Isn’t it time you took a day off to truly recharge your batteries and give yourself a healthy attitude adjustment?  Transform
yourself on the inside and out at the next Just You, Only Better Workshop for Women (Friday, September 16th at The Pyramid Club).  This day of “meaningful fun” includes a line-up of fabulous speakers (including the incredible Jen Groover, the Soul Sister Circle, Celebrity Chef Brian Duffy and more), Transformation Stations, shopping, and over $3,000 worth of prizes.

Continue the fun and networking with other women at Table 31 where you’ll receive a free cocktail and delicious appetizers.

Click HERE to see the agenda and learn more about this incredible day.  As a follower of my blog, you’ll receive 
a special VIP rate for the day.  Please enter LOYAL in the Promo Code box and the day is yours for only $99.  But the deadline for registration is tomorrow afternoon…so register today!

I am looking forward to meeting you on the 16th!

Warmest regards,

Molly

Cabbies get a bad rap. I must admit, I’ve had some pretty unpleasant auditory and olfactory experiences in a cab. But, for every bad experience I’ve had, I’ve had three good experiences. If you take the time to talk to the person behind the wheel, you’ll find that some of the most interesting people in the world are cab drivers.

Yesterday, I flagged down a cab while trying not to drop 1,000 flyers I had just picked up for my next Just You Only Better Workshop for Women. I apologized for taking such a short trip (most cabbies HATE that) and explained that I didn’t think I could carry my load for 8 blocks without paying for it later. He gently smiled at me and told me not to worry. He was happy to have me in his cab. Wow.

Most of the drivers in Philly are from all over the world. So I asked him how long he has lived here and where he was from. He smiled again and began to tell me a little bit about himself. His name was Moses. I repeated it back to him in case I misunderstood what he said and held back any “parting of the waters” jokes. Moses has traveled in 42 countries and speaks 7 different languages. I told him that my husband was Italian and he proceeded to speak to me in Italian—his accent was as perfect as his wise old smile.

After being in his cab for about 2 minutes, he asked me if I was a writer. I never think about myself as a “writer” but I answered that I write a little now and then. He said I reminded him of an old friend who was a philosopher in Sweden. I’ve been compared to different people over the years, but I promise you this was the first time I’ve ever been compared to a philosopher. I had to laugh out loud.

Moses said he learned so many life lessons from this woman that he still feels indebted to her—30 years later. One tidbit of wisdom that she told him was that you can learn everything you need to know about a man from 2 observations:

1. The way he shares his table.
2. The way he shares the road.

Moses told me to think about the simplicity of this. A true gentleman will wait for you until he starts his meal, will take his time savoring the food and wine instead of devouring it, and will happily share it with you.

A man’s actions behind the wheel, according to his friend, are also good indicators of his character. Does he only think about himself or does he respect others on the road? Does he zoom around other cars to jump ahead of others who have been patiently waiting to get off at their exit? We’ve all seen drivers who do this—sadly, they think they’re more important than everyone else.

Of course, these observations apply to women too. Whether you’re a man or a woman, it’s simply about showing respect for others.

So, how do you share your table? And what are you like behind the wheel?

Please share your thoughts on this and any experiences you’ve had with an interesting cab driver.

Happy Encounters,

Molly

We come into this world naked and screaming.  We slowly learn how to talk and walk.  As we grow up, we strive to be the best we can be—in school, in relationships and at work  We work hard so we can drive a good car, buy nice clothes and live in a big house that we fill up with stuff—like collectibles, artwork, and furniture.

But time flies by and before you know it, your children are all grown up, your grandchildren are getting older and something has happened.  As impossible as it may seem, you find yourself facing a limited time left on earth.  You can run but you can’t hide—death is inevitable.

Life is full of joy and tragedy. Even though dying is a natural part of life, it’s never easy when you love the person whose time has come. While there’s nothing more tragic than the death of a child, the sadness that accompanies watching the illness and eventual death of a parent is devastating.  I watched my dad lose his battle with cancer 10 years ago and some days the pain is still as fresh as an open wound.  And as we approach the middle of our lives, the pain continues.  I lost my “second” father John “Papa” Foley, followed by the tragic loss of my father-in-law, Frank.  Now my mother-in-law Josie is next in line to leave us.

When we moved Frank and Josie from the home they lived in for 60 years, we helped them go through their belongings to decide what to bring to their new one bedroom apartment.  Their important stuff, which included photos, musical instruments, books and some clothes, was neatly packed for the big move.  Frank’s death robbed what little joy Josie had left in her world.  Her decline towards death left her unable to do the things we worked so hard to learn as children—to walk or talk.  Sadly, we recently packed one small suitcase of her belongings and took her to Keystone Hospice House in Philadelphia.

A lifetime in one suitcase.  It made me cry.  When she leaves us, she’ll take nothing*.

So what does this mean to you?  Stop working so hard, sell your stuff and move to a beach in Costa Rica?  Or does it help you look at life a little differently?  With less emphasis on stuff and more emphasis on what really matters:  the people in your life.

If you had to pack one suitcase tonight, what would you pack?  Please share your stories of coping with these difficult life situations.

Stay Strong,

Molly

*Josie left us early in the morning on Father’s Day—what a wonderful gift for her husband, Frank.