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Patti's Tips For Relationships in the Month of December

December can be a wonderful month and a stressful month for our relationships.  Sometimes all the twinkly lights and good food distract us from what matters most, our connection to those we love.   I am not perfect, (though parts of me are excellent) and I recently messed up and hurt a friend. I was distracted by the twinkly lights and bacon dip and forgot to be empathetic to a loved ones needs. I was self-focused when I should have been other focused.  I wish I had noticed.  So I offer up a gift to give others for the holidays and a gift for you. Don’t be distracted. When a loved one has stood in the lines at Costco, battled through traffic, searched for a parking place, struggled to find the perfect gift or just gone out of their way to be there for you, notice it, say thank you, say you’re grateful, give them a good long hug, and, when you mean it, look them in the eye and say I love you.

In the wonderful book, “The Gift of Imperfection” Brene Brown defines connection as, “the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued: when they can give and receive without judgment: and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” So be gentle with yourself, love yourself and all your imperfections and for the next few weeks love, see and value everyone, don’t judge yourself and don’t judge others. Show you notice that they are working as hard as they can. Notice the person who brings packages to your door, and the checkout person who asks you for your phone number, date of birth, (and the name of your first born.) Notice those you work with and the people who have been in your life for a good long while. Notice everyone as they work so hard to be there for you.  Please notice them, and tell them you are grateful.
(As for the bacon dip, here is the recipe, just make sure you make it for someone you love.)

Patti’s “That’s so good!” Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Dip
  • 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (the best are from Trader Joes)
  • 1 cup of roasted tomatoes. ( I put cherry tomatoes in the oven with olive oil for 30 minutes or more till the skin gets crispy)
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 block of cream cheese
  • 8 strips of gluten free bacon - fried and then crumbled (You can use the vegetarian bacon strips if you’re a vegetarian. They are made with coconut and are scrumptious.)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • You can add green onions or chopped onions, but I don’t always do that.
  • You can add a cup of hand shredded sharp cheddar cheese, but I don’t always do that.
  • You can replace the sour cream with plain yogurt. 
  • You can add fresh tomatoes cut up.
You blend it in a big bowl with a spoon.  Then put saran wrap over the bowl and put it in the fridge over night to let the flavors blend. 

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Read of Brad and Angelina by Patti Wood for Life & Style





Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

On Friendship

On Friendship
By:  Kahlil Gibran


Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.



Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Mr. “Get it Right” (Corrector) Helps Me go to the Grand Canyon

Mr. “Get it Right” (Corrector) Helps Me go to the Grand Canyon
By:  Patti Wood MA, CSP

I’ve known my friend Michael for a long time.  In fact, I have known him since he was a 19-year-old student of mine years ago at Florida State. Now don't go there, we have always been just friends. I was not Mrs. Robinson. (Though I could rock those black stockings!) I was only three years older than Michael when he was my student and it took him two years to stop calling Miss Wood!

Michael knows I have this uncanny ability to wish for a speaking engagement in a certain location and almost instantly get a speech there.  He finds it funny that my optimistic personality works so well for me.  He called me when he was on a trip to the Grand Canyon and said, “Patti you need to get a speaking engagement here.” “It is beautiful."  So, I visualized for it and sure enough, within a few weeks I was booked to speak in Scottsdale, Arizona.  I immediately called up Michael and said, “Michael I got a speaking engagement near the Grand Canyon in November." "Isn’t it great I get to go the Grand Canyon in November?”

Now Michael is a "Get it Right" with a little "Get Along" thrown in. He wants to help you by pointing out all the details and problems you have not seen in any situation.  He said with news anchorman sincerity “Now Patti, it’s going to be really cold in the Grand Canyon in November have you thought about the fact it could snow?”  I exclaimed, “Oh wouldn’t that be great!  "I could see the Grand Canyon covered in snow!" Michael tisked tisked as he observed another “problem” I hadn’t considered. “Now Patti I know you lived in Florida most of your life where it is always warm.” “Do you have the clothes that will keep you warm enough for snow and cold weather in the Grand Canyon? “ I replied, “Oh I don’t, but that’s great I can buy a cool coat and set of furry boots.” I said filled with glee, “It will be great to go shopping for snowy cold weather.” Michael’s voice became even more fatherly in its sternness, “Now Patti I know you’re paying off your grad school loan and expanding your business.”  “Do you have the money to buy all these clothes?  I heard his stern concern and started laughing because I realized he was being helpful with the details as a “Get it Right” on the DISC personality inventory and I was being a “Get Appreciated” cockeyed optimist, someone to whom details are not as important as the big picture possibility of it all.  Michael heard me laughing and he got it. He said, “Oh, I’m being really “Get it Right” about your trip aren’t I? “Should I be a little “Get it Appreciated” for you?” I said, "I love all your advice and yes, optimism would be awesome.” There was a long pause because “Get it Rights” need silence to think of just the right thing to say, and then he said, “Isn’t it GREAT that you’re going to the Grand Canyon in November.” and we both laughed.  I appreciate Michael’s ability to see the details; he loves my joy and positive outlook. When you are dealing with different DISC personality types sometimes you just need to love what they bring you and sometimes you need to ask for what you need.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Classic Movie Moments from The Graduate


Mrs Robinson was confident and she knew how to rock black stockings. Here are a few classic movie moments from The Graduate.

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/206434/Graduate-The-Movie-Clip-Seduce-Me-.html

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/206436/Graduate-The-Movie-Clip-Wood-or-Wire-.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acEh0kEL7_E


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.