Today I was just about brought to tears.  While taking my youngest son to breakfast we learned that the restaurant'scash registers were utterly down.  They could not accept my bank card. I had no cash.  And frankly, the family is in a tough state right now due to the on-going custody battle I'm still in.

I tell my son, "I'm sorry buddy, I don't have cash and their machines won't take my bank card."  He understood of course.  We walk to the car and I drum up some coins.  I tell him we may have enough in change to make due.  My son even produces one, "Here Dad, take mine."  It was a dime.  It was a humbling moment.    Damn I love that kid.

We go back inside with enough for food but not for drink.  A man and his wife that watched us leave earlier approached me.  "Here take this, I have grandchildren and they would be devastated if they had to leave without eating."  I was speechless.  I looked at him and thanked him, telling him that we only needed enough for drink but he was already turning and walking away.  My eyes welled up a bit.  Just a bit.  But I felt it.  The kindness of a stranger. I was dumbfounded.  My eyes welled up a bit and I thought, "With all I've been through, there are good people."

We paid for our meal and I gave the rest of the money to my son asking him to thank the man for what he gave and that we only needed enough for a drink.   Obediently he ran over and back.

Call me sensitive or whatever.  But it meant a lot to know people that didn't even know us were willing to be kind.  I can bear witness to ...   more »

Office life is a culture unto itself.  In every work place you find many stereotypes.   The stuck up or arrogant guy, the woman that thinks she is special, the sexist pig, the firm and stoic office manager, the fat lady that everyone has to talk around, the cut throat corporate climbing guy, or the cut throat corporate climbing bitch.    They come in all these types, male and female.

Isn't it strange though that no matter where you work, these types exist?  Which one are you?  Let me guess, none of these.  Isn't it strange as we all agree these people exist but they are never us.  Let's play a game, if you had to guess, which one are you?
 
OK, so you've decided and perhaps it doesn't fit you.  At least you don't think that that type is you.  I have news for you though, it doesn't matter what you think you are.  It matters what others think you are.  You are what others decide you are and if you are the least bit conscious of what your corporate image is, you'll address it.
 
Perhaps you don’t' want to guess.  Perhaps you want to be really risky and go around the office and ask others.  Who am I?  What type of person am I?  Am I the office slut?  Am I the backstabbing co-worker?  Am I the office maid?  Oh... what's an office maid?  I knew one of those personally. The office maid is the person the person that is the office kiss ass.  They volunteer for everything, they round up the money for the office birthday gifts and such.  Some do it for the brownie points, others do it because they have no life.  Back to the types... From the work-a-holic to the slack-ass there are so ...   more »