LUE-42 Enterprises September 2023 Ezine

I Believe In Fairness, Fun, And Sharing What I’ve Learned

With The People Who Make This Planet A Great Place To Live

Issue 151, September 2023

Seriously, I am not ready to go back to all the things that September brings us. The 3.5 vacation days I've had this summer (not in-a-row) is not enough.

Thank you for your messages of condolence about my brother Joe's passing. They are appreciated.

In my hectic summer I tried to take care of myself physically, mentally, and spiritually. I hit many obstacles (even had some epic fails), but I suppose I am better off than if I hadn't tried at all.

Positive mental health things I did were mostly seeing friends in person or on Zoom (yes, I still do that). Sharing a meal is my favourite way to connect, followed by sharing a beverage, and finally a little square on my computer screen if it's the only option available. I am so grateful for my people!

I went to the 2023 Cat Video Festival and two Fringe plays, all of which did my heart good. Increasingly, what is not doing my heart good is all the vitriole on social media (namely Meta/Facebook and X/Twitter). I think my days there are numbered. I have also had issues with my vehicle, so its days may also be numbered!

I put on a few miles in August (clearly not in my vehicle) and continued to see crummy behaviour in some board members. It has me thinking of new ways to approach the problem (assuming we WILL approach at all). Specifically, the right/wrong paradigm may not be serving us (sorry, regulators!). I expect to offer more on this idea soon.

In my travels I got to see some new breweries and also spent three days judging beer for the Alberta Beer Awards. I was always under the tutelage of higher ranked judges, who were generous with their expertise and patience. I learned a ton, including that this path I've been on for so long is still a good fit for me.

I read "Barrell-Aged Stout and Selling Out: Goose Island, Anheuser-Busch, and How Craft Beer Became Big Business" by Josh Noel. Whether or not you care about beer, if you care about buying locally and supporting small business, this book is a great read.

And hey, my football team won! And then they won again! At home! The evil streaks are over. It's Labour Day weekend and time to get on with serious football!

I wish you all a great long weekend and that the things you return to in September are gentle, loving, and fun.

/lmwe

I didn't find a board issue I wanted to talk about this month...

So we'll trust that's how it was meant to be. Hope your brain enjoys the break!

/lmwe

Email Boundaries

A colleague and I were discussing a response from an Executive Director who indicated they would respond to emails only at 11am and 4pm. Our topic: Is this good boundary setting or professional arrogance (and what about all the points in between)?

I am inclined to say Hooray for Boundaries! but could we have the boundary without telling everyone? Why can't we just set the boundary and "do it?" There are 100 good reasons for boundaries and maybe 1-2 for answering an email when you get it (I'm being generous with that estimate, but allow for extenuating circumstances).

A wise professional once told me that if you only want to work 4 days a week, there is no need to tell your clients that: just book your meetings when you ARE available. (It's normal to not be available every time you're asked to attend a meeting).

I'm also hearing more about weekly "no meeting zones" in the calendar. That's not the worst idea I've heard!

If you want to answer emails twice a day, do it. Don't tell me about it. We will (almost always) survive. Let's all set some boundaries and normalize them. Deal?

Gunnen (Dutch)

To find happiness in someone

else's happiness because that's

how much you love them.

7 Lists To Make Life Easier

Who doesn't want an easier life? Let's make some lists and see how it goes.

Life goals. Get clear on your aspirations. What motivates you?
Weekly wellness planner. Consider what should be done for your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Decluttering list. Start with "where" then break into smaller steps.
Grocery list. Saves you money and time.
Relationship list. Build and nourish relationships in all areas of life.
Financial list. Create (and follow!) a budget.
Bucket list. Make the most of every moment!

Here is the article.

Some People Who Made Life Better in August

Nancy Barden, Glynnie Cara, David Cheoros, Graham Faulder, Jason Foster, Liz Garratt, Carrie Habinski, Jackie Harmacy, Kimberley Hunter Lee, Owen Kirkaldy, Lynn MacAskill, Karen MacKenzie, Sherrill McGilvray, Patty O'Neil, Lisa Pratt, Paul Rechner, Louise Reinich, Carole Ross, Lori Schmidt, Jacky/Ken Smith, Mike Smith-Knutsen, Sheila Steger, Wanda Stephens, Ralph Suppa, Michelle Swanson, Theresa Tsoukalas, Gord West, Lil West

"Thank you for taking the

time in your day to make a difference in mine."

-- Me +

Some Links

I Like

Reinventing How We Work (Insight from Yale) *seriously, read this

Tips for Avoiding Leadership Blind Spots (8 of them)

Take Naps (Naps=Bigger Brain)

Retired Man Takes Naps With Shelter Cats (Awesome TikTok segment)

From Tennis Courts to Governance (Evolution of DEI)

AI and Governance (How some companies are using AI)

Why Investors Vote Against Corporate Directors (Harvard Law)

4 Somatic Exercises (For trauma recovery)

"If you limit your choices only to

what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise. The way to activate

the seeds of your creation is by making choices about the results

you want to create. "

-- Robert Fritz

Some Quotes I Like

"All these tales of people sitting down and composing symphonies just as

though they were writing a letter are very much exaggerated; at least, it isn't

that way in my work." -- George Gershwin

"We don’t know how to really be in a world where we don’t have the answers

and we disagree about even how we see the issues. And these are the kind

of questions that are coming up about what it means to work together."

-- Heidi Brooks (in Yale article above)

"What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?"

-- John Green

"Whatever it may bring / I will live by my own policies / I will sleep with a clear conscience / I will sleep in peace" -- Sinead O'Connor

"Through song and art, I can communicate what I believe is the essence of life

-- truth and beauty." -- Tony Bennett

"In the final analysis, it's all improvisation. We're all tap dancing on a rubber raft."

-- Alan Arkin

Five Beers I Enjoyed in August

1. Farmstead Ale, GoodLot Farmstead Brewing (Alton ON) 6.2% ABV

2. Fingers Crossed IPA, Ol' Beautiful Brewing (Calgary AB) 6% ABV

3. Lime Blonde Ale, Hard Knox Brewing (Black Diamond AB) 5% ABV

4. Osmotar Sahti Farmhouse Ale, Stonyslope Brewing (Calgary AB) 7% ABV

5. Meet Me in the City New Zealand Pilsner, Establishment Brewing (Calgary AB) 5% ABV

Some Things I Like

(Bat Eating a Banana, All Things Yukon, New (very old) Dan Kepley Autograph)

“Elections are always a Rorschach test -- people look

at the results and see what they want to see."

-- Anne Applebaum

Linda & LUE-42 Enterprises

(With fond acknowledgement to Douglas Adams &

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)

Linda Wood Edwards

P.O. Box 11021, Station Main

Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3K3

780.918.4200