Monthly Archives: February 2021

As a record-breaking wave of arctic weather sweeps across the nation, the biggest energy producing state, Texas, is crippled. The states leaders are quick to point fingers at green energy alternatives like wind and solar, claiming such sources of power cannot be used in cold-temperature weather. Coal and oil are the answer, we are told.

These arguments against green energy, however, bely the fact that for nearly 50 years, Texas has resisted mandating the winterization of power grid infrastructure. In an interview with the ABC News affiliate in Austin, David Tuttle of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas stated: It would be millions to really bulletproof the system for that. How much do we want to pay to go protect ourselves with insurance policies for rare events?

For a state where oil and gas alone contribute an estimated $502.6 billion to the economy and generate annually upward of $16 billion in tax revenue, mere millions to pay for winterization of equipment seems like a penance.

ABC news in Austin also reports that winterizing equipment making sure it can sustain extended periods of below-freezing temperatures has never been a requirement in Texas like other states. While Texans are, in many cases, going without power for days on end, the ironically named Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) announced across the board rate hikes because energy supply was low due to plant offloads and power failures.

This is not only an economic issue; it is, like all economic issues, a justice issue.

While the oil industry is lining its pockets and state officials are ensuring strong revenues, people are freezing many struggling without power for oxygen tanks, CPAP machines and other medical devices. With lives on the line, finger pointing has ensued. The legislators blame the power companies, and the power companies blame the regulators.

It seems one thing that coal and oil companies and state legislators in Texas can currently agree on is throwing wind and solar energy under the bus. Even the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal has now stated that green energy is more of an existential threat to America than climate change. This is preposterous.

Texas has elected not to connect its own power grid to other states (the only state in the lower 48 to do so), and cannot import power. Since the 1970s, and especially in the eight years of the Obama era, Texas politicians have touted that Texas would become energy independent as a way to avoid federal regulations like the winterization of equipment. Conservative hubris and posturing led to this failure, not wind turbines.

People of faith should encourage their legislators to pass laws that protect the most vulnerable among us.

So what does any of this have to do with the church? Our Scriptural mandate to love our neighbor calls us to consider the needs of other people, especially the poor. As Sally McFague writes in Blessed Are the Consumers: Climate Change and the Practice of Restraint, as we do these things, a narrative emerges in which words like restraint, sharing, limits, boundaries are central, and words like limitless, expansion, growth, development, which have ruled our personal, political and market lives for centuries, move to the margins.

It seems apparent that spending mere millions on the winterization of equipment is a drop in the bucket compared to hundreds of billions in energy revenues. People of faith should encourage their legislators to pass laws that protect the most vulnerable among us.

One thing that makes this a challenge, however, is that many people of faith still deny that climate change is real. In the last few days, my Facebook feed has filled with people making jokes about global warming. What they fail to realize is that climate change leads to weather extremes in all seasons. Despite clear scientific evidence, many Christians appear to be in total denial of reality.

The issue is highly politicized, and to some, global warming and environmentalism seem like left wing political agendas. Change of any kind does not come without political will. Part of the hesitancy of many to embrace environmentally friendly practices stems from political leanings, but hesitancy also stems from a deep-seated distrust of the academy. If the same scientists who believe in evolution believe in global warming, the biblical literalist wants nothing to do with it.

Many people in our churches will have a difficult time considering theology in terms of environmentalism because of their politics or because of their suspicion of science.

A study in the American Sociological Review even found that the religious right and transnational corporations, each have vested interests in scientific outcomes, and both act as major players in the distrust some people have in science. Any plan for bringing environmental ethics into the local church needs to acknowledge these hurdles and find ways to depoliticize them. Pastors should be aware that trust in science has not declined since the 1970s except among conservatives and those who frequently attend church.

This piece of knowledge deserves careful consideration because many churches are full of political and theological conservatives, and all healthy churches have frequent attendees who are both even on Zoom. Many people in our churches will have a difficult time considering theology in terms of environmentalism because of their politics or because of their suspicion of science. That is the inconvenient truth of environmental ethics in the local church.

Legislators and regulators in Texas should carefully consider making winter weatherization of equipment mandatory for all energy companies (both green and fossil fuel). Not only is this a science-based approach that prepares Texas to deal with climate change, but it also is a way for us to love our neighbor through public policy.

