If you don’t have a spouse or anyone special in your life, how do you manage all the gooey feelings that are associated with February 14?

• Know that you are not alone; there are millions of other people who are not in a relationship.
• Honor and love yourself. If you don’t love yourself, how can you expect someone else to love you? Treat yourself to a nice dinner, or a special gift you want.
• If you are depressed, don’t make yourself feel worse by focusing on all the romantic movies and love songs that are around at this time of year. Find something unromantic to do that you enjoy.
• Remember that those people you see out having a romantic evening may only get that treatment because it’s a holiday. You don’t know what the rest of their life is like.
• Find a friend or other person who may be alone and engage in a fun activity. Brightening someone else’s day can help lift your spirits.
• You can celebrate the holiday by letting your loved ones and friends know how much you care about them.

In this month when so many of us make resolutions, the Drivers Wellness team felt Ellen’s article would be a good word of encouragement for all of us, truckers and non-truckers alike. As we look at news reports of violence and aggression during the Black Friday Sales, and the stresses of the holidays, we should all try to practice what the author advises during the new year of 2012. Being nice not only makes the other person feel good, it makes you feel good, too!

Ellen Voie is President & CEO of Women In Trucking and a member of TFC’s Board of Directors. Her article is reprinted with permission from Women In Trucking.

As we enter the holiday season we are reminded of the importance of family, friends and colleagues. With a very challenging year behind us, maybe it's time to make a greater effort to "just be nice."

A famous (anonymous) quote reminds us, "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice." What would it take to treat everyone you meet with a little extra compassion this month; to wake up on the right side of the bed and greet every day with a smile?

As a professional driver, you meet people every day who are complete strangers to you. At the truck stop, the scale, when you deliver to a customer, even in your own terminal if it's a larger company. When you're out on the road, you might not have the benefit of working with the same folks each day, so you have to define your relationship each time you meet someone new.

If you approach the fuel desk associate with a scowl on your face because you just had a disagreement with your dispatcher, expect the encounter to be unpleasant. No one wants to deal with a person who's obviously in a foul mood. You're not making the other person feel very important and you'll probably receive the same indifference in return. This sets the tone for negative interactions the remainder of your day.

What if we all decided to "just be nice", to treat others with decency and respect and throw in a smile once in a while? It's called "relationship marketing" and it will help you develop a stronger bond with those you meet in the course of doing your job.

If you don't expect any benefit other than showing the other person courteousness, you'll be further ahead. Don't assume that your pleasant attitude should result in better treatment or special favors. That's not the reason to be nice.

When you encounter a surly person, don't take it personally, and don't return the gloom. As Plato reminds us, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." The waitress at the truck stop might have a sick child at home. Your dispatcher could be having a rough day as well, so don't assume it's your fault they're short with you. Give each of them the benefit of the doubt and "just be nice".

There are many benefits to being nice, but according to Jeff Nichols, who calls himself "just a regular guy" in his blog, "My Super-Charged Life," being nice to others can be good for you! Pleasant people are a pleasure to be around, so you'll be more popular if you are nice.

Being nice also helps you feel better about yourself, which leads to increased self-confidence. It also helps reduce stress and guilt, and encourages you to feel more thankful, regardless of your own situation. Being nice and focusing on others can even distract you from your own troubles.

Nichols claims that people who are nice help foster a greater sense of community and family. Who knows, being nice and helping others might even help you find talents or abilities you didn't know you had. When you make the world a better place, you add meaning and significance to your life. After all, we all like to feel we've made a positive difference to others.

One other benefit to being nice is that people are more inclined to help you when you're facing your own challenges. By helping them overcome their trials, they will be more inclined to help you succeed as well. It's human nature.

Think about ways you can change the environment around you by just being a little nicer. Try it and see if it helps you become a better person as well. Just be nice, or there may be consequences. 

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For more help, see your doctor or therapist.  Check out our Resources Partners when you click this link or click here to contact us. You can also call our toll-free Trucker Prayer Line at 1-877-797-PRAY (7729). We’re here for you.

Want to help? You can help us get the word out about www.driverswellness.com by forwarding a link of this blog to your trucker friends and family.                                                                                                

Send an e-mail to DWBlog@driverswellness.com to subscribe to this blog for free. These messages are brought to you by Drivers Wellness, an initiative of Transport For Christ. If you would like to give a donation to help us reach drivers, click here.

Disclaimer
The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or care. Further, it is not intended to be a substitute for physician’s advice. Always see the advice of a licensed physician concerning any question you have regarding any content obtained from this blog and any medical condition you believe may be relevant to you or someone else. Always consult with your physician or other qualified health care provider before embarking on a new treatment, diet, or fitness program.

Are you looking forward to the holidays or dreading another family dinner filled with stress? If it’s the second, you are not alone. Many people dread the holidays due to the stress of interacting with family and all the accompanying drama, hurt feelings, and anger that can result when families get together.

Having people with different personalities and backgrounds in the same room is often frustrating. People tend to hold on to grudges and resentments for years, a situation in which not everyone is going to have a wonderful holiday. However, you don’t have to succumb to the stress and conflicts around you. Here are a few tips to help make this holiday more enjoyable:
• Prior to the event, make a mental list of who is going to be present. Then determine what topics may be off limits or how you will respond to other people. Being prepared helps defuse tense situations. Try to have a sense of humor and remember what you love about each person.
• Remember there will always be leftovers! Don’t treat the meal as an all-you-can-eat buffet that you must consume in one sitting.
• Greet everyone with a hug and a “nice to see you.” Start the day on a good note and keep your comments positive and in the moment.
• Everyone’s favorite subject is themselves, so take time to ask them questions about their favorite subject. Put the focus on the other individual and you will come across as a wonderful person.
• Spend time with the children. Ask about their hobbies and interests and spend some time playing with them.
• Rick Warren said, “You can only win friends to Christ. You can’t reach your enemies.” Make friends with your family; you might just find out that you really like them.
• Focus on the value of the other people around you. You may not approve of their lifestyle and decisions, but you can always value them personally.
• If seeing family causes you too much stress, you can always say no. Spend time with your spouse and kids or with good friends.

And always remember: if the stress of the holidays is too much to bear, log on to www.DriversWellness.com and click on the link to Lighthouse Network. Trained counselors are available to help you manage the stress.

Click here to comment.

For more help, see your doctor or check out our Resources Partners when you click this link or contact us. You can also call our toll-free Trucker Prayer Line at 1-877-797-PRAY (7729). We’re here for you.

Want to help? You can help us get the word out about www.driverswellness.com by forwarding a link of this blog to your trucker friends and family.                                                                                                 

Send an e-mail to DWBlog@driverswellness.com to subscribe to this blog for free. These messages are brought to you by Drivers Wellness, an initiative of Transport For Christ. If you would like to give a donation to help us reach drivers, click here.

The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or care. Further, it is not intended to be a substitute for physician’s advice. Always see the advice of a licensed physician concerning any question you have regarding any content obtained from this blog and any medical condition you believe may be relevant to you or someone else. Always consult with your physician or other qualified health care provider before embarking on a new treatment, diet, or fitness program.

Driver, are you going to be home today or on the road? No matter where you’ll be, you still have the opportunity to express your love to your spouse and family. How about giving each family member a small gift to let them know you are thinking of them? When my kids were still living at home I gave each child a box of candy. They truly enjoyed them so much. Sometimes, we get so busy with the task at hand that we forget to let our loved ones know how much they mean to us. Make a special effort to contact them today and tell them that you care. Let’s make it a special day for your loved ones. You’ll be glad you did. Comment here.