The Practicon Viewpoint by Ann Page Griffin

CONTEMPLATE...

One of my hobbies is collecting quotations, poems, meditations, proverbs, and brief musings from the famous and not-so-famous, from family and friends, from clients, and from books, periodicals and journals. Over the years, I have enjoyed sharing such thoughts with dentists and their team members to be pondered during the few precious quiet moments they may have or to inspire the staff during meetings. I think we dental professionals need food for the spirit, psyche, and brain in order to stay upbeat and fresh as we experience the daily stresses and problems as well as the pleasures and successes of dentistry.

Suggestion: start each morning huddle, staff meeting, and planning retreat with bits of wisdom and humor such as these. Doing so sets the stage, assuring a positive ambiance for productive discussions about practice business while encouraging close interpersonal relationships among the dental team.

On Today...
Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

On Attitude...
Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?
Dennis Mannering

On Leadership...
I learned that being in charge means making decisions, no matter how unpleasant.
If it’s broke, fix it.
Officers always eat last.
Never be without a watch, a pencil, and a notepad.
Stuff happens! Do the job right, but don’t take yourself too seriously.
People want to share your confidence, however thin, not your turmoil, however real.
Find ways to touch everyone in a unit. Make individuals feel important and part of something larger than themselves.
If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception; it is a prevailing attitude.
Never step on enthusiasm.
If you get the dirty end of the stick, sharpen it and turn it into a useful tool.
When debating an issue, loyalty means giving your honest opinion. Disagreement can be stimulating. But once the decision is made, debate ends. From that point on, loyalty means executing the decision as if it were your own.
Colin Powell

A Morning Prayer...
Dear God,
So far, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped or lost my temper. I haven’t been grumpy, nasty or selfish, and I’m really glad of that! But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to be getting out of bed and from then on, I’m probably going to need a lot of help. Amen.
(Many of us who are honest with ourselves)

The Measure of a Person
Not—"How did he die?" But—"How did he live?"
Not—"What did she gain?" But—"What did she give?"
These are the things that measure the worth
Of a person as a person, regardless of birth.
Not—"What was his station?" But—"Had he a heart?"
And—"How did he play his God-given part?"
"Was she ever ready with a word of good cheer?"
"To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?"
Not—"What was his church?" Not—"What was his creed?"
But—"Had he befriended those really in need?"
Not—"What did the sketch in the newspaper say?"
But—"How many were sorry when she passed away?"
These are the things that measure the worth
Of a person as a person, regardless of birth.
Anonymous