Happy New Year 2011!!!

The easiest New Year's resolution to keep is to give yourself permission to
hold yourself to a higher standard.  It is easy when you know how and
why.   Start with NO YELLING ....especially at children,  spouses, family,
friends and strangers. Try it...you will like it.....your family will love it.

Yelling is a sign to everyone you are out of control and they should
not pay attention to you....they win.  It is not pleasant for anyone.

Do yourself a favor and read our book
"A Year of Good Manners" by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk  $27.95

Good manners make you feel relaxed and confident.  If you feel like
there something you need to know but don't know what it is, you will
find it in our book.

Securely purchase your copy online at www.janpolk.com

Treat yourself to a Happy New Year 2011!

"It Don't Cost Nuthin' To Be Nice." Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant

Following is a recent internet email floating around.  Who knows if all the facts are accurate; however, we do know that our common bond is everyone wants to be treated with respect.  We do know that the

power lies within each of us to give ourselves permission as to how we will behave in this life...

good or bad.  We do know that each of us has a civic duty to behave as honorable, civilized, law

abiding citizens respectful of self and each other.  All the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America are based
upon the majority of our citizens respecting
 these core values.  The government cannot be everywhere, but We The People are everywhere and the government works

for us.

If anyone knows more about this story, please let us know.

"At a Touchdown Club meeting many years ago, Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant told the following story:

I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player, and I was having trouble finding the place.

Getting hungry, I spied an old cinderblock building with a small sign out front that simply said "Restaurant." I pull up, go in, and every head in the place turns to stare at me. Seems I'm the only white fella in the place. But the food smelled good, so I skip a table and go up to a cement bar and sit. A big ole man in a tee shirt and cap comes over and says, "What do you need?"

I told him I needed lunch and what did they have today?

He says, "You probably won't like it here. Today we're having chitlins, collard greens and black-eyed peas with cornbread. I'll bet you don't even know what chitlins are, do you?"(small intestines of hogs prepared as food in the deep South)

I looked him square in the eye and said, "I'm from Arkansas , and I've probably eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right place."

They all smiled as he left to serve me up a big plate. When he comes back he says, "You ain't from around here then?"

I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the University and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was, and he says, "Yeah I've heard of him, he's supposed to be pretty good." And he gives me directions to the school so I can meet him and his coach.

As I'm paying up to leave, I remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy, but a good one, and he told me lunch was on him, but I told him for a lunch that good, I felt I should pay. The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to show I'd been there. I was so new that I didn't have any yet. It really wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked for, but I took a napkin and wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one.

I met the kid I was looking for later that afternoon and I don't remember his name, but do remember I didn't think much of him when I met him.

I had wasted a day, or so I thought. When I got back to Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I wouldn't forget it. Back then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me.  The next day we found a picture and I wrote on it, "Thanks for the best lunch I've ever had."

Now let's go a whole buncha years down the road. Now we have black players at Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an offensive lineman we sure needed.  Y'all remember, (and I forget the name, but it's not important to the story), well anyway, he's got two friends going to Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn too, so I leave empty handed and go on to see some others while I'm down there.

Two days later, I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's this kid who just turned me down, and he says, "Coach, do you still want me at Alabama ?"

And I said, "Yes I sure do." And he says OK, he'll come.

And I say, "Well son, what changed your mind?"

And he said, "When my grandpa found out that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama, and wasn't playing for nobody but you. He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met."

Well, I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his granddaddy was and he said, "You probably don't remember him, but you ate in his restaurant your first year at Alabama and you sent him a picture that he's had hung in that place ever since. That picture's his pride and joy and he still tells everybody about the day that Bear Bryant came in and had chitlins with him..."

"My grandpa said that when you left there, he never expected you to remember him or to send him that picture, but you kept your word to him and to Grandpa, that's everything. He said you could teach me more than football and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I'm going to."

I was floored. But I learned that the lessons my mama taught me were always right. It don't cost nuthin' to be nice. It don't cost nuthin' to do the right thing most of the time, and it costs a lot to lose your good name by breaking your word to someone. 

When I went back to sign that boy, I looked up his Grandpa and he's still running that place, but it looks a lot better now. And he didn't have chitlins that day, but he had some ribs that would make Dreamland proud.  I made sure I posed for a lot of pictures; and don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him, too, along with a signed football.

