Traveling to a Wedding soon?
How to Avoid Foot in Mouth
Edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady
Now is the time to sharpen your conversational skills so
you can mingle with poise and confidence at upcoming wedding receptions. "It's
easy to be good at small talk," says expert Don Gabor, author of the SPEAKING
YOUR MIND IN 101 DIFFICULT SITUATIONS (Conversation Arts Media 2006).
A Little TACT Goes a Long Way
Gabor advises, "Before you go to the wedding reception,
take a minute and consider topics you are willing to discuss with the other
guests. Keep them light, fun and upbeat! Of course, since you never know who you
might be talking to, NEVER SAY:
10 Things Your Should NEVER Say to Other Guests at Weddings
-
"I hope this marriage lasts longer than his/her last
one."
-
"If you ask me, they're making a big mistake."
-
"This will be the happiest day of their lives."
-
"His/her ex- was a lot better looking and had more
money, too!"
-
"This food isn't as good as the food at the last
wedding I went to."
-
"I hate cheap champagne. Oh well, beggars can't be
choosers!"
-
"I bet this wedding and reception cost a bundle. How
can they afford it?"
-
"I wonder if she is ... well you know ...."
-
"When it comes to choosing a spouse, he/she could have
done better."
-
"No doubt about it - she/he married him/her for the
money."
Don Gabor believes even the "tactfully challenged" person
can communicate with wit, charm and enthusiasm at wedding receptions.
Conversation Skills
-
Break the ice and introduce yourself to anyone --
anywhere.
-
Remember the names of everyone you meet.
-
Mingle and join conversations already in progress.
-
Ask for dates and telephone numbers.
-
End conversations with a great lasting impression.
Don Gabor was a spokesperson for Grand Marnier, Sprint and
Frito-Lay. He has given hundreds of media interviews in publications including
NY News Day, NY Times, Daily News, Woman's Day, Self, Redbook, Men's Health,
Entrepreneur, Success, Woman's World, National Enquirer, Readers Digest, and
many other newspapers and magazines of interest to men and women. The New Yorker
called Don, "a gifted conversationalist."
FREE FOR
travellady.com READERS: To receive a free conversation tip sheet send a
self-addressed envelope to Don Gabor, P.O. Box 715, Brooklyn, NY 11215.
And after you have Conversations Mastered
Here are some books to enhance your life skills
50 simple ways to pamper yourself
By Stephanie Tourles
Storey Books
www.storey.com
WILL YOGA & MEDITATION REALLY CHANGE MY LIFE
Edited by Stephen Cope
Personal Stories from 25 of North America's Leading Teachers
A Kripalu Book
www.storey.com
GIRL SEEKS BLISS
Zen and the Art of Modern Life Maintenance
By Nicole Beland
Plume Book
www.penguin.com
KEEPING LIFE SIMPLE
380 tips and ideas
By Karen Levine
Discover what really gives you satisfaction and enjoyment then toss out all the
other junk.
Storey Publishing
www.storey,com
FENG SHUI DOS AND TABOOS
By Angi Ma Wong
Storey Books
www.storey.com
THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO ZEN LIVING
By Gary R. McClain, PH.D and Eve Adamson
Calming mediations, enlightening exercises and lifestyle changes
Alpha Books
www.idiotsguides.com
THE EVERYTHING FENG SHUI DECLUTTERING BOOK
By Katina Z. Jones
Help with simplifying your environment and your life
Clear your space, clear your mind
Adams Media
www.everything.com
CLEANING PLAIN & SIMPLE
By Donna Smallin
A ready reference guide with hundreds of sparkling solutions to your everyday
cleaning challenges.
Storey Publishing
www.storey.com
MARK TWAIN'S HELPFUL HINTS FOR GOOD LIVING
A Handbook for the Damned Human Race
Edited by Lin Salamo, Victor Fischer and Michael B. Frank
A Mark Twain Project at the University of California, Berkeley
ORGANIZING FOR THE GOOD LIFE
By Celia Rocks
A path to Joyful Simplicity—Home to Work and Back
Facts on Demand Press
THE ONE-MINUTE ORGANIZER, PLAIN & SIMPLE
By Donna Smallin
Storey Publishing, September 2004
256 pages; two-color throughout
$9.95 trade paperback
ISBN: 1-58017-584-8
ESCAPE TO NATURE
Without ROUGHING IT
25O hand-picked Resorts, Inns and Lodges in Amazing Natural Settings
www.fodors.com
Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who talks to
everyone she meets. She hopes she has not said the wrong things at weddings or
anywhere else. Read her stories on
www.travellady.com,
www.carladynews.com,
www.chocolateatlas.com,
www.cocktailatlas.com, and
www.teaAtlas.com |
