fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Provide Smart Customer Service with Salesforce Service Cloud
Tags: Customer Services, Salesfoce, Salesforce Service Cloud

Irrespective of whether your business caters to the B2C or B2B business space, navigating the queries and support tickets from various channels cannot be ignored. Considering the process is never-ending, it’s important to streamline the process by employing the right practices and methods. Implementing a tool to help you manage your growing customer needs without the need for hiring additional resources makes sense. One such tool that can transform your customer support model is the Salesforce service cloud. This robust platform provides a 360-degree customer view and delivers a seamless user experience.

According to a research report shared by Global state of customer service, around 95% of customers prefer brands with outstanding customer service.

What is the Salesforce Service Cloud?

Salesforce Service Cloud is a customer support platform that is designed to enhance how organizations engage with their customers while empowering organizations to make better decisions by centralizing customer data and offering easy to use tools for customers, agents, and the organization.

Provide Smart Customer Service with Salesforce Service Cloud

Increases Customer Satisfaction: With growing customer expectations across various channels such as social media, email, etc, the need to add and train more customer support resources also increases. Apart from this, the need to organize their responses also increases. With robust features of the Salesforce service cloud, organizations can centralize communications across different channels into the case view. This helps support agents to deliver delightful customer experiences.

World-class Service: Salesforce service cloud helps organizations to streamline their processes, reduce resolution time of issues, and improve customer satisfaction dramatically, which is why it is known to provide world-class’ service.

Boost Agent Productivity: With the Salesforce service cloud the power of LiveMessaging, Live Agent, etc. can be brought to your customers from one application console thereby making the processes easier. This improves productivity, generates greater ROI, and augments customer satisfaction.

Improves Brand Reputation: Service cloud provides organizations with multiple and effective ways to improve customer satisfaction, which translates into improved brand reputation. This increases sales opportunities for your business.

Quick Wrap-up:

Salesforce Service Cloud offers several features and functionalities to help businesses build successful service centers. However, the best thing about the platform is that it is highly customizable, which means endless opportunities for both companies and service teams alike. So, if you wish to learn how the service cloud can benefit your organization then make sure you get in touch with one of the most reputed Salesforce partners, to make your Salesforce journey a success.
Is Online Customer Service Effective?
Tags: Virtualassistants, Customerservice, Livechatsupport, Coldcalling, Customerserviceonline

In a steady presence where everything can be made or destroyed with a single snap, an online call community is one of the most fundamental bits of an affiliation that should not be ignored. Extraordinary customer care is key to a productive affiliation and an online call network obliges that need. Customers these days are looking for second objectives to their requests on various channels and because question objectives can speak to choosing second your customer base and upkeep as time goes on, it is an issue that requires the most extraordinary thought.

GetCallers ensures that you have the top-level advancement joined with the advantageous people supporting your progressive necessities of a call put on the web. Right, when you rely upon the customer service online course of action gave by GetCallers you will make certain to get the awards of organization with faultlessness in outbound/inbound calling joined with an ensured and quality-driven stage.

Affiliations consistently disregard the prerequisite for a fair customer service online gathering which can conversely influence the brand image of an association as time goes on. In case the organization bunch dealing with the requests of the customer isn’t at its best, it will incite a promoting disaster and over the long haul an incident in the customer base. To ensure that you have the ideal people at the ideal time going to the requests of your customer, you need to invest your obligations of an online call focal point of GetCallers.

With the worth leftover portion close by an incredible help movement history, GetCallers can help you in managing your prerequisite for customer service online without breaking your business affiliation notoriety. Wherever on the planet, GetCallers gives these courses of action of Online Call Centers to various B2B and B2C affiliations. It ensures that it tailors the plans provided for you as demonstrated by your affiliations’ necessities so that there are no openings in the customer care movement and profitability of the online call community.

Remember the need for respectable customer service online gathering. On the off chance that you put your essentials in the ownership of the GetCallers organization transport gathering, you will like the best assistance movement close by a one-stop answer for all your online call place issues.

By using our organizations you will see the results you required and will similarly get the encounters you need to close more plants which will, in the end, provoke better advancement for your affiliation.
Customer experience vs customer service
Tags: Customer Experience, Customer Service, Feedback, Experience Management

‘ Customer service’ vs ‘ customer experience ‘, both terms are used to manage every aspect of your business. The differences between the two terms are often confusing or blurred. So what are the actual differences between these two aspects?

Customer service

“Excellent customer service is the number one job in any company! It is the personality of the company and the reason customers come back. Without customers, there is no company!” Connie Elder, Founder & CEO, PEAK 10 SKIN

The term service refers to what happens from the human perspective and the support the customer receives. Customer service is provided by teams in contact with the customer who possess all the necessary skills, such as knowledge and patience.

