Month: May 2012

The School Comfort Letter

| Suzi Beerman

Dear Alec,

The school asked us to write a note that could help you if there are troubles, like a natural disaster or other emergency that might keep us apart for a little bit. We’ve written notes every year you’ve been in elementary school, and you’ve never needed them. Hopefully, you won’t ever need this note either but if you do, we want you to know that there are things that can never change, no matter how hard life might get.

We love you. You made us a family. Your smile and creativity and love make us a proud, happy family. Even when we correct you, even if we are upset about something you did, we will always love you and will always be your family. You are our joy.

You are an intelligent, strong, caring kid. We’ve seen you help others when they need you. We’ve seen you figure out things that were tricky or hard when other people couldn’t – building things like your golf course or your sprinkler system, for example. We’ve seen you run hard and think fast in sports, and we’ve seen you be strong even when you had tears in your eyes. Take care of yourself today. Help the little kids. Think about how to stay safe. Work hard when someone needs your help.

Life is hard sometimes, but you can handle it.  I know you want to yell, “it’s not fair!” or “why did this have to happen?”. It’s OK to be frustrated or worried. Don’t let that be everything you are today. Choose to be your best self today. Stay calm, follow instructions, remember that this will be over soon. Think about all you love in life and how wonderful it will be to get back to all of that. What will you be happy to do and see after this?

You are not alone. Even if Mom and Dad are not right there with you, we are in your heart. We are thinking about you and planning to be together soon no matter what. Take comfort in the people who are with you right now. Find someone you trust, and ask if you can give them a hug. Hold their hand. Talk about how awesome it is that you have each other right now, and how you will remember this forever. Talk about things you enjoy. Help one another.

This will be over soon, and we will be together. Our love is yours always. Dad and I are waiting for your hugs. 🙂

Love, Mom and Dad

The Muse Inside — And All Around Us

| Suzi Beerman

I believe that we each have something that makes us want to be better people, be  better at something, feel better inside. Whether it is a single thing or many things, the overall concept of inspiration can be called our muse.

I love the feeling of tapping into my muse, my inspiration. The connection can come out of the blue, which feels like a real gift because it is a surprise. (Although I could argue that it shouldn’t be such a surprise because it’s likely I put the thought/prayer out there at some point.)

The connection can come after studiously seeking it out at a conference, by reading a book or watching a film, or by putting myself near someone or something that jazzes me from my scalp to my heels. Do you know that feeling? It’s like every bit of me is working at capacity, humming with energy. Although it is mostly a very happy vibration, it can also be an intensity born of frustration. Energy dedicated to flipping frustration to hope to accomplishment.

How do you connect with your muse?  Do you seek solitiude, or do you seek connection?

Is your muse a person? I recall many biographies that called out an individual as someone’s muse. Artists and writers seem to require human, individual muses. What a lot of pressure that would be, to be someone’s muse. Certainly it would be flattering, but I am not sure I’d want that job. Talk about codependence!

How do you know that you are “on fire” with a project or an idea? Can you feel it? Is it in your gut? Do you sit up straighter? Squint your eyes? Tuck your tongue between your teeh in concentration? Do you breathe a little deeper? Is your heartbeat faster?

I believe my muse is in nature and people more than anything else. I am awed and humbled by the intricate beauty and luscious smell of tropical flowers, the layered colors and textures of rocks, water beading on a brilliant green leaf, technicolor sunsets, and the complexity and variety of bark and skin. I am awed and humbled by the brilliant thoughts in people’s heads, their ability to remember things I don’t, their sparkling eyes when they have a great idea or a moment of joy, their willingness to try something that might make them look silly, their silent acceptance, their ability to freely share great ideas.

My muse is alive all around me. I only need to take a moment to look, to feel, to trust.

What a Bunch of @ > \ Characters!

| Suzi Beerman

Special characters have become a popular tool in communication shorthand.  When we instant message or e-mail on a mobile device, special characters come to the rescue of our overworked thumbs.  People far more creative than I combine special characters to make silly –  sometimes baffling  – new  emoticons to pepper our communications.

And don’t forget the use of character strings to barely hide a profanity in text.  Did you think I was doing that in the heading, above?  No! No!  I would never!

While these applications of special characters can be useful, adorable, fast, and funny they aren’t appropriate for more formal communication.  E-mail, posters, intranet sites, and newsletters all qualify as formal communication in the business context.

Even without the creative spin on special characters, some simply shouldn’t show up in our business communications.  I’m thinking mostly about the ampersand.  That this character: &. It mean and.  FYI – you  can use Replace All in Word to correct that in any documents you’ve created.

Your local style guide can tell you more about special characters. For example, the Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications lists them in the section called Common Style Problems > Names of Special Characters.  While you’re there, perhaps you’ll find a common style problem you’ve been having.  Anything that makes your readers shake their heads and grumble, “@ & { } > \” definitely qualifies.  ;  )