Jonathan Davis is cofounder of the Healthy Churches Institute and founder of the Small-Town Churches Network, helping rural churches thrive in the midst of 21st century change. He provides coaching for individuals and organizations around leadership and vision issues and helps organizations dream about what it means to flourish in the new cultural paradigm.

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A lesson from Texas: Winterization of power stations and the Golden Rule - Baptist News Global

Nebraskans have been sickened and lost loved ones by COVID-19.

Workers designated as essential are at the highest risk for infection.

Employees preparing beef, poultrynand pork work in meatpacking plants with unsafe conditions.

Unmasked employees, some ill, work side by side in crowded areas. Sick leave is not allowed as they are essential to Nebraskas meat industry and these workers cant afford to quit.

I was raised with the golden rule. Treat other people the way you want to be treated.

Another way to follow it is when you see people being treated in a manner you would not want to be treated, then speak up, do something about it.

The Legislature has three bills proposed to ensure better conditions for essential workers.

LB241 (Meatpacking Employees COVID Protection Act) provides equipment and protocols for a safe work environment during COVID-19.

LB258 (Healthy and Safe Families and Workplace Act) allows workers to earn and use sick leave.

LB441 (Provision Changes to Nebraska Workers Compensation Act) covers expenses incurred due to COVID-19 for designated essential workers in healthcare, corrections, emergency services, education, childcare, meatpacking, trucking and postal services.

Please contact your state senator and the Nebraska Unicamerals Business & Labor Committee by Feb. 25 to let them know you support these bills.

Lets ensure Nebraska workers have the protections needed to provide healthy foods and essential services to us.

Its how we would want to be treated, if we had their jobs.

Lynn Zeleski

Hastings

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Voice of the People - Hastings Tribune

by Mark Jardine 19 Feb 21:10 PST 13-22 February 2021

It's a golden rule of Match Racing and much of your race can be defined by it. Win the start and you've a good chance of winning the race.

After the shenanigans, shouting and Covid-related delay of the previous week, the action returned to the water for Race 5 of the PRADA Cup Final. The British INEOS TEAM UK, without a win on the board, had limited margin for error, so the start was crucial, as it so often is.

Racing started on time in an 11 to 12 knot breeze, with clearly more wind on the right-hand side of the course. Entering the start area, the key was going to be time on distance to the start line to gain that essential advantage, and the Italian Luna Lossa Prada Pirelli team proved once again to be the masters, judging the lay line, maintaining a slow and high mode while foiling, absolutely dominating the British team and holding them to windward.

Both teams crossed the start line early as Britannia tried to squeeze in at the right-hand side of the start line. This penalty was scrubbed off since it was the same for both teams, but Ben had clearly barged in with the boats incredibly close to each other, incurring another penalty.

An immediate tack by Ben put Britannia onto the favoured right-hand side of the course, but trying to clear a penalty when on the advantageous side is difficult, leading to head umpire Richard Slater informing INEOS TEAM UK that they had another penalty. A clearly exasperated Ben asked him just what they had to do over the radio, but it was clear they'd gained an advantage on the Italians. The punishment fitted the crime.

Meanwhile Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni on Luna Rossa were using the time to position themselves perfectly to control Britannia once they'd cleared their penalty. In the chess-game element of sailing the Italians were two steps ahead - they literally had the race wrapped up before they'd even started.

Five in a row for Luna Rossa in the race to seven wins, the limited margin for error for INEOS TEAM UK was getting thinner by the second.

A calm Francesco Bruni said after the finish of race 5 that, all he had to concentrate on was the next race, whereas Ben Ainslie talked about struggling for straight-line performance. Sadly, this wasn't the issue we all saw - the British team were out-sailed.

Race 6, and this time INEOS TEAM UK simply had to win the start. After a nervy set of attempted hooks by Luna Rossa, the two teams crossed the line neck and neck, separated a few boat-lengths, with Britannia to leeward. Ben found a high mode to force the Italian team to tack away and they were off. For the first time in the PRADA Cup Final the British team held the lead in a race.

It never felt totally comfortable with a big comeback by Luna Rossa in Leg 5 reducing the lead from 32 seconds to 9 seconds at the final windward mark. This was a nervy 14 second win for Brits, but so needed. With this win INEOS TEAM UK have stayed in the game and just ever so slightly shifted the momentum.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston often uses the famous quote, "To finish first, first you need to finish". In Auckland in the PRADA Cup Final it's, "To finish first, you need to start first".

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You must win the start! - Sail World

If you read nothing else, read this...