The idea of good customer service is to help customers and provide assistance with the product or service in question, as well as solutions.

Customer service is normally applied in case of after-sales problems. It is a reactive element and can be a unique interaction. For a long time, working on strategies to improve service was seen as a cost center for the company.

Customer experience

“We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.” Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.

Experiences are a series of continuous and daily interactions throughout the entire journey that impact feelings and emotions.

A remarkable experience will help you make better decisions that increase customer loyalty, boost sales, and grow your market shares.

The experience is part of the overall view customer journey, from beginning to end, on their side and on the company’s side. It also covers the various interactions with the customer as they engage with every touchoint.

A proactive approach is mandatory for a good customer experience. Companies have to be actively seeking ways to understand cutomers’ needs and desires.

Meeting this criteria in terms of the product or service in not enough, the most important part is the emotions that the customer has towards the company.

Customer experience vs customer service: the differences

In contrast to customer service, which is reactive, punctual and focused on short-term customer satisfaction, Customer Experience t is above all proactive and aims to improve and grow the relationship with each customer over a longer horizon.

This difference in vision leads to very clear differences in mentality depending on whether or not the customer relationship management department attaches importance to customer experience management.

A company that is content to ensure the minimum, with a customer service that responds punctually to customer requests, can certainly maintain a correct level of satisfaction but will rarely offer an exceptional customer experience.

To become a brand that stands out from your competitors and matters in the lives of your customers, improving the digital customer experience is a step to take.
9 Dilbert strips that show how not to treat our customers
By: Robert Drury
Tags: Business, Customer Support, Product Management, Customer Service, Startup

9 Dilbert strips that show how not to treat our customers

Dilbert, the comic strip all about business life by Scott Adams, was first published in 1989, meaning Dilbert has been suffering at the hands of his corporate bosses for over 30 years.

The genius of Adams’ work is the distillation of corporate life into (mostly) three small images, and he’s approached all aspects of organisational operations.

The following 9 strips all look at customer service, and how not to go about it (but we all know this happens!)
Customer, not a statistic
By: Mario Lucas
Tags: Customer Engagement, Sales, Customer Service, How To Make Money, Selling

Do you treat your customer like a friend or is it purely a business transaction? the rules here differ for B2C or B2B.

When a customer walks into your office or store, you want to make sure they feel welcome, you want to treat your customer as though they are a piece of gold, and not as a statistic. Have you ever been standing in a line, and when it comes to your turn to be waited on, the sales associate yells out next? Just thinking about that scenario makes me cringe. It is hardly a way to build a relationship with your customer.

I have been working in sales for more than eighteen years, and I have literally had customers tell me that the most important thing to them is to be appreciated and not treated as a statistic. Keep this in mind the next time you wait on a customer, instead of yelling next, you can politely say, may I help you, Ms. Jones. We all have our daily, weekly, and monthly goals that we must meet. And with this pressure applied to our daily workday, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that it is the customer who is the most important thing when it comes to our company's existence. They are the backbone. Without customers, we cease to exist.

Here are a few tips to ensure that your customer is appreciated by you and your company, and not viewed as just another number in line.
How to Keep Customers Happy During the Holidays
By: Abigail Dunn
Tags: Holidays, Customer Service, Happy, Return

If you’ve already read our piece about prepping for the holidays, you can see this post as Part 2: How to keep customers happy during the holidays.

No matter how much you love Christmas, gift shopping is stressful. The lines, the crowds, the empty shelves… it’s a lot to take in. Thankfully the mulled wine, twinkling street lights, and carolers’ noise make it that little bit easier.

Read more here — https://returngo.ai/blog/how-to-keep-customers-happy-during-the-holidays/
The Customer Success Elevator Pitch
By: Jared Orr
Tags: Customer Success, Entrepreneurship, Business, Customer Service, Startup

Customer Success is a fulfilling and amazing career path. Then again, if you’re reading this blog, you probably already know that.

One thing CSM’s tend to run into frequently is having to explain what they do in order to not be confused with technical support or customer service.

Let me be clear, this post is not to demean or downplay the impact of support and customer service reps. They are valued and needed. If done correctly, Customer Success works hand in hand with these departments.

