Most of us probably use throwaway phrases everyday, almost without even knowing it. Almost without caring.  Before we go any farther, I thought we’d better define our terms. In other words, what is a “Throwaway Phrase?” {Judging from the vast amount of money in the “Research and Development” budget… I Googled it.}  Here is their explanation… “If you say that someone makes a throwaway remark or gesture, you mean that they make it in a casual way, although it may be important, or have some serious or humorous effect. … a throwaway remark may later be regretted.” Sometimes a throwaway phrase happens in business such as when the “office know it all” gives us some useless advise and we respond with a quick wave of the hand and an “Uh huh…” You don’t really mean it that way, but it’s just the thing to say.  Sometimes a throwaway phrase can happen with people you hardly know. Maybe you bump into someone inadvertently and toss out a quick “Uh, sorry.” You don’t really mean it that way, but it’s just the thing to say.  But sadly, sometimes throwaway phrases happen closer to home with those we love. These are the throwaway phrases we need to make sure we we stop and never use again. How often have we thrown out a quick “Love ya” on the way out the door or we nod our head and throw out an occasional “Uh huh” as someone we care about is telling us about their day? You don’t really mean them that way, but it’s just the thing to say.  You’ll note that the definition also brought up gestures. Just as with words, we toss these throwaway gestures out the same way.  When your other half or partner comes home after a long day, you sit there watching TV or playing video games, or reading and throw out a “hi” without even looking up? Maybe we have a single comment or whole conversation with our back turned to someone when we know if the tables were turned, we’d want to be facing each other . You don’t really mean them that way, but you’re just to busy, unaware, uncaring (Just insert whatever excuse seemsmto make you feel the best) to do anything differently.  Now these are only a few of the things that might happen all the time. Things gotten used to doing and we hardly pay attention to that, either force others to hope we care more than we’re showing or force them to imagine our words, actions and feelings actually mean.  So how can we change?  First, realize when we’re doing these things to others. Be aware you might be sending the wrong message and then realize when it when happens back to you out of the mouths of others.  Second, do your best for just one day (to start) pay special attention to everything you’re saying and doing. Everything. Can you go one complete day being completely aware of what you’re saying, how you’re saying it, […]

One of life’s certainties is that we’re going to make mistakes. Some will be big and some will be HUGE! (Or at least we’ll be certain that they were.) Most are just mistakes we make that we’ll learn from or not, appreciate or not and understand or not. We kid ourselves  into believing that all of these mistakes are somehow the spawn of ego and evil. No! One of the biggest things we forget is that we can make mistakes of the good as well!  Sometimes we might not go far enough toward being benevolent and sometimes we might go too far. One thing’s for sure, it’s about time we start seeing and understanding the good parts about us and then make them more effective and more loving.  Just imagine what kind of people we’d be and what kind of world we’d live in if we made most of our mistakes by  being too Kind, Loving, Empathetic, Honorable, Honest, Loyal, Charitable, Respectful, Responsible, Humble, Compassionate, Decent, Fair, Forgiving, Authentic, Courageous, Generous, Polite,  Optimistic, Reliable, Conscientious, Encouraging, Forgiving, Considerate and just downright Nice. Sure would be a lot different, huh? So until we meet again over the next One Minute Blog, and Common Man’s Wisdom Podcast, let’s do this…   Let’s sit down and write out on a piece of paper what we think our best qualities are. I mean all of them and don’t stop till the page looks pretty full!  Then, let’s do our best to make our best traits even better! Do your best to show others what a good trait looks like no matter what the situation is.    Talk to your other half or your kids and your friends about it. Get them to do the same and then talk to each other about the good stuff that’s now going on in your life.  You can even keep score at the end of each  day by underlining the traits that you exercised that day. Then at the end of a week or so, you might be surprised how many good traits you’re showing the rest of the world… and maybe how many you aren’t.  So the next time you make a mistake, look at it and see what kind of mistake it was. Did it come from you being good or bad? Either way, maybe it’ll be easier to learn from it and then give yourself a break. After you do THAT, you can go back to that paper you filled full of your good traits and underline benevolent!  Peace       ……Gregg

Gregg Masters3 hr ago 1 Sometimes we look at things or hear things over and over and they tend to lose meaning. Sometimes they never achieve their purpose because we hear them or see them and think to ourselves, “Oh,that’s nice” and leave it at that. Yeah, let’s not do that! In this One Minute Blog I want to explain the meaning behind something that I now recite every night. It means a great deal to me and since it was originally told to me, has changed my outlook and my life. The quick backstory is I first heard this Lakota Prayer at the end of a few long and dangerous weeks. We were on our way home and as tired as I was I was hurting too much to sleep. I wasn’t alone, most of us were hurt, injured or nicked up some how. At some point on the flight, the most wise person I think I’ve ever met came and sat down next to me. She was feeling the same as I was. As we talked, she told me about the Lakota Prayer.  I asked her if she remembered it and she said she still recited it each night and asked if I’d like to hear it. Since saying yes on that flight, it not only changed my outlook on life, but has changed my life. Here it is. Pay careful attention as you read to not only what the words are asking but how your life might change if these various things would happen. For me it came down to a bottom line of will I be a better person? In my case the answer was yes. My hope is not only to expose you to this incredible piece of ancient wisdom, I’m also hoping to remind you about the myriad of other things that might be happening in your life that could add unimagined impact to your life. If you’re so inclined, recite this for a week or so and note any changes. Share this with your spouse, partner, kids or your friends. Thank you for allowing me to share this. I’ll consider it a success if this has even given you something to consider. Peace      ……Gregg