I do like to give a plug to others' work in this note, where deserved of course, and today, I would like to draw your attention to an excellent and also short article by John Dizard in the Weekend Financial Times. The article is called "Do not rule out a market panic next month", and breaks the golden rule of forecasters by giving both a forecast and a date. In fact, it only just manages to claw back some ambiguity (which we all normally hide behind) by adding "Do not rule out..." which essentially means that anything can happen, but if it does do this, then "...I told you so!". Clever, but not smug.

Dizard notes that there is a scramble for short-dated T-bills in the US which has caused their yields to drop. Dizard perhaps overdoes the scale of the decline - we are talking a few basis points in reality, though this is admittedly a large percentage of the yield which is practically zero anyway. But the message is not diminished by this, and is essentially the following "If large financial institutions are taking precautions against a market crash, then perhaps we ought to do likewise..."There is also a good refresher on convexity trading, which always gives me a bit of a headache, like cross-currency basis, but is put in such a way that even Ican understand it.

So much for the plug, and I agree, the probability of some market sell-off is increasing with rising yields. But here's the thing, what we now seem to be witnessing, as much as a rise in inflation expectations, is a rise in real yields. To put this in primary school language, the risein "bad" yields is being offset by a rise in "good" yields. That leaves the net effect a bit ambiguous - at least until I do some number crunching and see what is winning this battle - more on that later in the week if Ihave time.

We also have to acknowledge that although we are all aware that headline inflation is picking up and that even the run rate of monthly inflation numbers has picked up a bit, no one really expects inflation to push up and stay at levels that will require central bank tightening anytime soon, especially not the Fed or the ECB. And that means no mirroring movements here in Asia byour central banks. Moreover, let's just try to remember a little further back than 12 months. In December 2019, just a few weeks before Covid changed all our lives, 10Y US Treasuries happily yielded about 1.9%. And no one thought this was unreasonably high. Indeed, the equity market back then was powering higher.

And much as the financial media tends to focus on the impact of higher yields on equities and other risk assets, large parts of the real economy will benefit from higher yields. Ever wonder why there isn't much feedthrough from low rates to bank lending in many of our economies in the region? Well with economic activity weak, banks will be setting aside capital for potential default charges, and frankly, the price of money which they borrow short-term isn't much of an incentive when the long-term rates are barely any higher. This is still a maturity transformation business, and a steeper yield curve and recovering economy will help banks to lend more.

Higher yields are also an indication of expectations of a stronger macroeconomy, where it makes sense to lend to profitable companies, and where it is possible to make a return from doing so. And don't get me started on the large portion of many populations that is currently panic-saving to offset the anticipated shortfall in income in retirement from woeful returns on fixed-income investments. Some of them might be able to spend a little more freely in a higher yield environment.

In short, while there is every chance that we will see some fairly choppy market action if, as we suspect is the case, bond yields rise much further (that will be convexity at work), let's not get overly worked up about this. The economies of the world are still in a veryearly cycle upturn. There is still plentiful economic slack in most economies, and central banks really will be very slow to start taking away their stimulus. So any pullback may be more of a correction in a market that is still trending higher, and not necessarily the end of the bull-run. Bleeding out some air from over-inflatedrisk assets may be no bad thing if it breathes some life into the real economy.

The Wall St vs Main St argument is playing out in front of us as the adjustment from emergency policies unfolds, and there will undoubtedly be some unwelcome jolts along the way, but it isn't all bad.

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Rising yields arent necessarily bad - ING Think

I was born in 1940. My childhood values and rules for conduct were instilled in me by my parents, relatives, teachers, and other adults around me. They were members of The Greatest Generation and, as such, knew the value of sacrifice and commitment to honorable behavior.

The three cardinal rules instilled in me from my earliest memories were tell the truth; dont be a bully; and you must not steal. Failure to abide by these rules brought immediate correction and, in some cases, suitable punishments. And always there was the Sunday School insistence upon living by The Golden Rule of In everything, do unto others what you will have them do unto you. (Matthew 7:12)

My progress through childhood and adolescence was measured by milestones that all involved HONOR. My Boy Scout oath began with on my honor. I was in the National Honor Society. Every Sunday I was exhorted to honor my parents. There were honor rolls, honor guards, holidays to honor patriots and important events in history. I served on Honor Councils and every school I attended, or where I taught, operated under highly respected honor codes that were emphasized in academics and in campus behavior. My marriage vows included one to honor my wife.

