Good Morning,

This is one of those old adages most of us have, probably, heard from birth. Yes, it is an old one. Giovanni Triano coined the term way back in 1666.

On the surface it may sound like, if we treat people nicely, we will get more of the material things we want in a self-centered way. I see it as so much more than that: Life will be so much better, so much happier and so much more meaningful if we use honey rather than vinegar dealing with others.

Yes, for those in the service business like restaurants, the tips may be bigger. Yes, treating others decently may make closing a deal in our favor easier to obtain. Yes, we may be able to get our own way more often than not. It is also about relationships, friendships, and all of those things that make us happy in the long term. 

It is about working together for the good of all who we come across as we live our lives and not just those we agree with. It is about treating, even those who may have wronged us in the past decently and fairly. No, it does not, necessarily, mean trusting them. That is a different message for a different day.

We all want happiness in our lives. Let’s start by making someone else happy. Let’s use a lot more of the sweet honey than we do the  bitter vinegar when dealing with others.

Enjoy the week ahead.

Jim