Dear Reader Column 02-17-11

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http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

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Dear Reader,

"What is my lesson today and who has the answers I'm looking for?"

It's a question I've started asking myself every morning and today, book club reader, Marion Lillie, shares a lesson from her 93 years of life experience. (If you missed the original column, that inspired Marion to write, goto: http://tinyurl.com/5w8v8r9 )

"Dear Suzanne...you do pose the most fascinating questions! I'm 93 years old and what have I learned in all those years? I sat here puzzling over that and suddenly I knew. I have learned to 'accept,' without trying to return a gift, a favor, advice, or a compliment. I've known people who always 'over-do'...giving back better than they received, or a nicer compliment, or a bigger favor. In thinking back, it's always irritated me and I never knew why--and I was guilty of it myself.

But no more. I remember the day I over-did and hurt my niece's feelings, because my return was so much nicer than she could afford. And I remember the time I scrambled to return a comment on baking cookies, by remembering something her mother had made--for heaven's sake! I don't do that any more. I've found a plain, heartfelt 'thank you' covers most gifts or comments. It's a lot easier and the other person doesn't have to think of an answer. So, Suzanne, Thank you for all the things to think about, which you have given me!"--Marion Lillie

And that's my lesson for today--thank you Marion.

* Meet all of the authors at AuthorBuzz, the "goto:" is right after today's column.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Gratefully,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: A bonus author this week and of course the chance to win new books from these SIX authors:

Ann H Gabhart/ANGEL SISTER

Gareth Crocker/FINDING JACK

Ginny Yttrup/WORDS

Cindi Myers/WORK OF HEART

Jane Velez-Mitchell (and Sandra Mohr)/Addict Nation: AN INTERVENTION FOR AMERICA

Michael David Lukas/THE ORACLE OF STAMBOUL

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Comments

[MK]

I and many of my friends are in the Lillie category of always returning more for a compliment or gift or whatever. This really hits home, as I have been trying to scale back on things. And it is so easy just to say thank you, and then smile all day for something wonderful that someone said or did.