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In their book The Big Book of Jewish Humor (HarperCollins, 1981),
William Novak and Moshe Waldoks tell of a woman from Brooklyn, New
York, who, on her 80th birthday, decided to prepare her last will and
testament. She went to her rabbi to make two final requests.
First, she insisted on cremation.
"What is your second request?" the rabbi asked.
"I want my ashes scattered over the Bloomingdale's store."
"Why Bloomingdale's?"
"Then I'll be sure that my daughters visit me twice a week," came the
reply.
We all want to know that people care. We want to be sure that we are
not alone in this world. For that reason, we are drawn to those who
make us feel as if we matter.
I learned recently about a teacher named Robert Rasmussen, who has a
unique way of showing concern to his students. He keeps a stuffed bear
on his desk he calls the "Love Bear." He tells his high school
students to come up and get the bear if they are feeling down or
discouraged. Even the seniors!
At first, a few of the girls took the bear to their seats. The boys
muttered among themselves, "Is he for real? I mean, go get a Teddy
bear? Come on!" But after a while they came forward, too. Football
players -- six-and-a-half feet tall and weighing 220 pounds -- now say
to each other, "Gimme the bear!" and pass it among themselves.
Mr. Rasmussen has fine-tuned the art of showing concern to his
students. When he spots a student who looks discouraged, he tosses the
stuffed animal and says, "You look like you could use the bear." It is
a way of saying "I care. I don't have time to spend with you right
now -- I have a lesson to teach -- but I really do care. I'm with
you."
Is it any surprise? Mr. Rasmussen was voted Teacher of the Year at his
school four years straight.
Customers, colleagues, family and friends all need to know that we are
concerned. They want to know who cares. And they will respond to us
better when they feel that they matter.
Whatever else you tell people today, will you let them know who cares?
Steve Goodier Publisher@LifeSupportSystem.com
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