You've Got Mail

In this episode - You've Got Mail . . .

What's in your mailbox today? No, I'm not referring to your email; I'm talking about what's become known as "Snail Mail." Remember Postal delivery? Like all other services, it also has an acronym, USPS - United States Postal Service. Think back - I'm sure there was a time when you were excited to get the Mail?

Recently I've discovered a renewed love for postal delivery. Yep, I hear you saying, "What, you must be losing it. Our mailbox is always full of bills, statements, advertisements, and junk that ends up in recycling." (Be careful; you might find an unexpected gem among all that junk.)

Junk mail, you say, yes, I understand - however, through the kindness, generosity, and love of an eight-year girl, our mailbox has become a treasured friend. Taped to my office wall is a growing collection of handwritten thank you letters we unexpectedly received for small gifts of Lego toys we've given this eight-year-old. What a sweet gift of joy and sincere gratitude.

My listening friends, these are not just scribbled words on a page, or a store-bought thank you note; each is unique and special. For example, this week's letter replicates a Henri Matisse-style painting bursting with color. This masterpiece is fully illustrated with a colorful drawing of a Bonsai tree, fourth of July fireworks sketches, hearts, stars, multi-colored words, and carefully crafted art. What a caring demonstration of civility and the humanities. This young lady is destined to become a scholar; you heard it first here, On the Fly.

And I'd like to believe it's not just me that appreciates this beautiful gesture.

Imagine this: our friendly mailman pulls up in his Grumman LLV USPS truck and grabs the tray of Mail designated for our community mailbox; he sorts through each box and notices the printed handwritten return addressed envelope scratched out by a child, then stops for a minute and smiles. He is delighted, knowing his job of delivering the Mail can still bring joy to folks when they open such an extraordinary work of art.

Maybe I'm dreaming, that's ok.

Anyway, this summer, encourage your youngster to craft a handwritten letter (or piece of art) to a friend or family member. I guarantee it will make their day when opening their mailbox. Oh, on second thought, maybe you should write one too.

Enjoy your summer.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Roberta Sherman White said…

I m getting internet satellite dish . Talked to many companies .Vitastar from Carlsbad CA yesterday -Can you shed any light on who s good for the rural area . I m Cuba address , closer to Smithfield . 21971 N Lasswell Road , 61427 . Any help ? Thanks a million !

July 14, 2022 at 11:33 AM

Roberta Sherman said…

Viasat -correct name

July 14, 2022 at 11:38 AM

Patrick B. Ball said…

Yes, this would be a good option for Satellite internet. https://www.viasat.com

July 14, 2022 at 1:41 PM

Epictetus, Ego, and Acronyms

In this episode, Destroy Communication, One Three-Letter Acronym at a Time This week, I want to explore a deeply relatable, universally feared workplace character: the "know-it-all." Now, I’m not pointing fingers here. If we are being completely honest, we have all played this role. We've all uttered some version of, "Yes, absolutely, that aligns with our strategic objectives," while our internal monologue is screaming, "I don't even know what the objective is, let alone the strategy." What got me thinking about this was a chapter in Ryan Holiday's book, Wisdom Takes Work . Holiday leans on a powerful piece of Stoic truth from the ancient philosopher Epictetus: "It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." It's a brilliant quote that strikes right at the heart of the human ego. You can't learn what you already know, and you certainly can't learn what you pretend to know to save face. Though to be ...

Breaking the Script

In this episode, The Art of the Short-Circuit. We spend a surprising amount of our lives on conversational autopilot. You see it everywhere. At the hardware store. At the post office. In office hallways, where two people can exchange greetings, discuss the weather, and continue on their way without either one actually hearing what the other said. "How are you?” "Good. You?” “Busy." “Yep." It's less of a conversation and more of a system check. Most of us aren't being rude. We're just moving fast. We have emails to answer, meetings to attend, errands to run, and a hundred other things competing for our attention. Before long, our interactions become little more than verbal lane markers helping us navigate the day. I like to break the script. When I run into someone, instead of the usual greetings, I'll ask: "What's the good word?” The reaction is almost always worth it. You can practically see the gears stop turning. People pause. They blink....

The Yellow Legal Pad

In this episode, the Art of Refiring July 1st is staring me in the face, less than two weeks away. For years, retirement seemed like something that happened to other people. Suddenly, it's on my calendar. I've been thinking a lot about the dreaded "R-word" lately. Not because I'm worried about having enough to do. Quite the opposite. What fascinates me is this strange paradox: Why does retirement make so many of us nervous, while having a job—even one that regularly drives us crazy—somehow feels comforting? Let's be honest. Most of us spend years complaining about meetings that should have been emails, reply-all disasters, impossible deadlines, and that one coworker who insists on microwaving leftover fish in the breakroom. Yet when the idea of walking away finally arrives, we hesitate. I think I've figured out why. A career isn't just a job. It's a highly structured coping mechanism. For forty-plus years, somebody else has basically decided what I...

That Fateful Four-Letter Word

In this episode, A Masterclass in Efficiency. For nearly four months, the western border of our property has stood as a living monument to determination, dubious planning, and forensic-level lumber acquisition. Since February, our neighbor Steve has been conducting what can only be described as a masterclass in deliberate calculation. This was never going to be one of those slick home-improvement shows where a cheerful pair of men installs a fence between commercial breaks, sipping lemonade. No. This was real life in retirement. We scaled the vertical wilderness of our hillside. We mixed concrete with the precision of medieval alchemists. We bled, we sweated, and we fought hand-to-hand with a buried tree stump that had the structural integrity of a Cold War bunker. By this week—May 16th, for those keeping score—the glorious end was finally within reach. The fence stood proudly, the line was straight, and victory practically hummed in the air. Only one major task remained: installing t...

On The Fly

Search This Blog