I recently asked the CS community on LinkedIn what their elevator pitch for Customer Success was. Here were some of my favorites:

“I love that customer success is a healthy balance of everything. Though, it’s proactive versus reactive. Customer Success focuses on predicting problems before they become a problem or mediating escalations. Along with other responsibilities, primarily focusing on 3 key items: Retention, Adoption, and Expansion. Whereas customer support and technical support focus typically in reactive situations that are often break/fix.” — Mike Larsen Gain Grow Retain Community Member

“My team includes customer support and customer success. I try to set expectations up front that customer support is for break/fix, reactive in nature topics. Your CSM is for proactive, consultative, and advocacy type of topics. The two skill sets and teams are complementary and both play a role into the overall perception of your organization to customers.” — Brian Hartley Senior Director, Customer Success at RFP360

“One of my go-to explanations is to use the Sherpa example. People don’t individually or even in a group attempt to climb Mt Everest. They are led by someone who knows the path and while typically not life/death for CS professionals, we are the eyes and ears for customers as they put forth the effort to reach the various milestones in their journey, i.e. base camp (training), next level base camp (adoption/engagement), summit (scale, advocacy), etc.” — Ronni Gaun Enterprise Customer Success Manager at Zoom Video Communications

“I usually compare it to Sales for people. Sales conceptualizes the vision for the customer and closes the sale. CS makes that vision a reality, and keeps/grows that customer’s account over time.” — Ben Winn Community & Events Manager at Catalyst Software

“To put it simply, we are a strategic long-term partner for driving value for every client.” — Diana De Jesus Customer Success Manager at Catalyst Software

And last but not least.. “Customer Success is designed for a more proactive and targeted approach to ensure on-going satisfaction and ROI for all our clients. It allows clients to have a main point of contact throughout their lifecycle. Knowing someone will always be there to help them. Someone who knows their specific needs.” — Me

What’s your elevator pitch?

For more content, check out my website www.cswhisperer.org
Gorgias & Alven: an interview with Gorgias CEO Romain Lapeyre and François Meteyer
Tags: Alven, Fundraising, Entrepreneurship, Customer Service, Venture Capital

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Enhance Your Workplace With Customer Support
Tags: Customerserviceonline, Customersupport, Customerservice, Virtualassistants

No matter, what kind of business you are running it has become very essential for every business enterprise to hire the correct customer care services. Yes, you read it right. The right customer service can genuinely increase your business by attending to your business customer calls daily. Suppose, you are running a business that requires interaction with the clients daily, under that condition you cannot think of spending your time doing that as various other essential deals are in need for you to look into. So, what can you do to take off this load from your shoulders? Well, this is where the customer service online comes. You can hire the best customer support agents for your business association and can get a little relief.

The best part about hiring and taking the assistance of customer service online is that your costumes will feel satisfied as all their queries will be solved from time to time. They will no more be in need to wait for their queries to solves as the main purpose of the customer service agent is to maintain a long-lasting relationship with their business clients.

If you are worried about your financial budget while thinking of employing the services of customer service online then we would like to give you good news. Nowadays, there are multiple customer support agents out there that are providing their best possible services to their clients at affordable prices. All you have to do is investigate about them on the internet and make and select the best customer service company for your business enterprise.

On the contrary, if you are not satisfied even after searching for them on the internet. Then make sure that you start taking the assistance of GetCallers. Yes, you heard it right. GetCallers is among the top customer service online that is helping the multiple business associations is building good and long-term relationships with their business clients. You can visit their business website and can look for the multiple services they are offering to their clients. Surprisingly, they are offering their professional services at just $5 per hour which is quite affordable even for small business associations.

What are you waiting for? Make the best possible use of this opportunity and hire the services of GetCallers which will help you in enhancing your business activity.

Hire their services, now.
5 aprendizajes en Customer Service en Wavy
By: Wavy Global
Tags: Culture, Customer Experience, Customer Service, Operations

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Winter 2020 Most Demanding Product in America. Not only But you Can say in All over the world.
Tags: Winter Clothing, Masks, Winter, Winter Collection, Corona Mask

Winter 2020 Most Demanding Product in America. Not only But you Can say in All over the world.

3 in 1 Winter Knitted Beanie Hat Face Neck Warmer Set for Women Girls Fleece Lining Ski Caps with Pompom.

For deatils click here Also.

https://amzn.to/2WLW7mf

Stretchy Beanie and Scarf, beanie around from 22 to 23.6 inches,scarf perimeter about 20 inches, like some "one size fits most" can be. Suitable for women and teen girls, big girls.

3-in-1 winter hat scarf and mouth cover set, stay warm all the time, great for outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, cycling, running, or travel and daily warmer. Best gift for your mom, daughter, female friends or treat yourself when the cold weather coming. Don't miss it!

