http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 19 May 2010 19:23:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en One thing we all have in common is that we don’t always get along with everyone. While our wildest dreams can imagine that we “should” get along with everyone all of the time, such dreams never come true. So, what we know is that sooner or later, likely when we ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=411 Referencing Lewis Carroll’s Humpty Dumpty in Through the Looking-Glass. When Alice asks Humpty Dumpty what he meant by “glory,” he replies, “I meant there’s a nice knock-down argument for you.” Alice protests that this isn’t the meaning of “glory.” “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty answers, in rather a ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=406 The word “jinx” originates from the southeastern U.S. bird that supposedly had the ability to predict the future. Most unfortunately, the bird proved less competent in accurately predicting favorable events but had a unique ability to see the bad things coming. It is from this reputation of being able to ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=400 What if: Frogs, in fact, do NOT rest peacefully in lukewarm water waiting to be boiled. Or, fish do NOT rot from the head down. Or, low-hanging fruit should NOT be picked first. And, what if the best playing fields are NOT level. If these truisms are tipped over and end up being false, does ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=393 Within every marriage lies an agreement that is mutually cultivated and serves as the foundation from which the relationship begins, prospers and, when neglected or broken, fails. The roots of this agreement are cultivated under a wide assortment of conditions: active discussion, constructive negotiation, or passionate play. The voices exercised ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=382 Families are uniquely encrypted with a private code, a secret language that speaks of an underlying eternal structure. Ideally speaking, nesting snuggly within the bosom of the nuclear family is a clear boundary separating the protection and comforts of the family bond from the uncertainties and cheerlessness of rest of ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=380 The kinds of unspoken questions we ask ourselves can stimulate curiosity, inspire new discoveries, and compel us to move in the direction of success. When this happens, our unspoken questions help make our world bigger.  Or, our private and innermost questions can invite despair, inactivity, and failure. These types of ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=376 Values are beliefs that influence people's behavior and decision-making tendencies. That which is important in our lives, directly and silently guides our actions. At one level, on the surface, we know what is important. It is likely our children, our family, our spouse, or our pets come to mind. Yet, at ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=370 Being tough on issues and tender on people is tricky stuff. Learning how to have a difficult conversation with an otherwise reasonable person or having an otherwise reasonable conversation with a difficult person requires the willingness to “get out of our minds” and begin thinking about the situation in a ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=367 Most of the time what couples fight about, what families quarrel about, what individuals complain about is what is right in front of them. Whatever is up close and personal, perhaps it’s a lack of money or a spouse coming home late or a child using an ugly word – ... http://www.familyworkz.com/ourworkz/?p=364