Who Are You Trying to Impress?

Welcome to Simple Joe. I’m glad you’re here.

Who gets the best version of you? In today’s Personal Development Saturday episode of Simple Joe, I’m asking a question I’ve been wrestling with myself: Why do we sometimes give more patience, kindness, and courtesy to complete strangers than to the people we love most? I share some memories of those not-so-peaceful family drives to church, when frustration filled the car but everybody suddenly became friendly the moment we walked through the church doors. We talk about the difference between being comfortable with someone and taking them for granted, why our closest relationships deserve more attention and encouragement, and how a simple one-day experiment might help us make a change. The big idea? We don’t need to impress the people closest to us. We need to invest in them. Plus, we’re celebrating birthdays, exploring the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, and talking about angel food cake, chess, and maybe why neckties aren’t so good for our brains. I also give a shout-out to my imaginary friend SM2N, whose thoughtful response to my episode about working while on vacation challenged me to reconsider some of my commitments. I’d love to hear your thoughts about today’s conversation. Text me at 513-399-6468 or email joe@thesimplejoe.com. And remember, memories are better than stuff.

Listen to SM2N’s episode on Spotify

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