Stories - FD Thornton

Before I start my story, I wanted to ask a question. Has anyone out there had a great idea come to them, say in the middle of the night, and you forgot it by the time you got up? That happened to me last night. I thought of a great topic for this blog and by the time I got up, gone. So with that in mind, welcome to this blog . If you follow my little post you may have figured out a few things. For one I "wing it" most of the time, writing about what I'm thinking about at the moment. Also, I am not a spring chicken, plus I really don't have a hidden agenda to what I do, other than maybe dropping a pearl of wisdom here or there for someone.  And lastly, I enjoy learning. For me, that's a funny statement considering the fact that I was pretty much an average student in my formative years, and I didn't really develop a passion for learning until much, much later.  Recently I read an article someone posted to LinkedIn on an established doctor who after 30 years...

Although most Southerners are stereotyped as slow or close-minded, I think of myself as pretty open to all the people I've met. I grew up in the Southern port and tourist city of     Savannah, GA. So meeting individuals from various cultures and countries is nothing new.  But ever since I started back to college in earnest, first at Brewton-Parker College and then the University of Phoenix, I have literally met and spoken with individuals from all over the world. The first thing that strikes me about each of these individuals is not the different cultural norms, or the accents, or even way they look or dress.  It's once you peel away the outward differences, you noticed that we all hold a lot in common.  We all want to live, we all desire to work and/or be successful, we want to provide for those we love; and deep down the vast majority want to simply live in peace. The reason I'm bringing this up is that recently I have been reminde...

Several years ago now, I'd hate to admit, I got my first pair of bifocals. It all started innocently enough, I had noticed that even with my glasses on I couldn't read small print very well. Thinking it was simply time to up my eyeglass prescription, I went to the optometrist. While sitting in that funky little chair all eye doctors have you read those letters in, he said to me, "Your long distant vision hasn't gotten worst, your short distant vision has. Congratulations! you now need bifocals."   My heart sank several inches. It's bad enough to have to wear glasses just to see, now I need them to read. For most everyone needing bifocals is a bit disheartening, it's an outward sign you've reached a certain age. I remember all too well the years my parents got their pairs of "readers". For both of them it was a learning experience, since either one had worn glasses before. My mom especially had a problem misplacing hers and finally resorted...

I know I've told this story at lest a thousand times, but some things are worth repeating. But, if you think you've heard this enough, then you may be the one that needs to hear it again. In my grandparents small store in Brunswick, Georgia there was a small card that was taped to the cash register. The message on the card read, "I had no shoes and complained, until I met a man who had no feet." Now that was many years ago and I was fairly young. So my quote maybe off, but that is how I remember the statement.  While the message didn't register right away, the message itself has stuck in my mind to this day. What it has told me over the years is, no matter how tough you got it, there's always someone who has it worse. Which to me also means be grateful for what you have and to never forget those worse off then yourself. As we slowly come out of the worst economic situation most all of us have faced. I sadly see that some of us have forgotten our charity an...

My LinkedIn page reminded me I hadn't posted a message for several days. This is true, but sometimes you don't have anything to say that you feel is profound or worthy of others time. You see, for nearly half the time I've spent on earth, their was no Internet or blogs or Facebook to post to. So I guess I'm still of that generation that feels when you have something important to say, say it. If not, then just keep it to yourself. At times I've noticed a lot of people post things just to be posting. Hell, I can't point a finger at anyone else without a few pointing back at me. I guess on a planet that is so interconnected, our need for " connection " to others is a bit " ramped-up " due to the ease of communicating.  As humans we are social creatures, we've grouped together in tribes since our creation. And although there are some that prefer their own company, social interaction is still a necessary evil for them as well. Maybe it...

You know I was bought up to believe, that no matter how bad you may have it, their is always someone in worst shape then you. In a way those words may be a comfort to those with less. But in reality those words hold a great deal of truth.  Recently, I heard a local politician rant about all the money going to feed the poor. And, how such programs were nothing but a waste. Now I really don't care which side of the political fence you stand. But, I recall being brought up in a home where those  in need were helped. And that judgement of ones heart was left to a higher power.  That said, don't allow your own material misfortunes to harden our hearts and minds to those who are in need. The Great Recession we all either experienced, or are experiencing still, should be a lesson. That no matter how sound a footing you find yourself on, it can disappear in a moment. So making general statements of about others being lazy or feeling entitled can at some point come back...

Have you ever looked back at a day and just wished you'd kept your mouth shut. I know I have. I've never been one to shy away from a conversation. But there are times when you learn more from listening than by talking. Developing your ability to listen can be a great tool in your career as well as in life.  When dealing with people, rather they are your friends or perfect strangers, giving your absolute attention is the clearest way to show that person they are important and worthy of your time. Too many times in my business and unfortunately personal life, I've seen people who may think they were listening demonstrate to me their total lack of how to listen.  When in conversation give eye contact, looking away sometimes is okay, that usually demonstrates deep thought. But when you look away too much, it simple gives the impression your disinterested and looking for escape.  When listening really listen. Be mindful of the tone or the emotion they put into ...

My oldest daughter recently came into my office flopped down into a chair moaning while she rubbed her arms and back. I looked up from what I was reading and asked, how was your visit to your friends. Earlier she had left to visit a friend, who invited her to a yoga class. Mind you, my daughters is pretty healthy and a runner, but looking at her there you would have thought it was me who'd went to do yoga.  I bring up my girl's painful experience to make this point. In your professional life, how flexible are you?     You see, despite the fact that her daughter's a healthy active young women. When tasked to take on new physical demands, her body was moved into positions it had never tried before. With the end result being some very tried and sore muscles. While at the beginning her body rebelled a little, as she has continued to work she wasn't as sore and is now enjoying the pay-off of the classes.  In our professional lives, sometimes we can be...