ClaireMolineaux.com

January 29, 2014 Dear Rachel, Tonight you fell asleep on my shoulder. You're a strong, inquisitive, independent 2-year-old, and it's been too long since I felt the soft sighs of your restful breathing on my neck. I didn't want to disturb your slumber. I just wanted to treasure the moment and feel the warmth of my baby's trusting embrace. We had a fun-filled day, celebrating Aunt Hope's birthday at Walt Disney World. We ate dinner together at the Liberty Tea Tavern in the Magic Kingdom. You asked to go to the bathroom about 5 times during dinner, maybe because the bathrooms in this particular restaurant were upstairs, and it was quite entertaining to go up and down the stairs. As we descended the staircase after one such trip to the bathroom, you insisted on walking down the steps all by yourself. You said, "No, I'm big girl" as you pushed away my hand. I kept my hand close to yours so I could offer assistance if you needed it. Yo...

Last week I went to a local hair salon to get my usual trim.   The salon just opened in January and they’ve already seen huge success as they focus on top-notch customer relations.   I could go on and on about the personalized service I received – from the aromatherapy treatment to the hand massage – but that’s not the point. The point is, my stylist told me something incredibly insightful.   And we’re not talking small talk.   She had a life-sized moment of clarity to share with me.     She said: “One of the most damaging things you can do to a person is to do something for them that they are capable of doing themselves.”  Maybe that doesn’t sound groundbreaking at first glance.   But think about it.   The worst thing is doing something for someone that they can do for themselves .   Here’s why: It discredits individual achievement.   When you take away somebody’s project, you also take away their bragging rights...

We've all had those moments.  Those times when, despite your best efforts, you just fall flat on your face.  And then you dust off and pretend it never happened.  Why?  Because, for whatever reason, it seems taboo to admit it happened.   Failure is a touchy subject.  Nobody wants to admit failure.  More importantly, nobody wants to accept failure.  You have a drive within to achieve better results, and most bosses, family members, friends, and significant others affirm that drive by expecting better results from you.  They certainly don't want to accept failure, so neither should you.  Right? It's funny how society seems to have formed this image of pseudo-perfection in daily living.  We put on a good face for the company.  And the neighbors.  And the church.  And the social networks.  When it all adds up, you're left with a self-image that appears, to the general public, to be perfection.  Only ...