"Swim with the Sharks" guru on Handling Stress - Breathing Space Blog

"Swim with the Sharks" guru Harvey MacKay offers a long list of tips on handling stress, streamlined here:

• Be completely present for whatever you are doing

• Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue

• When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane

• Keep your pace relaxed, and go outside once a day

• Take notice of the tension in your body

"Breathing Space" Type Books - Breathing Space Blog

These books are available for you:

* The 60 Second Self-Starter (Adams Media, ($9.95), is an action guide to help career professionals become more accomplished and satisfied with work and life. Its earlier version, the "60 Second Procrastinator," has been published in Arabic, Chinese Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Turkish, and in English India, Singapore, and Malaysia.

* The 60 Second Organizer (Adams Media, 2nd edition, $9.95) is a fun book offering 60 solid techniques that help you to maintain organization at your desk, office, home, car, and elsewhere. It has been published in Arabic, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Japanese, and in English for India, Singapore, and Malaysia.

During this month only, receive both books, autographed, for $16 total, shipping included. Order at www.breathingspace.com/ccprocess
1) at "description" type in: 2 Book deal
2) at "amount" type in $11.00, and hit enter (the system will handle $4.05 for shipping)

THIS is a DEAL!

An Epistle from Taiwan - Breathing Space Blog

When I was in third grade, my teacher showed the class a letter she had received from the island of Formosa (now known as Taiwan). The letter was hand-written on the back of cardboard stock that had been used for packaging products.

Everyone in class was amazed that the writer did not simply use a piece of fresh paper. My teacher explained that paper was scarce in Formosa and that people used the clear, backsides of any piece of paper they encountered. I had been unaware of the concept of recycling until then.

From that time until today, if everyone, everywhere had employed the backsides of paper and cardboard stock, collectively, humanity would have saved multi-trillions of sheets of paper.

Reckless Highway Behavior - Breathing Space Blog

Has the situation improved? From 11 years ago: 

NBC Channel 10 in Philadelphia reported that "New Jersey legislators pushed forward a plan to make it illegal to text message while driving. The Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee voted unanimously to release the proposal after several legislators admitted frequently firing off text messages while behind the wheel, even though they know doing so is dangerous."

"Assemblyman Paul Moriarty acknowledges doing it himself, but he's not proud of it. 'It's very, very dangerous,' he said. Citing that risk, the Democratic assemblyman wants to stop motorists from sending text messages while driving."

"'It's more dangerous than talking on a cell phone because I believe you can keep your eyes on the road when talking on a cell phone,' Moriarty said. That's not the case when typing and sending text messages, he said. 'I only assume they're using their knees to drive,' Moriarty said."

Email Lives On and On - Breathing Space Blog

We've all been there: sent off an email a bit too soon, and then realized we can't take it back.

By now it's clear to everyone: anything you ever email at work will be stored for evermore and might one day be used against you. “

A word to Breathing Space enthusiasts: if you write it and send it, your message will live on. So think twice before you hit “send.”

Too Real: Inept Phone Service - Breathing Space Blog

Welcome to the XYZ Company's electronic answering system. If you know your party's extension, why did you call our main switchboard?

(With Government) You have reached a non-working number at the U.S. Department of Labor, and hence we can't connect you with anyone.

Calls are taken in the order received so please stay on the line so that we can repeat this irritating message at least a half a dozen times. You will not be disconnected, unless, of course, you are.

Your call is important to us, which is why we're willing to tie up your phone for a half an hour.

If you're calling from a touch-tone phone and would like to leave a message, press the # sign followed by the number 2, followed by the digits of your social security number...

Once your message is completed, if you'd like to change it, press star button followed by the number 4, or wait for further overly-complex instructions.

To reach a customer service representative, who will practice learning English during your call, press 5.

To reach technical support, press 7 and please make sure you have your customer ID number, equipment serial number, original invoice, and lots of reading material.

For all other departments, please stay on the line where you'll be subjected to Muzak.

Got Breathing Space? - Breathing Space Blog

When you don't have, or feel you don't have, an extra moment to read philosophy, history, or science, when great literature, plays, and novels are as foreign to you as hieroglyphics, do you have any chance of seeing your work, career, or life in a new light?