Honor was a tangible, universally understood concept. Death before dishonor. That sterling measuring stick has apparently vanished from popular use, from a place in our daily lives. Witness our U.S. senators as they sat in rude inattention at a trial they swore to honorably adjudicate!

Bullies were anathema to school officials and to parents alert to the insidious danger of allowing school yard tactics to inform the development of their charges. We all know what bullying looks like. It should not be tolerated in children or in adults.

It is especially dangerous in adults who should stand as models for behavior, both personal and public, on small stages and on the national stage. Telling lies is still a major fault line in a persons character. (A few white lies are acceptable, even necessary, when they are crafted to avoid inflicting needless pain on someone). Selection of colleagues determined by their submission to bullying and fear is reprehensible. Yet we have condoned both for four long years.

During the impeachment trial, the greatest disappointment was the exposure of a subtle evil that infects our government, the evident reluctance of the United States Congress to condemn lies, bullying, and the abnegation of honor, and to allow behavior that we would try our best to eradicate from our childrens codes of conduct, to remain unpunished, in fact, rewarded.

The verdict brought by the senatorial jury is not my concern here. Future generations and history will render a verdict on Donald Trump and his presidency. This was a moment for personal integrity from those jury members that seems to fall appallingly short of what is required.

I do not so greatly fear some final judgment of my life as I dread the thought of looking in the mirror each day and seeing a hollow man who deserted the principles he once held dear in order to protect some powerful tyrant and a set of values based on prejudice and hatred. I fear seeing the reflection of someone who valued the security of his bank account and worldly wealth above the preservation of his own ethical core. For what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

Those of us who came of age in the 1950s have been labeled The Silent Generation and I have, in the main, been a man of the generation. Except for times among close friends, I have kept my political opinions away from public view.

In the face of a monstrous betrayal by so many who should stand up for the values they were brought up to value, I cannot remain silent. Speaking out may cost me some friends, but if our friendships are based on shared politics, then they are shallow indeed.

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Silence and the face in the mirror | Letters | northwestgeorgianews.com - Northwest Georgia News

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted that forward Draymond Green "crossed the line" Saturday night when he was ejected in the final seconds of a 102-100 loss at the Charlotte Hornets.

The wild sequence that led to Green's ejection started with 9.3 seconds left in regulation and the Warriors leading 100-98, when Warriors guard Brad Wanamaker was tied up for a jump ball by Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. After Hornets swingman Gordon Hayward corralled the ball off the tap and fell to the floor, Green appeared to quickly tie up Hayward for a jump ball. However, the Hornets were awarded a timeout.

Green began arguing with officials and was quickly assessed two technical fouls and ejected, giving the Hornets two free throws and the ball. Charlotte guard Terry Rozier went to the line and sank both free throws to tie the score at 100.

Seconds later, Rozier drained a shot from the corner at the buzzer to give the Hornets the win.

"He crossed the line," Kerr said of Green. "That's the main thing. We love his passion and his energy. We would not be the team we are without him, but that doesn't give him license to cross that line, and he knows that."

Via a pool reporter, crew chief Marc Davis explained Green's ejection.

"His first technical was assessed when he directed profanity at his opponent," Davis said. "He was assessed his first technical foul for verbally taunting an opponent. He then proceeded to direct screaming profanity at a game official and received his [second] technical foul and was ejected as per rule."

Kerr said he "didn't have time to ask" for an explanation in the heat of the moment, given that the Warriors were rushing to check Juan Toscano-Anderson into the game to replace Green.

But what irked Kerr and the Warriors' staff occurred in the sequence before the jump ball. Kerr said he was calling for a timeout before Ball tied up Wanamaker to create the jump ball in the first place.

"There's a lot to unwind," Kerr said of the final few seconds. "But if you just want to cut to the chase, it's a very difficult call on a loose ball that becomes a jump ball that they get a timeout on. Especially because in the exact same situation, I was trying to call a timeout when Brad had the ball at the top of the key when they forced the jump ball just prior to that.

"So given that the exact same thing happened back to back, only we actually had possession of the ball when I tried to call timeout. And then watching the replay after the game, it's a loose ball, the ball's actually bouncing on the floor, Draymond dives after it; in my estimation, it should be another jump ball."

Davis explained that in the officials' judgment, the tie-up occurred before Kerr requested a timeout. For his part, Wanamaker admitted he didn't hear Kerr calling for a timeout, but he wasn't sure exactly how the sequence played out.

