Posts by Arden
The art of being interested vs. interesting
I recently binge watched a delightful reality show called “The Later Daters,” which follows people in their 50s to early 70s navigating the dating scene. What made it so interesting wasn’t just the unique contestants, but the show’s dating coach who offered invaluable advice about conversation, presentation and dating expectations. While two successful matches emerged…
Read MoreSocial and workplace etiquette grievances
As I’ve mentioned in the past, people like to share their etiquette pet peeves or ask for advice on etiquette dilemmas. It always makes for good blog post fodder. Here are some of the etiquette grievances people have shared with me lately. Fido is forbidden Don’t bring your dog or kids to someone’s house unless…
Read MoreDating dos and don’ts for an online world
Many of my single friends are dating and, yes, yours truly is too. Let me just say, dating is weird at my age. In my before-marriage dating days you just met people and if you liked them you went on a few dates and eventually decided if this was the forever person. There was no…
Read MoreHow to raise mannerly children
Teaching manners to children can be challenging for parents, but it’s an essential part of raising kind and respectful individuals. Many adults reflect on the manners they were taught as children and recall how valuable those lessons have been in their lives. As a parent, you can model and reinforce these important lessons, helping your…
Read MoreLessons in harmony: How my Slovenia and Croatia tour can inspire a positive workplace
I recently returned from a delightful Rick Steves tour of Slovenia and Croatia. Our group consisted of 26 people from diverse backgrounds with different values, interests, and opinions, yet we all got along wonderfully. This is particularly remarkable given the many hours we spent together each day—whether riding a bus, standing shoulder to shoulder on…
Read MoreWhat would Ted do?
I’m a bit behind on my TV series watching so I’m just finishing the third season of the highly acclaimed Apple TV series, Ted Lasso. From the very first show in season one I was hooked. The series is about an American football coach, Ted Lasso, who is recruited to lead AFC Richmond, a fictional…
Read MoreFour tips for being a good host to house guests
In my last newsletter I shared some tips on being a good house guest. A reader suggested I share tips on how to be a good host. She and her husband had a challenging visit at a friend’s house when they were relegated to a “horridly uncomfortable” couch in the office. When they were invited…
Read More“Do you always eat this way?”
I recently gave a dining etiquette presentation to DECA leadership participants. DECA hires me every year to speak to these bright young people because they know it’s important the students have good dining etiquette and table manners for success in their careers and social interactions.
Read MoreAre we back to shaking hands?
In late February 2020 I drove to my CPA’s office to drop off my tax documents. At that point, 15 cases of the COVID-19 virus were reported in the U.S. and there were over 1,100 deaths worldwide. I felt a bit nervous about the virus but not overly concerned. When my CPA came out to…
Read MoreNew tipping guidelines for a changing world
In 2017 I wrote a blog post about tipping where I shared who to tip and how much. What a difference five years makes as I write this in 2022. A lot has transpired since 2017 that has impacted tipping. One of the biggest factors is the pandemic. When the COVID-19 virus shut everything down…
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