always known, but realize even more is the words “Hello” or “Good Morning” can be a gateway to getting you a lot of good stuff. Maybe the hotel clerk looks out for you in ways he/she might not have.  Maybe, you just really saved someone from having a lousy day.  If opening your mouth and speaking is too much, what about a smile?  I just don’t get it when people pass each other and look away or look down.

I really think something this simple could truly change our society for the better.  Perhaps if people were nicer to each other, you wouldn’t have some kid walking into an elementary school and shooting up dozens of people.  Being rude has become the norm, not the exception now-a-days.  It’s truly and utterly ridiculous.

My challenge to you?  Try it and even if the person doesn’t reciprocate, you will feel better about yourself.

The fact of the matter is we all have superstitions.  I find it funny too, because even though I don’t really believe in (all) of them, I find myself doing things to avoid getting jinxed.  Here are a few I’ve learned over the years:

1.  Don’t sweep over someone’s foot or cross over their leg (bad luck)

2.  Eat black-eyed peas on New Years Day (good luck/prosperity)

3.  (This one is from a good friend of mine).  Don’t buy your girlfriend/boyfriend shoes, they’ll walk out of your life.  Also, don’t buy them a watch because time will run out on your relationship

4. Don’t walk under a ladder (bad luck)

5.  Don’t split a pole (bad luck)

6.  Don’t break a mirror (7 years of bad luck)

7.  Avoid black cats (bad luck)

8.  It’s bad luck to leave the house through a different door than the one you came in from.  (WDBJ7 Producer)

9.  Step on a crack…break your mother’s back

10.  Kiss a clock  i.e.  1:23am/pm  12:34am/pm 1:11am/pm (good luck)

Now let’s here some of your superstitions!

How much is in your blue envelope?

I covered a story that really stuck with me recently.  Not because someone died or anything doom and gloom.  In fact, it was quite positive.  It made me realize, as human beings, we expect the worse in each other.

Employees at a local credit union are handing out free envelopes over the next month.  Inside  are $5, $10, $20 and in some cases $50 tucked in the blue envelopes.  There’s no gimmick to get you to sign up for an account.  No strings attached.  Seriously, it’s free money.  It’s their way of paying it forward and hoping others with do the same.  Amazingly enough, as I followed some of the employees who were trying to hand out the envelopes, people didn’t want to be approached, some quickly made a u-turn.  They thought they were going to hear a sales pitch.  Many simply didn’t want to be bothered.  Even though the employees quickly said, “I just want to give you some free money” and tried to disarm them with a smile (typical sales technique)…EVERYONE was skeptical.  Hey, I was at first!

What I realized is how many people missed out because they didn’t just take a second to stop.  Then there are people who didn’t miss out and were so shocked and thrilled.  It’s incredible how $5 can brighten someone’s day.  The best gifts are the ones you don’t expect after all right?

I’ve heard stories of people paying for someone else’s lunch with their new found fortune.  One man got an envelope in a coffee shop and turned around and bought someone else’s coffee.  Someone is donating their money to an animal shelter.  And some people kept it, deposited it or bought their own lunch.  (Nothing wrong with that either).

I just think the whole concept is pretty cool and made me think, we truly do expect the worst in people.  When someone approaches us saying no strings attached, we don’t believe them.  Most of the time, people are lying.  It’s rather sad don’t you think.  So for a business to do something nice and expect nothing in return (other than getting their name out there), it’s definitely inspiring.

Last week, the Pentagon announced a rather progressive and controversial move when it decided to allow women to hold combat positions.
This argument has been around for a long time.  The old school of thought was that it would never happen.  It did.

I have never served my country, so I will say upfront, I am writing this blog with limited knowledge.  I do know several people who currently serve and served.  I hold their opinion with the highest regard.

There are many male service members who are vehemently opposed to the change.  First they argue HYGIENE.  I say…Bologna!   Yes, a woman does have her “time of the month”, but if all of y’all are out there in 105 degree heat, none of you will come up smelling like roses.  I passed a man at the gym this morning and let’s just say I’ve never smelled an odor quite like that.  I hope it never infiltrates my nose again.  This is 2013.  There are so many advances in medicine that if a woman was to serve in an “elite” group, she could probably get that whole “cycle thing” taken care of (so it wouldn’t be a factor) for a few months.

The next argument is strength/endurance/stamina.  I’m told a man by nature is simply stronger.  Maybe that’s true.  My thoughts on that though…go to a CrossFit class and tell me there aren’t women who can’t hack it.

The third reason I’ve been given as to why women shouldn’t be able to hold combat positions is because if they become a P.O.W. in a country that still views females as second class citizens, the hell to pay will be even more painful than what a male would endure.  That is a pretty fair argument; however, if a woman chooses to go this route to serve our country, she’ll be aware of all this.  It becomes her choice.

As one former marine put it, a bullet knows no difference between gender when you are on the front lines.  I salute any woman who takes the first step to sign up for  combat.  Physically or mentally she is facing odds that certainly aren’t in her favor.  But then again as women, don’t we always?