If I had my life to live over . . .

Humorist Erma Bombeck once wrote a column titled “If I Had My Life to Live Over.” In it she offered such nuggets of wisdom as “I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded” and “I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.”

Let’s see, if I had my life to live over, I would’ve put a sticky note on that blasted car that keeps parking in my parking space at my apartment complex. I would’ve taken Journalism in high-school so that I could’ve seen that wasn’t the route to take in college. And I suppose I would’ve finished my first novel while I was still working at the bank.

If you had your life to live over, what would you do differently?

Water, spigots and germs. Oh my!

I'll have a water with a shot of germs, please.

About two months or so ago, I was sitting on my couch, watching some tube (yeah I watch a lot of TV) and I came across a show that was dispelling myths. The myth was: water from water coolers is cleaner than water from public water fountains. Of course I raised an eyebrow at that one followed by a “Duh, with out a doubt they’re cleaner”.

Two swabs of the spigots and a test on the water later, a scientist found rather incredible findings. Yep, apparently water from a public water fountain (you know those found at parks and such) is astoundingly cleaner than that of your friendly office water cooler around the corner. No kidding!

Water from a water cooler carries so many more germs for two reasons: firstly, some people who refill their water bottles tend to touch the rim of the bottle to the spigot which unleashes a heck of a lot of germs on to the spigot itself. And secondly, the spigot is pointing downwards, so when the water flows, it takes the germs with it. Yuck!

On the other hand, public water fountains had significantly less germs because the spigot is facing upwards. Germs aren’t carried in the water when it is being forced vertically and therefore, water is less tainted. Those who actually touch their mouths to the spigot, well that’s an entirely different story because the spigot itself is obviously covered in germs. Don’t recommend anyone doing that!

So it goes without saying that I look at our water coolers in a whole new light. Now, if I need to refill the old water bottle, I make sure to wipe down the spigot first!

Learning How to Say That Dirty Two-Letter Word

There will always be someone out there who’s going to ask you to do something you don’t have time to do. In an effort to please everyone, you may say yes. While this is honorable, it is also a recipe for increasing your stress and falling short of completing any obligation well. So all might be better served if you just say no. How can you do that? Start with this advice:

 

• Don’t say anything when you’re on the spot. Take some time to think it over.

 

• Be direct. Tell the truth about why you can’t do what’s asked of you. There’s no need to make up what might be deemed a better reason.

 

• Be polite, but firm. Don’t build false hope about what you can do. Don’t say, “I’ll try.” You’ll just worry about squeezing the request into your schedule or how you’re going to say in the end that you didn’t get it done.

 

• Suggest alternatives. Perhaps you know of someone who has the time or is better suited to fulfill the request. Or perhaps you yourself will have time in the future. If so, try saying, “Marni may be the better person to ask for that” or “I don’t have time to do that this week, but I can do it next Thursday if you can wait.” Be honest, though. This tactic shouldn’t be used merely to get the person off your back or to postpone an inevitable no.