May 1st in many countries is called May Day, an informal spring festival, usually celebrated in smaller villages with dancing, drinking, and competitive games.
One of the most iconic parts of a May Day celebration is the Maypole dance, which features young girls with flowers in their hair, dancing around a tall pole, each holding a ribbon attached to the pole. The youngest girls dance in an inner circle while the older girls dance in an outer circle, intertwining and plaiting the ribbons as they circle the pole. They then unravel the ribbons by retracing their steps.
The origin of Maypole dancing dates back to Pagan times, when the dance of the maidens was closely associated with fertility.
During medieval times, the cutting of a huge tree and bringing it to a village was a big event. Great care was taken in choosing the tree, and nearby villages often competed with each other to have the tallest Maypole. The bark of the tree was removed, or smoothed, and decorated with garlands and brightly colored ribbons to prepare it for the dance, which has remained essentially unchanged for centuries.
70 Is The New 30!
As people age into their 60 and 70’s, there is an impression that they should have “made it by now,” and that it’s time to retire. Yet there is ample evidence that people may not acheive their life-long goals until well into their upper years. For example:
* “Colonel” Harlan Sanders was 65 when he began trying to license his “finger lickin’ good” chicken recipe, launching what would become Kentucky Fried Chicken.
* Dr. William Worrall Mayo was 70 when he founded his world-famous medical clinic.
* Frank McCourt, author of of the best seller, Angela’s Ashes, didn’t start writing until he was 65.
These days, seniors often think less in terms of retirement and more in terms of “what else can I do?” They’re starting businesses, writing first novels, and building empires—acting much more like tricenarians than septuagenarians.
What’s So Funny About Chemistry?
You don’t have to be a scientific genius to get a laugh from these jokes, but a little
knowledge of physics and chemistry will help:
* Never trust atoms—they make up everything.
* Did you hear about the guy who read a whole book about helium in one sitting? He couldn’t put it down.
* The optimist sees the glass half full. The pessimist sees the glass half empty. The chemist sees the glass completely full, half in the liquid state and half in the vapor state.
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Mel’s Home News
News To Help You Save Time And Money May 2015
How To Have More Power At Work
Power. Wanting more of it doesn’t make you a megalomaniac or would-be dictator. Power by another name could also be called influence, and influence in the workplace is a good thing. Influence affords you more opportunity and respect, which gives you more choice and control over your own career and goals. To gain the right kind of power that will help you get ahead, try this advice:
* Use your authority actively. No matter what your job is, you have some power to make decisions. Don’t ask for permission over actions that are legitimately your responsibility. However, use tact in the execution of decisions.
* Recognize people. Even if you’re not a manager, you can build your reputation as a leader by thanking people for their assistance, pointing out examples of high performance to managers, and showing your appreciation for your co-workers’ efforts to help the organization succeed.
* Find a specialty. Become an expert at some important function within your organization or department. Once you become the go-to person for solving specific kinds of problems, people will look to you for help and leadership in other areas.
* Show initiative. Don’t wait for managers to tell you what to do. Launch a pilot project on your own to help your organization achieve its goals. Make suggestions for developing new products or cutting costs. Let everyone know you’re committed to making a difference.
* Expand your networks. The more people you know, the more influence you have. Reach out beyond your usual circle of friends and co-workers by getting active in other departments and in industry groups. Even if your contacts aren’t directly involved in your business, you’ll gain access to ideas and relationships that will benefit you throughout your career.
* Learn to speak powerfully. Your ability to communicate is critical. Take courses in speaking, join a speakers’ club, and listen to powerful motivational speakers, such as Anthony (Tony) Robbins or Eric Thomas. Learn to express your ideas succinctly.
* Become an active listener. Everybody loves someone who listens with their whole being, feeds back what they hear, and then asks to hear more. Become known as someone who is easy to talk to. Withhold your opinions, and be positive in your responses.
It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits of our abilities do not exist.
~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