"LaMelo ties Brad up prior to Kerr requesting the timeout," Davis said. "The postgame video confirmed this decision as correctly judged."

It was a ruling that the Warriors did not agree with, but it was a moment for which Green took responsibility. Warriors forward Eric Paschall said when the team got back to the locker room after the game, Green took the blame for picking up the two late technical fouls.

"He said it was his fault," Paschall said. "And he took ownership as he always does as a leader. We're still rocking with Dray no matter what. A great dude, competitor, so it's all good. S--- happens in the NBA. We're just going to learn from it and try to come back, try to win the next one. Great leader and competitor."

As much as Warriors teammates and coaches respect Green, Kerr was clearly frustrated with Green's inability to control his emotions late in the game. For years, Green has been a league leader in technical fouls as he loudly voices his objection to various calls from officials or words from opponents. But Kerr has said repeatedly through the years that he felt Green knows when not to cross a line.

It was a line that Green stepped over on Saturday, leading to a loss that would have been arguably the Warriors' most impressive win of the season, given that star guard Stephen Curry (illness) was a late scratch and centers James Wiseman (wrist) and Kevon Looney (ankle) remain out.

"Draymond can't do that," Kerr said. "He knows that. He made a terrible mistake getting T'd up and giving them a chance to shoot two free throws and tie the game. ... As his coach, it's my job to communicate with him and with the team. That's what we've done, and that's what we'll continue to do."

Davis stated that the Hornets were awarded a timeout before Green's ejection, and before Green tied up Hayward, because the group felt the Hornets made the timeout call in time.

"P.J. Washington requested its timeout and Gordon Hayward had clear and sole possession of the ball," Davis said. "As per rule, Charlotte was granted the timeout. Postgame video review confirms this decision."

Despite Kerr's frustration with Green's actions, Green's teammates repeated a similar message about their leader after the game.

"He's been in this league long enough," Warriors guard Damion Lee said. "He knows what's right and what's wrong. And it doesn't matter; day in, day out, I'm always going to ride with Day Day. Throughout the good, throughout the bad, I'm always going to ride with Draymond. ... It doesn't matter if I'm a Warrior or not a Warrior. That's my guy. That's one of my vets. And I'm always going to ride with Day Day."

Aside from Green's technical fouls, Kerr spoke with a tinge of sadness that his short-handed team couldn't close the door after fighting so hard all night without Curry.

"It's a tough loss, obviously," Kerr said. "They don't get any tougher than this one. That's two straight, back to back, really difficult losses. That's my job to get the team organized and emotionally ready to play New York. We'll keep moving forward. That's what you do. The NBA season is filled with a lot of ups and downs, and obviously, this is a really tough one. But you got to get ready for the next game."

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Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green 'crossed the line' with late ejection, Steve Kerr says - ESPN

DALLAS, Feb. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co.(NYSE: LUV) is engaging its Customers, Employees, and partners to complete a collective one million Acts of Kindness throughout its 50th Anniversary year, celebrating half a century of empowering People and communities to lead with Heart and kindness.

Now through Dec. 31, 2021, Customers and Employees can participate in the challenge by signing the airline's Kindness Pledgeand committing to doing Acts of Kindness for others, such as delivering a meal to a neighbor, cleaning up a park, or sending a note of encouragement. Each signature on the Kindness Pledge and Act of Kindness that is shared on social media using the hashtag #HeartinAction will count towards achieving the one million Acts of Kindness goal.

"We are the airline with Heart, founded on The Golden Rule treating others as you would like to be treated so celebrating our 50th Anniversary year with a kindness challenge is fitting," said Linda Rutherford, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Southwest Airlines. "Our Employees live out The Golden Rule each day through their interactions with each other, our Customers, and in our communities. We're excited to all come together to inspire a kinder tomorrow, because at Southwest, we're more than an airline, we're your neighbor. And neighbors take care of each other."

Southwest Employees received a sneak peek of the one million Acts of Kindness challenge in mid-January, and since then have already logged more than 62,000 acts, including recognizing fellow Employees for their Acts of Kindness and volunteering at organizations.

The Southwest Kindness Pledge reads as follows:

I pledge to spark acts of kindness one at a time, sprinkling compassion around the world.I will practice Hospitality, making people feel welcomed, cared for, and appreciated.I will treat others with courtesy, politeness, and respect.I will do little things, because little things make a big difference.I commit to putting my Heart in Action, sharing a smile and little bit of love, and making someone's day a little brighter.

