Boot Stretchers Men

However, the most important funeral, memorial and grave is the one of your own loved one.

FRYE Jackson Harness

If you have recently lost a friend, family member or close associate, I extend my deepest sympathy to you. This is a time of confusion when we need clarity to make decisions. Perhaps you have been asked to speak at the funeral or memorial or to share a incident that reminds you of the one who died.

Eulogies and Tributes At Funerals

When I have been asked to speak at funerals and memorials, it is sometimes a struggle to have thoughts turn into meaningful words. My heart and emotions know what I want to express but it is hard to find the just right combination of phrases and comments that will touch the spirits of those people who are hurting and alone.

Do When I have been asked to speak at funerals and memorials, I often refer to this favorite poem. Perhaps it will bring you comfort or give you words to match your thoughts. It is often easier to use another person's words because they can more eloquently express what you want to say and are feeling.

Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow;

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain;

I am the gentle autumn's rain.

Do not stand at my grave and mourn.

I am the dew-flecked grass at dawn.

Where tranquil oceans meet the land

I am the footprints in the sand

To guide you through the weary day.

I am still here; I'll always stay.

When you wake up to morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there; I did not die.

Original attributed to Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905-2004)

Middle verse added by Lucie Storrs (1967- )

It is a wonderful honor to be asked to share a eulogy of a loved one who has died. To be asked to share is to be given a gift of love. It is also very frightening to try to find the words and expressions which will bring comfort to the bereaved. It is also a final gift that you can give to the one who is no longer with you.

By sharing words of poetry or an essay that is able to capture your feelings it will likewise touch the hearts of those who are in the audience.

You can do it, I believe in you.

Would you like additional poems to comfort the grieving? Visit http://www.DoNotWeep.com This is a wonderful collection of literature dealing with loss and death. If you choose to order it, you will be glad you did. I certainly was.

(c) Judy H. Wright http://www.ArtichokePress.com You have permission to reprint this article as long as you keep the content and contact information intact. Thank You.

In order to be fair and balanced, I think we need a good lesson in how to demotivate people. It'll do their over-sized egos some good. Toughen up the masses.

Pajar TROOP-M

Besides, recent studies show that we're spending WAY too much time trying to boost everyone's self-esteem. So let's step back a bit from the compliment and think more in line with containment.

I really think it might catch on. When was the last time your heard of a conference where they brought in demotivational speakers who gave demotivational advice? The goal would be to bring everything down to the lowest common denominator. The theme could be - United & Conformed: We Are The Weakest Links!

Do you know people who are too excited and too positive? Why not spend some time demotivating them. Here's just a few suggestions:

* Give them MEANINGLESS work.

Nothing says, "You're not important" more than assigning the mundane tasks to the same person over and over again.

* Set expectations extremely low or too high to reach.

And if they get too close to the high ones, sabotage their results.

* Ask them to do things you haven't trained them for.

I love a good POP QUIZ. Keeps the troops on their toes. Let the creative one in your bunch spend an afternoon running the accounting department. C'mon...it'll be fun!

* Don't just reward one person, reward everyone the same...no matter how much one person worked to pull the thing off.

Equality rules. Overachieving drools. If one person works too hard, it makes all the mediocre ones look bad.

* Charge your people for everything.

Paperclips, toilet paper, even their office space. Nothing says you're part of the company more than being nickled and dimed by the company.

* Only talk to them when they do something wrong.

Because if they do something right, there's plenty of other people to pat them on the back. Why do they need to hear that from their leader? You should only show your face when they screw up. That way, they'll respect you more...or something like that.

* Forget their name...or better yet, keep calling them by a different name that sounds similar.

Look how cool James Bond is! His people called him by a number. He always had to go around telling people his name...Bond...James Bond. That's cool. Why not call the people in your organization by a number. "Employee #32, please come here and see me...you've screwed up again!"

* Claim the credit for your organization's success.

You're the boss. You deserve it.

You made it happen. You're in charge. Everyone below you exists for your success. If you take all the credit, nobody gets overconfident. Just make sure you point out the people who messed up when things go bad. Why would you want to take credit for that?

As I look back over this list, I'm surprised more people haven't caught on to this. I mean, this is why the television show, The Office, is so popular...right?

I'm just saying...

Tim Milburn develops student leaders through his organization, Studentlinc.

Please visit Studentlinc at http://www.studentlinc.net

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