From: Steve Lawler <practice@...>
Date: 2002-11-19T23:59:04+09:00
Subject: Writer and researcher requests your help.


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Dear Colleague,

I am writing to ask your help for a book I am writing about Life Practices.

I am looking for examples of those simple things that we all do that are
essential to expressing and maintaining our values as we face life's ups and
downs - our Life Practices. 

What I am seeking is a bit like folklore. Something with a story and an easy
to remember slogan or catchphrase.  I am asking you to contribute out of your =
own
personal experience not as an official representative of an organization.

This is the only e-mail you will receive from me unless you choose to =
participate in this project. 

So far I have gathered over 150 practices from people all over the world: =
These are
examples of contributions I have received so far that may help clarify what I =
am looking for:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------------

(1) " 'Water what you want to grow' is my motto. Whenever I see something =
being
done well I acknowledge it as soon as possible and in some tangible way. The
least that I do is to complement the person doing the thing well. What I try
to do more often is write a note to the person or give them a small gift."

(2) "My life changed when I went from seeing mistakes as awful to seeing them
=

as the first chapter of a textbook on a new subject. I even had this made
into a sign that hangs on the wall in my office. 'Mistakes are just chapter
one in a textbook on a new subject' Now I get bothered if I don't have some
sort of royal screw-up every few days. It's like I am not trying."

(3) "I learned from my grandfather to 'use the best materials you can =
afford.'
This has provided a model for my life's work. Even in my late 70's I am
still actively building things and more to the point of your book, I am
still building my life out of "the best materials I can afford."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------

These practices come from people from many places and with a wide
variety of backgrounds. I am grateful for that. I want to show the broadest =
possible 
view of Life Practices from around the globe.  And, at a time when there is =
so much 
mistrust in the world, I hope my book does some small part in reminding us =
that we even though we have differences, we still have much to learn from one =
another. 

The book will feature some of the material I gather with some commentary.

I will be grateful if you would send me a practice that you use as a =
foundation in your life.
Please include some brief biographical information as well. Also, if you =
would like to share in what I am learning, please let me know as well.

And please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Thank you for your consideration.

Steve Lawler       

swl@lawler.org

About me: 

Steve Lawler an ethics consultant and writer based in St Louis, Missouri USA. =

He regularly gives workshops on issues of ethics, values and culture. He has  =

been quoted in a number of related pieces in publications including the Wall =
Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor and Cape Talk Radio - Cape =
Town.  Lawler has worked with companies in the US and Europe - including =
Monsanto, Pulitzer Publishing, and the Danforth Foundation. He has been a =
lecturer at Washington University and at Webster University. He has written =
for numerous publications. 

  
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