Just order here online

https://amzn.to/2WLW7mf
How to Prevent Seasonal Depression From Making This Winter Even More Miserable
By: Jennifer Geer
Tags: Lifestyle, Depression, Mental Health, Winter, Wellness

I live in the Chicago area, where the sun sets around 4:30 PM in January. The cold isn’t what bothers me so much as the endless overcast days we often receive.

It’s not just in my imagination. I did the research. The months of December through February average three hours of sunlight per day. That’s not a lot of sun.

No wonder I get despondent sometime around the middle of January. Winters here are long, and the summer can seem so far away.

I know the lack of sunlight affects me. As does having to bundle up to step outside for even 10 minutes. I usually get through as best I can with things that cheer me up, like the hot sauna at my gym, meeting a friend for coffee, a hot yoga class, a dinner out, or taking my daughter out for lunch and a movie.

But my usual pick-me-ups are strictly off-limits if I don’t want to risk catching Covid or spreading it to my family.

The good news is, the Covid vaccine is here and it seems very promising. I’m feeling hopeful we might have some return to normalcy by summer. But there will simply not be enough vaccine this winter to get us to safety.

If we want to avoid catching this disease right before the vaccine is made available to all of us, it will have to be a winter without the usual routines. For my family, this means no restaurants, no gatherings, no movie theaters, no trips, and no hot sauna in the gym.

I’ll admit, I’m a little worried about making it through this winter. I have spent a lot of time outdoors since last March. And I already know I’m affected by a lack of sunlight.

I’m worried about getting hit by a double whammy of isolation and seasonal depression in the coming months. What I don’t want is to fall into a depression that leads me to make bad choices this winter.

If you think you may suffer from seasonal depression, this is not the winter to ignore it. Let’s take a look at what it is and what we can do to help ourselves.
Fun Activities for Winter During COVID
By: The Blogger
Tags: Winter Photography, Bird Watching, Winter, Propane For Heating, Outdoor Activities

Like other parts of the country, the state of Massachusetts is preparing for another surge of COVID cases after the Christmas and New Year holidays. There will be further restrictions including higher capacity limits at restaurants, theaters, performance venues, personal services, casinos, offices, places of worship, retail, golf facilities, libraries, gyms and museums, etc. and new gathering limits at private homes outdoors and indoors. With COVID fatigue, it is particularly difficult to fight the winter blues under these circumstances. Nonetheless, we should pick ourselves up, bundle up, and grab some sunshine and fresh air outside to cheer ourselves up!

Don’t forget that there are plenty of heating options to make fun activities possible, such as patio heaters, hot tubs, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits. So stock up on firewood or schedule for regular propane deliveries so that you never run out. Here are some suggestions for fun outdoor activities for winter.

Playing with Snow

This is not only fun but also great exercise for the whole family. Making a snow man is classic, but you can go further by building a snow fort, a whole family or village of snow people, organize a snowman competition with neighbors, etc. Start a snow fight to spice up the fun!

When you begin to feel the cold, make some hot chocolate and warm up near a fire. Toast some marshmallows and add into your hot chocolate — hmm, yummy!

Bird and Animal Watching

With the foliage gone, winter is a great time for bird and animal watching. Set up some birdfeeders to draw birds to your backyard or garden. You may spot some red cardinals and bluebirds quite easily, but goldfinches, sparrows, doves and wrens are also common. There are squirrels, chipmunks and depending on where you live, you might even spot a deer.

If you love taking pictures, birds and animals are great subjects, but not easy to photograph. However, you can readily capture stunning winter scenes such as snow-covered landscapes, icicles on trees, frozen lakes and rivers, you name it.

Stargazing

On clear nights, enjoy stargazing while relaxing in a heated pool or soaking in a bubbly hot tub or heated pool. Play some festive music or romantic music, depending on your mood.

Stay healthy while you enjoy the outdoors. Keep off-the-counter cough and cold medicines, skin care and pain relief products in the house just in case. Watch for snow stains on your clothes and remove them before throwing the clothing into the washing machine. If you use a laundry service in Boston, it would be a good idea to put a note about the stains in the laundry bag.

Winter can be fun even during the pandemic. Stay active and upbeat. With the help of vaccines, we can look forward to a healthier and happier Spring!
A quick hack for instant coziness
By: Cari Nazeer
Tags: Advice, Self, Winter

✨ Today’s tip: Double-layer your socks for maximum coziness.

We asked you, readers of The Forge Daily Tip, what you’re doing to feel cozy through the dark days of winter. And you told us. You’re nestling in the warmest spots in your home, lighting candles, and getting impressively creative with your hot beverages.

