The shortest post I've ever written...

Since I was out sick last week, I need your help. Please share with us any acts of kindness that you witnessed or took part in. I know we will see some great comments.

A New Year With an Old Twist

Well, here we are only a few days from 2010.

It seems like only yesterday (okay 40 years has passed) that my second grade teacher had us write an essay about what life would be like when we reached 40 and what the year 2000 would bring. Back in 1969 none of us kids believed we would ever be 40 or beyond.

My stories were about what I would be doing--I wanted to be a photo-journalist or a soccer player. Well neither of those predictions came true, but that's okay. My life, although sprinkled with some difficult times, has been mostly what could have been expected. A few lost loves along the way, some trying times with friends and family, people coming, going and dying, and finally many good moments to remember.

When I was younger, in my twenties, New Years Eve was a big deal. We would go and celebrate with friends, drink too much, and always, always continue the traditions that were started by my family. It didn't matter where I was or who I was with, at midnight I would kiss whoever was next to me and then crunch down on creamed herring nestled on a saltine cracker--a ritual started by my Bohemian grandmother for good luck. Sometimes I had to bring my own...

Now that I am older things have changed. Midnight doesn't seem as important as it once did. The friends and family I once celebrated with are now gone, but not forgotten. Now I spend a relaxing night at home with my wife and son, wait around until 9:00 when they shoot off fireworks in the senior community behind my house, and am in bed long before it officially becomes the new year. However, I still kiss my wife and have some herring on a cracker for good luck, I just do it earlier.

I hope you all have some traditions that you keep going too...how about sharing them?

Since this blog is about acts of kindness, let's get to one. I wasn't looking for anything special to happen this week, most people are just too busy with themselves to even know others are still around. I was pleasantly surprised when I went onto facebook this morning and had an e-mail from a group I belong to "Get Your Blog Followers." It went on to say that I was a featured blogger this week and asked for the group to come by and read my last post about a past Christmas. Talk about being taken aback and humbled...

Thanks for the mention and the new followers that have been generated because of it. See even when you don't look for things to happen, sometimes they do. That is what I call a "genuine random act of kindness."

Look, a whole post without talking about my book...oops, I screwed that up. Well, if you like my stories here you should go to http://www.amazon.com/ and buy "Sensitivity 101 for the Heterosexual Male." Or at least go to http://www.philipnork.com/ and read the reviews it has been getting.

I hope all of you have a great New Year, stay safe and remember what goes around comes around. By being able to give a random act of kindness, you will get one back sometime in the future. Until next Monday...

Phil

A New Review for Sensitivity 101 for the Heterosexual Male and a Random Act of Kindness All Rolled up in One

Well, another week has gone by and I'm behind the times again. I wanted to post this newest review of my book...another review with another opinion. It never stops amazing me how everyone who reads the book comes away with something new...guess that is a good thing. Here is part of the review.

"...A delicate and intimate coming of age story...I applaud the author for the originality of the story and looking back in a nurturing and humanizing way."
Read the whole review at Author Exposure.

I was looking very hard for a random act of kindness the whole week, but something strange happened. I couldn't find one. All week at work I searched, but all I found was that the Holiday season this year has brought out the worst of people. Fighting, yelling, and lack of manners actually was the norm. I was out of ideas and patience so didn't leave my house over the weekend.

That's when it happened. I woke up on Sunday morning to an e-mail, the one containing my review from above. After reading it I had found my act...

The last line of the review is "In fact, a change in the title and cover and the author could target a neglected topic within the young adult market."

Never in a million years would I have guessed that the subject of my book could actually be accepted by that audience. But after talking to a few parents who had read the book, I was more than happy to find out that they did indeed let their 16 years and older read the story. They said the message was one they wanted their kids to hear about, although some of content was more to an adults liking.

So I spent yesterday adapting a R rated book into a PG one (That's why I am late with this post.) I sent it to the same parents and already have recieved two thumbs up from one of them. The book now can marketed to the YA and Christian markets.

So I thank Author Exposure for a great review AND a new idea, along with a great quote to use on both my book covers when I redesign in January.

I guess there really are good people left in the world.

Till next week,

Phil

A Conundrum Appears

Today I will share with you my dilemna. Sensitivity 101 for the Hetrosexual Male is selling pretty well, actually way past my expectations. But as this continues something that I never anticipated has happened. The book was written as a way for me to express old memories and how they have shaped who I am today. I thought people would just read it, wonder if it could really be true and enjoy themselves for a few minutes as they read through my adventures. It was not written to "teach" anyone anything.

What has happened is that everyone who reads it comes away with a different meaning for it. I have heard from other children of divorce, all who connect with longing for acceptance and happiness. I have heard from some that only see the "sexual" part of the book, and I even have gotten an e-mail from a psychologist suggesting this was my way of letting go of repressed feelings.

Because of the diversity of responses, I am inclined to add a sub-title to my cover, along with a few quotes from reviewers. I want everyone to read my book and maybe a sub-title will open this opportunity. What do you think?

Sorry about the ramblings, so on with a random act of kindness. This weekend I never made it out of my house. Holiday decorations, cleaning and just too busy with other things--like laundry. That's right I do the laundry, every Sunday as I watch the football games on TV. Well this has been going on for years, but this time something was different. After 5 loads of washing and drying, then putting away everything, and putting the decorations up, and putting away the groceries, and changing the water in my son's fishbowl, my wife came up to me, gave me a kiss and said thanks...

Talk about a random act of kindness. I feel a little special and appreciated again. See just a thank-you can make such a difference...even from those that care the most about you.

Next week I'll talk about some of the things in my introduction of Sensitivity 101 for the Heterosexual Male...

Random Acts of Kindness

Well I'm back...and so soon. Still trying to get the hang of all this. I said that I wanted to share random acts of kindness with you, but what is a random act of kindness? I think this explains it very well...




With a better understanding now, I would like to share something that happened today on my never ending journey of self discovery. I went to work, was extremely upset at some of the drivers of the world and wasn't all that happy. As soon as I entered my area, I had people smiling at me, laughing together and having a great time. It was about this time I realized that they had some Christmas music on the background and had just finished wrapping small presents for co-workers.

I didn't pay much attention until one of them came over, placed a bigger box in front of me and said, "This is from all of us here at Centennial CDS to you." I was not expecting anything as "the boss", but after opening the box and seeing something I would never have bought for myself--a beautiful rain resistant jacket--I actually found myself smiling and feeling better. These wonderful people who work under me, listen to my ranting and raving, and who I thought just tolerated me, got together in this difficult economic time, and thought of someone else--me!

I can't thank them enough for this gift. Not the jacket--it is nice though! But for the feeling of acceptance they let me feel. As I said in my book 'Sensitivity 101 for the Heterosexual Male' "there are two things that all humans desire: to be accepted for who you are and to be happy."

Today I feel both of them. Thank you CDS of Centennial Nevada for helping me get the holiday spirit back, and for the jacket!