Throughout the year, Southwest will provide Customers and Employees an update on the progress towards the one million Acts of Kindness goal, ideas on how to remain engaged, and share heartfelt stories along the way. For more information about the kindness challenge and Southwest's 50th Anniversary, visit Southwest50.com/actsofkindness.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co.continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Servicedelivered by more than 56,000 Employeesto a Customer basethat topped130 million Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure and business markets.In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colo. Thus far in 2021, Southwest began service to both Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton on Feb. 14, and will begin service to both Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs on March 11; both Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif. on April 12; Fresno, Calif. on April 25; and Jackson, Miss. on June 6.

The carrier issued itsSouthwestPromisein May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal mandate requiring every person to wear a mask at all times throughout each flight. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available atSouthwest.com/Promise.

Southwest coinedTransfarencyto describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly freeto everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.

Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visitingSouthwest.com/citizenship.

Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.comor by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

http://www.southwest.com

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Southwest Airlines Launches One Million Acts Of Kindness Challenge To Celebrate 50 Years Of Heart In Action - PRNewswire

Implausible as it may seem, in the middle of the social rut and great pause that is the pandemic, I am actually feeling overbooked in my own home.

In between a rote schedule of breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and more snack followed by dinner, my children yell out request after request. They call out Moooooom repeatedly until I respond; the answer is repeatedly no.

Ironically, its this simple two-letter word I need to keep in my vocabulary for the demands of the big kid world.

As we age, we lose childhood characteristics like confidence, wanderlust and a no-fear attitude. And, I wonder if losing the ability to say no with reckless abandon serves us.

How do we make the transition from people-pleasing yeses to the nos of our childhood?

Although Ive covered the topic in years past, a reminder is in order for our health and well-being. I feel the pandemic is asking more of us than ever before. In addition, weve been presented with numerous COVID-19 safety scenarios requiring a definitive response.

For some, no rolls off the tongue easily. For others, paralysis sets in for fear of hurting someones feelings.

It is important to recognize limitations, be they related to schedule, strength or interest. You, and those around you, might be better served if you did say no every now and then. By doing so, youre being honest about the fact that you wont or cant do something, rather than saying yes and dropping the ball or feeling embittered.

By reluctantly accommodating a request, youre shutting the door on creating a much-needed boundary and, thus, more opportunities for yourself. The trick is to weigh the balance between self-preservation and the Golden Rule.

So, how does a person inclined to always say yes bring him or herself to utter the big N-O? With sugar on top, if necessary. No need to fear appearing stern or abrupt. Your response doesnt need to be backed up by apologies, excuses or little white lies.

Your facial expression, eye contact and tone often convey what youre feeling. Softening what may be a difficult decline, these cues, when displayed positively, serve as a buffer. The etiquette of no is about making others feel acknowledged without compromising yourself.

William Ury, Ph.D., penned The Power of a Positive No, about the crucial art of delivering it in every area of life. Avoid avoidance, says Ury. A quick no is better than a slow maybe.

Most people Ive interviewed feel being direct is best, and a friend wrote, I see it as respectful to their time and emotional energy. It also models good behavior for your children. Hearing it leads to creative thinking and deters entitlement.

Speaking of children, there is the school of thought that no should be reserved for serious situations so as not to wear out its effect. For the day-to-day requests redirect with something like this:

I am not free to do that now but let me know if you still need my help when I am finished.

I wonder what that would look like if you tried it without leaving the ground/without making an actual sound.

That looks like something for outside.

That might work but what if we try it this way.

When a no is in order, use eye contact and follow it up with an explanation:

No! You must hold my hand in the parking lot.

When communicating with peers, channel the confidence of your inner 2-year-old with the tact and wisdom of your adult self. Try these firm yet polite responses the next time youre asked to take on additional tasks for work, to volunteer, to climb a mountain or to carry the weight of the world:

Concerned about what comes next? Offer your encouragement and then move on by changing the subject. By not dragging out excuses, you appear firm and confident.

These pandemic years will long be remembered for their uncertainty, upheaval and unprecedented demands. Empowering yourself to say no every once in a while provides a sense of control and builds resilience. Say yes to self-care and self-worth.

Bizia Greene is an etiquette expert and owns the Etiquette School of Santa Fe. Send your comments and conundrums to hello@etiquettesantafe.com or 505-988-2070.

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Learn to say no with grace and confidence - Santa Fe New Mexican