ClaireMolineaux.com

It was the most perfect July day. White clouds were aglow with silver light and heaven was brighter than I've ever seen it before. "Lord, thank you for giving us Muffin. She made our family so happy. We miss her, and we can't wait to see her on the other side." The words of my dad's graveside prayer echoed in my mind as I drove the stretch of highway back home, lit up by a breathtaking sunset. Muffin was 16 years old, and held on so cheerfully through declining health until yesterday, when she passed. What a full life she lived. I was 12 when we got Muffin as a puppy, and her sweet personality captured our hearts instantly. She loved everyone, and seemed to exude a warmth that was both welcoming and comforting. She used to sit by the door and whimper when we'd leave the house, then bark excitedly with plenty of tail-wagging when we returned. I know everybody says this about their own pet, but she really was the best dog. On the drive to Muffin'...

I had a moment of clarity in the Sam's Club parking lot today. As I approached my car with a shopping cart full of groceries and two toddlers in tow, I noticed a young woman unloading her groceries into the car next to mine. She was well-dressed, with a designer handbag, and seemed in a hurry. I waited for her to finish putting her groceries in the back seat so I could squeeze between the cars and put my kids in their carseats. After a moment, she closed her car door and began walking her empty shopping cart across the lot. I stepped forward and opened the door to my 15-year-old grocery getter to put the kids in, admiring the young woman's brand new luxury (and carseat-free) crossover. As I buckled in my 1-year-old, the woman returned and stood behind me, anxiously tapping her foot to announce her presence. I paused from buckling the baby, pulled the door in so she could pass by, and said, "Sorry about that." She responded by rolling her eyes, getting into her c...

You may think it’s old fashioned, but the handwritten thank-you note goes a long way in expressing appreciation.  It’s a lost art – and one that deserves to be revived for its pleasantry, and its power. Think about it.  When was the last time you received a handwritten thank-you note?  How did it make you feel?  What do you think about the person who wrote it? We just celebrated my daughter’s third birthday with several friends, where she received a generous sum of gifts and cards.  Tissue paper and gift wrap were thrown everywhere as dozens of kids huddled around to get a look at her presents.  While I assisted with the gift opening and attempted to keep things organized (not very successfully), my husband took notes about who gave what. That night, after the kids were asleep, worn out from a day full of birthday festivities, I sat down with the list of gifts and givers.  I was overwhelmed – not only by the generosity of each person – ...

You may have heard the phrase, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”  If only we all had enough time and energy to do everything ourselves.  Instead, delegation is the principle that allows us to accomplish tasks through others.  You don’t have to do a project yourself to get it done correctly.  You just have to put it in the hands of the right person. First, figure out your priorities for the project.  What is most important to you about getting the job done?  Should it be done fast, or with precision?  Does it need creativity, or in-depth analysis?  Once you’ve prioritized the need, match the project to the person with the right qualities: If you want it done quickly, give it to the person with a clean desk .   Chances are, she has a clean desk because she can’t stand to have pending items waiting on her to complete them.   She is probably a task-oriented person who gets the job done as soon as it’s assig...

If you’ve spent any time in customer service or sales, you’ve heard the benefits of connecting with your clients on a personal level.   You know it builds rapport, opens up lines of communication, and all that good warm fuzzy stuff. But is it really that valuable?   It’s difficult to gauge the effectiveness of relationship building.   There’s no exact formula for ROI.   You spend a significant amount of time and money on relationship building, but – let’s face it – you can’t easily monetize it. I don’t specialize in sales.   But I’ve listened to more than a few sales pitches.   As a media buyer, I can tell you exactly what customers are looking for – and what they’re not.   Here are some things you should know about your client’s expectations before you meet with them: Understand your customer .   Research your customer’s agency before meeting with them.   Look at their website, sign up for their emails, or maybe even use the ‘sec...

Reports just surfaced that Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev has been buried in Doswell, Virginia, after numerous cemeteries declined to offer his body a final resting place. Martha Mullen, a seminary graduate who works in mental health, heard over the radio that officials could not find a cemetery willing to accept Tsarnaev's body.  She was moved by the story, recalling Jesus' command to Christians: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" - Matthew 5:44 Mullen contacted officials in Richmond and Massachusetts and quickly made arrangements to have Tsarnaev buried in nearby Doswell, where she facilitated the funeral.  After reading this news on the Washington Post , I have to admit that I was stunned for a few reasons: Doswell is close to home, about 2 hours away Why should my home state intern the body of a man who committed such horrors? How ...

You've heard it before.   Communication is the lifeblood of any relationship.   In fact, it's so integral that you really can't have a relationship without it.  I would venture to say that when the communication stops, the relationship stops. Earlier this week a friend invited me and my husband to join her small group that meets on Thursday nights.  She was so excited about the new book they just started studying in the group.  When I asked her what the book was, she eagerly grabbed the copy of " Improving Communication in Your Marriage " (Rosberg) from her kitchen counter and handed it to me. "You're gonna love this!" she said.  "It's a constant battle to prioritize communication in marriage.  This is stuff we all need to hear over and over again." I felt relieved to know I wasn't the only one in need of improvement in this area.  My friend - who has been married for 21 years - new the importance of good communicat...