I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these lessons in mind when they're out on the road. If you remember anything else from me, remember this. It really doesn't cost anything to be nice, and the rewards can be unimaginable.

Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant          

*******************************************

Editor's Note: Coach Bryant was in the presence of those few gentlemen for only minutes, and he defined himself for life. Regardless of our profession, we do define ourselves by how we treat others, and how we behave in the presence of others, and most of the time, we have only minutes or seconds to leave a lasting impression. We can be rude, crude, arrogant, cantankerous, or we can be nice.

Nice is always a better choice.

********************************************

"I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again."

********************************************end

It is easy to hold yourself to a higher standard when you know how.    You will enjoy reading our

book "A Year of Good Manners" by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk.   $27.95

This birthday book features 365 common, every day courtesies written by Margery Sinclair and the reasons to use each one.  Jan Polk's GAFC "respect series" floral images are reminders to treat yourself

and others with respect.  Good manners make you feel confident and relaxed.  You will develop

common sense and a backbone by reading this information.

The book can be purchased on line at http://www.janpolk.com/

We invite you to read 15 weeks of free etiquette tips and see how they can help you change your
life.  Scroll to the bottom of the page when you get there.  http://www.ayearofgoodmanners.com/
You will want to read all 365 tips in our book.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

These greetings are sent with heartfelt good wishes for all.

We wish you the happiest and merriest of holidays to you and yours.
In these economic hard times, money is not the only way to happiness.
We all want to be treated with respect.  The greatest gift you can
give to your family is a peaceful, safe, loving home where all members feel
appreciated and respected.  It has nothing to do with money.

If you are an honorable, civilized, law abiding citizen who is willing
to work hard and accept personal responsibility for your own actions,
you are what makes our country strong and united.  Together we will
get through the hard times.

Through the goodness of those who have more, there are safety nets
all around so that one may have a roof over your head and food to
eat and medical attention if you need it.   It is a two way street. 
Those who receive should give back something in return.  This
is what makes our country united.  We all work together.  Beware
of those who want to pit one group against another and divide our
country.  

One way to give back to your country is to be an honorable, civilized,
law abiding citizen.    Base your self-esteem on being a  healthy,
clean, honorable, law abiding  person and not on how much money
you have or do not have.

In these stressful times, if you cannot control your temper, remember
this:  You have given yourself permission to behave the way you
do, good or bad.......you can give yourself permission to control your
temper and not yell.  Practice. You do have control....use it.  Being
honorable and trustworthy is also a gift to your family, friends and
community.   It is the best present you can give to yourself, your family
and your friends.

Practice your A. B. C's.....Always be charming.  It has nothing to do
with money.

Good Manners are Powerful!  They make you feel relaxed and confident.
Margery Sinclair says "Good  Manners are Good Business"

In these economic hard times, who would you hire?  Someone who
respects themself and fellow citizens or someone who doesn't even
know how to get along with employees, customers or family members?


Read 365 common, everyday courtesies  and the reasons to use them
in our book "A Year of Good Manners" by Margery Sinclair and
Jan Polk.  $27.95.  It is easy to hold yourself to a higher standard when you know how.

Order on line at:   http://www.janpolk.com/
Read 15 weeks of free tips at:   http://www.ayearofgoodmanners.com/  (Scroll to the bottom of the page when you get there.)
Margery Sinclair's website:   http://www.margerysinclair.com/

Good manners are the great equalizer.  They apply to everyone, are free, and available to all.  They are
the opposite of being elitist, arbitrary, and artificial.  When society refuses to obey the practical rules of
etiquette that govern behavior, rudeness and thoughtlessness will prevail.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

I have been busy baking pumpkin pies....my favorite.  I have the best pie crust recipe
my friend Patricia Schuring gave to me. Thank you, Patricia.

A tip from our book "A Year of Good Manners" by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk:

Personal religious beliefs and partisan politics should be barred from the dining table.
Don't argue with people who start a discussion about religion or politics.

Welcome to my new blog.

Hi.  I just wrote a long, wonderful introduction and then lost it.  I bet a lot of you can relate to that.
Its late so I will rewrite more soon.  I encourage you to visit my website
www.janpolk.com and keep in touch. 

Happy Thanksgiving. 

Jan