The new year is just a couple weeks old.
Time seems to speed up for the cat breeder this time of year. Queens start coming into season. The stud cat is restless. Soon kittens will be arriving.
Exhibitors on the campaign trail are entering the hottest period of competition for those National and regional awards. Stress levels in the show calls are rising.
Now seems a good time to think about how best to get along with our fellow (wo)man.
- Keep skid chains on your tongue; say less than you think.
- Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say something counts as much as what you say.
- Make promises sparingly, and keep them faithfully, no matter what it costs.
- Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or
about somebody. - Praise good work, regardless of who did it.
- If criticism is needed, criticize helpfully, never spitefully.
- Be interested in others, their pursuits, their work, their homes and families.
- Make merry with those who rejoice; with those who weep, with
those who
mourn. - Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel that you regard him as a person of importance.
- Be cheerful. Don't burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Everyone is carrying some kind of a load.
- Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue. It is a mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
- Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for themselves.
- Refuse to talk of another's vices.
- Discourage gossip. It is a waste of valuable time and can be extremely destructive.
- Be careful of another's feelings. Wit and humor at the other person's expense are rarely worth it and may hurt when least expected.
- Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. The person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe them.
- Frayed nerves and bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting.
- Don't be too anxious about the credit due you. Do your best, and be patient. Forget about yourself, and let others "remember." Success is much sweeter that way.