The Mirror Man

Lady Twilight felt angry. It was one of those days when she was doing her best to be nice to everyone but nobody was being nice to her.

What if people could be friendlier she thought to herself as she wandered through the open air market. It was a warm, sunny day so there was no use blaming the weather. In that case it must mean that people just do not like me, she decided.

The chatter of voices was all around while she sat at a table by the side of the shopping crowd. She sipped a glass of green juice and felt very alone despite all the shoppers rushing about the street. Just then she spotted a young man and the newspaper headline on his paper... Lead And They Will Follow.

Twilight finished her drink and wandered along the street, feeling heavy, tired and still a little angry with this world full of unfriendly people. She turned to the left and walked right past the mirror man, he was there every week selling mirrors of all shapes and sizes. He was singing away to himself until he spotted Twilight, then the sparkle left his eyes and his face froze into a stern harsh expression.

She glared at him and out of the corner of her eye she caught her reflection in a mirror. She looked so angry and so bad tempered that she even surprised herself. So shocked was she by her look of rage that she burst out laughing.

The mirror man started laughing too and the two of them laughed until it hurt. With a sore belly, Twilight bade farewell to her friend and skipped along through the market with an inner happiness and a smile for everyone she met.

Something weird happened though. At this end of the market everyone wanted to talk to her, and most people seemed pleased to see her. People went out of their way to help her and it was a pleasure dealing with these nice people up this end of the street.

She walked past a news stand and there was that headline again... Lead And They Will Follow. Something clicked - so that is how it works. Smile and people will smile back, give first and then you will receive. The world is like a mirror and people reflect back to you what you give out.

Although not everyone will be nice back the odds certainly are in your favor if you take the risk and give first. Lead and let others follow your example.

People want to be liked, let them know that you like them and they will feel safer with you and the quality of communication will improve dramatically.

Lady Twilight smiled and the world smiled back.

Peter Murphy
*Would you like a free weekly ezine full of practical tips for communicating at your best under pressure* All new subscribers receive a free e-book with powerful strategies for being at your best.

---

Google News Updated : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:08:57 GMT Store eases baby bottleneck - Chicago Tribune dBTechno Store eases baby bottleneck Chicago Tribune - 19 hours ago When Georgette Finnie e-mailed What's Your Problem? on Aug. 25, she was 9 months' pregnant with her first child. The expectant mom had done some research about the baby bottles she had received as gifts through her baby registry at Babies "R" Us. Hot Docs: Defending Georgia, Girls Married by 15, the Chemical BPA ... U.S. News & World Report That Plastic Baby Bottle New York Times Food Consumer - Washington Post - Times of India - eFluxMedia all 362 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:18:53 GMT Persistence pays off for Serena at US Open - FOXSports.com ESPN Persistence pays off for Serena at US Open FOXSports.com - 30 minutes ago by Matt Cronin, Special to FOXSports.com NEW YORK - About nine days after Serena Williams lost in the Wimbledon final to her elder sister, Venus, she was still killing herself, unable to shake her mind of the errors that came late in a contest that she ... Williams beats Jankovic for title, No. 1 ranking San Francisco Chronicle Winning US Open never gets old for Serena Williams Los Angeles Times Boston Globe - Sports Network - New York Times - ESPN all 2,499 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:21 GMT McCain Leads Obama 50% to 46%, New Poll Finds, USA Today Reports - Bloomberg McCain Leads Obama 50% to 46%, New Poll Finds, USA Today Reports Bloomberg - 30 minutes ago By James Kraus Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain leads Democratic contender Barack Obama by 50 percent to 46 percent among registered voters, according to a weekend USA Today/Gallup Poll, USA Today reported. Convention rejuvenates GOP USA Today US campaign sharpens as McCain takes poll lead AFP Reuters - The Associated Press - KVOA.com - Boston Herald all 767 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:07 GMT "Stand Up to Cancer" tops Friday ratings - Reuters ABC News "Stand Up to Cancer" tops Friday ratings Reuters - 31 minutes ago By Paul J. Gough NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - The industrywide "Stand Up to Cancer" telethon averaged a modest 10.3 million viewers during its hour-long simulcast on ABC, NBC and CBS Friday. In a star-heavy telethon, Hollywood takes a stand on cancer Boston Globe 'Stand Up to Cancer' Raises $100M Plus ABC News The Associated Press - Orlando Sentinel - Showbiz Spy all 164 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:37:28 GMT Hurricane Ike Crosses Northeast Cuba After Landfall (Update1) - Bloomberg RTE.ie Hurricane Ike Crosses Northeast Cuba After Landfall (Update1) Bloomberg - 1 hour ago By Aaron Sheldrick and Demian McLean Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Ike is crossing Cuba after smashing into the northeast of the country with winds of 205 kilometers (125 miles) per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Video: Raw Video: Ike's Harsh Impact on Turks and Caico AssociatedPress Hurricane Ike set to batter Cuba BBC News Los Angeles Times - Reuters - Reuters UK - CNN International all 4,240 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:56:09 GMT New Zealand compromises on India nuclear deal - Xinhua BBC News New Zealand compromises on India nuclear deal Xinhua - 32 minutes ago WELLINGTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government said on Monday that it got the best deal it could on nuclear trade with India. Indian shares rise more than 4 pct early Reuters Indian rupee rises as stocks rally seen Reuters India Inter Press Service - Monsters and Critics.com - Financial Times - Washington Post all 2,384 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:36:42 GMT Fla. Keys residents weigh evacuation ahead of Ike - The Associated Press China Daily Fla. Keys residents weigh evacuation ahead of Ike The Associated Press - 48 minutes ago KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - As a ferocious Hurricane Ike ripped across Cuba, residents from Key West to the Gulf Coast watched the storm's unpredictable path, worrying it could hit anywhere in the US from Texas to Florida. 'Hurricane fatigue' shows DetNews.com Louisiana still possibility for Ike Opelousas Daily World Biloxi Sun Herald - The News-Press - Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck - Carlsbad Current Argus all 1,660 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:20:42 GMT RSS For Web Pages Increase Search Engine Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

