Author Archives: Jim Gleason

When our daughter was in middle school, she wanted to be a cheerleader. Frankly, I was hesitant. In my experience, cheerleaders wanted to be seen more than they wanted to support the team and the fans. We relented, however, and she, and the squad, did a good job of supporting the team. It’s funny, atContinue reading “Cheerleading”

Have you noticed the great things that people are doing all around you? On the news, they tell the story of kids starting charities to positively impact those in need. They also tell of the heroic acts of first responders and of lives saved by ordinary strangers. We hear of organizations established to meet needsContinue reading “Do Great Things”

‘Tis the gift giving and receiving season. Most gifts are received with joy and thanksgiving, as they should be. Sometimes, however, gifts are received with a shrug or sour expression. What causes the different reactions? To be honest sometimes the gifts are just awful. Giving a child underwear for Christmas, not good! However sometimes aContinue reading “Receiving Gifts”

Have you ever wondered about the many things competing for our attention? Our bosses want us to contemplate business concerns. Advertizers demand our allegiance to their products. Family members cry out for our thoughts and actions. Politicians spend big money trying to get our agreement. At various times and in various places it is appropriateContinue reading “Power of Thoughts”

Long ago I gave up watching sports pregame and talk shows. Lately I’ve stopped watching the news on television. Why? Because it bothers me to hear so called experts constantly criticizing others. It doesn’t matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, each side is seeking to bring the the other side down.Continue reading “News Commentary”

When we were kids, we presumed that we would receive gifts at Christmas, unless we came from poor or neglectful families. Not only that, but we presumed that we would get what we wanted. Now that we are older, presumption comes into play in different ways. On the job, we expect to be compensated forContinue reading “Presumption”

If a fire threatened your home, what would you consider important to take with you before the fire reached your home? Everybody, I assume, would make sure their family members are safe first, but what else would you pack the car with, given the time to do so? Would family photos and remembrances be packedContinue reading “In Case of Fire”

When we were young we played hide and seek. We all had a favorite hiding place that others could never find us. When the person who was “it” couldn’t find us they would call out and we would come out of our hiding place. The hiding place protected us from being found and becoming “it”.Continue reading “Hiding Places”

The opposite of thanksgiving is grumbling or complaining. With a world-wide pandemic and a national election, we have become masters of the anti-thanksgiving ethic. Politicians led the way with vigorous grumbling about each other. Even our medical leaders have voiced numerous complaints about the public and government. In response, public protests headline the news. WeContinue reading “The Anti-Thanksgiving”

We are a fast paced society. We not only demand what we want, but we want it now. We eat at fastfood restaurants. If we actually visit our bank, it is through the drive-thru. Especially during the pandemic, we order everything, including groceries, online with express delivery. We can’t wait for the news on televisionContinue reading “Tyranny of the Urgent”