My goal this year is to be more compassionate when I’m with my kids and the hub. I need to be careful about what I ask for because I’m being put to the test left, right and 24/7. For instance, last week when my daughter yelled at me for not toasting a bagel for her - my compassion was no where to be found. In fact, I probably wouldn’t talk to my worst enemy the same way that I spoke to her. After I dropped her off at school, I screamed my head off. What a great way to start the day!

On this busy day, I made the conscious effort to stop everything that I was rushing to do. I had a deadline and the plumbers were at my house but it didn’t matter. I decided to re-prioritize my day. I went into my home office and made a poster for my daughter. I didn’t spend a lot of time on it; maybe 20 minutes but it was time well-spent. The poster made a visual impact on my daughter. Not to mention, that by making the poster, it also calmed me down!

Honey will get us much more of what we want. Each bee represents something our teenager wants: skiing, ballet, NYC ballet intensive, swimming, shopping, Brandy Melville, Hollister, movies, sleepovers, Starbucks, bubble tea and the biggest ask - SOCI… — Honey will get us much more of what we want. Each bee represents something our teenager wants: skiing, ballet, NYC ballet intensive, swimming, shopping, Brandy Melville, Hollister, movies, sleepovers, Starbucks, bubble tea and the biggest ask - SOCIAL MEDIA!! A sassy teenager isn’t going to get much in our house.

Long ago I had learned a concept from my cousin Honey-o. I wrote about it in my post entitled Golden Nuggets. We’ve all heard it before: “You get more bees with honey than vinegar.” Honey-o obviously didn’t invent the saying/concept but it was thru her that I witnessed when being sweet was more fruitful than not. I’m so grateful that I learned this at an early age. I thought it was time to share this wisdom with my daughter. And I don’t think my timing was too soon, especially after hearing a couple of those deep acceptance speeches at the Oscar’s the other night. So many people, not just celebrities or politicians, are calling out for kindness, demanding compassion, denouncing hate and dismissing judgement.

In reference to the poster, “vinegar” could have been any specific feeling, behavior, value, moral, virtue, trait, adjective etc. that doesn’t serve our family’s purpose. It’s obvious that I probably should have calmed down a little more before listing our “vinegars” for my daughter. Lol. But she got the gist of it. On the flip side, no matter what we consider as our “honey”, the purpose it serves will most likely benefit our family AND the world around us! A win-win. It is has been said time and time again: The world would be a better place if we all acted with kindness, compassion, thoughtfulness, love, forgiveness and gratitude.

Now when I sense a bit of my daughter’s sassiness coming on, I say the keyword HONEY. The choice is her’s. Will she get the bees or shoo them away?

Change the name from Bit-O-Honey to Pinch-O-Honey!

A sweet treat with a special request to spread the word: You get more bees with honey than vinegar.

Speaking of honey, when I was deciding on what thoughtful pinches to give the teachers, coaches, dance instructors for Valentine’s Day, honey came to mind. I know it’s not the most exciting sweet treat but I’m hoping that the recipients will enjoy spreading the word: “You get more bees with honey than vinegar.” I wonder how many would Bee Mine?

Pinches,

Barb