7 Ways to Drive a Man Wild

It's unbelievable the amount of bad advice there is out... Read More

Hot Date Tonight?

Re-entering the dating scene is rather scary, but as a... Read More

True Friends Are Not Dream-Slashers

A friendship poem:Choose friends wisely, the portrait they paintIs who... Read More

Can You Change a Man?

Recently, at a public function where I was the Toastmaster,... Read More

How to Take Control of Your Self Confidence

If you think success, happiness and love are going to... Read More

The Magnetic, Attracting Power of the Mind

The power of the mind draws certain events, circumstances and... Read More

My Assignment ... If You Didnt Create It, Then Its Not Yours!

Life consists of lessons. Living is continual learning. Therefore, if... Read More

Electrical Deficiencies

Our feelings are perceived by means of our sensors, our... Read More

Create Your Best Life

"You can create what you want in life; first you... Read More

Who Are You Really?

'Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never... Read More

Write Goals, Say Prayers, and See Your Successful Future

Would you like to have more success in your life?... Read More

I?ll Believe It When I See It

I was working with this guy who wanted to live... Read More

Communication Quiz: Are You a Great Communicator?

Communication, which occupies approximately 70% of our waking hours, is... Read More

Be The Chooser

"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience... Read More

Do You Have the Skills to be a Secret Service Agent?

Do you have the necessary attributes to be a successful... Read More

Closing the Feedback Loop

In earlier articles, I've often spoken about the supreme importance... Read More

Be Grateful for Gratitude

In Twelve Step meetings, it's traditional to groan when someone... Read More

Avoid a Life of Regrets With Your Yes List

How many times have you told yourself "yes!" today? Not... Read More

Part II--The Journey to a State Called Authentic

Are you on the road yet? If not, pony up... Read More

The Magic of Mike

The woman stood over the stove stirring a pot of... Read More

Success Is In Your Hands - For Things To Change, I Must Change First!

Do you know that many people feel they cannot achieve... Read More

What Do You Want This Year?

Christmas is all around us, and many people are making... Read More

You Can?t Seek for Change and Control at the Same Time

I saw a coaching client recently who wanted to get... Read More

Passion Play

I remember a football game from last season when the... Read More

Feng Shui with Style! Working with Your Element Type

When you begin to study feng shui, you quickly realize... Read More