Caren Lissner offered us a particularly cozy piece of wisdom: Double-layer your socks for maximum warmth. She likes L.L. Bean camping and hiking socks, and buys them one size larger than normal so that she can pull them over her regular socks — a combo that feels, she explains, “like a hug to your foot.”
Solstice
By: Jane Woodman
Tags: Haiku, Solstice, Winter, Poetry

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
We’re Dreaming of a White Christmas
By: Louise Peacock
Tags: Christmas, Snow, Winter, Photography, Outdoors

We’re Dreaming of a White Christmas

Around here, for the past few weeks, everyone was talking about how they were hoping for a white Christmas.

On December 25, here in Mississauga, Southern Ontario, Canada, we got that white Christmas with a vengeance.
The Frost
Tags: Poem, Poetry On Medium, Winter, Poetry, Snow

The Frost looked forth, one still, clear night,

And whispered, “Now I shall be out of sight;

So through the valley and over the height,

In silence I’ll take my way:

I will not go on with that blustering train,

The wind and the snow, the hail and the rain,

Who make so much bustle and noise in vain,

But I’ll be as busy as they.”

Then he flew to the mountain and powdered its crest;

He lit on the trees, and their boughs he dressed

In diamond beads — and over the breast

Of the quivering lake he spread

A coat of mail, that it need not fear

The downward point of many a spear

That hung on its margin far and near,

Where a rock could rear its head.

He went to the windows of those who slept,

And over each pane, like a fairy, crept;

Wherever he breathed, wherever he slept,

By the light of the moon were seen

Most beautiful things — there were flowers and trees;

There were bevies of birds and swarms of bees;

There were cities with temples and towers, and these

All pictured in silver sheen!

But he did one thing that was hardly fair;

He peeped in the cupboard, and finding there

That all had forgotten for him to prepare —

“Now just to set them a-thinking,

I’ll bite this basket of fruit,” said he,

“This costly pitcher I’ll burst in three,

And the glass of water they’ve left for me

Shall ‘tchich!’ to tell them I’m drinking.”
Drear
Tags: Monoku, Winter, Poetry, Photography, House Of Haiku

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Morning Time
By: Maria Del Pilar
Tags: Christmas, Light, Sun, Winter, Moon

Pieces of mist saying ‘Good Bye’ to the river, mixing themselves into the air.

It has been a short wait compared to other days. Searching for clues to where; the clouds colours, further away to the left. The white, clear light where the rise started. The path and a place to dance expecting the momentum. Cold, cold, cold air. The starch in the landscape. Starched landscape.

Green and orange rays to the right. Happines for being alive. Grateful enjoying my body, my sight.
Best moisturiser for winters
Tags: Skincare, Body, Moisturiser, Winter, Wintercare

Hey beauties! I’m really sorry for not posting regularly I’m badly sick for past few months but now I’m feeling better so I’m here and yes everyone if you not following me on Instagram please do because on Instagram I’m really active so go and check my content. Today I’ll tell you best moisturizer for winters because winter is around corner and in winter our skin is really dry but with the help of these moisture this problem is solved so let’s start.

Cetaphil Moisturizer

Cetaphil Moisturizer provide long lasting hydration without irritating skin and this is very lightweight and non greacy you can use this on daily basis also. Use this at least 2 times.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

This is a oil free gel and it is perfect for acne and oily skin. It fight dullness and give you spot free skin.

Clinique Moisturizer

This Moisturizer keep your skin hydrate for a very long time — 72 hours. With the activated aloe vera and caffeine help your skin hydrate and keep the moisture locked in.

Nivea Body Nourishing Milk

This is affordable moisture and it keep your body hydrate for 8–10 hours. It work for all skin types so everyone use this. It gives you a smooth skin.

NIGHT TREATMENT Cream Sandalwood And Saffron By Forest Essential

With the help of these powerful elements your skin hydrate and glow. This is the best night cream and gives you a nice glowing skin.

Follow me on these platforms for more good content .

Instagram — @shreshkachaudhary003

Pinterest — @shreshka003

Twitter — @shreshka

Snapchat — shreshkablogs

Email — shreshkachaudhary8@gmail.com
Snow
By: Kit L.
Tags: Poem, Poetry, Haiku, Winter, Weather

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
A Winter Twilight
Tags: Twilight, Chrismas, Winter, Death, Whisper

by Angelina Weld Grimké

A silence slipping around like death,

Yet chased by a whisper, a sigh, a breath;

One group of trees, lean, naked and cold,

Inking their cress ‘gainst a sky green-gold;

One path that knows where the corn flowers were;

Lonely, apart, unyielding, one fir;

And over it softly leaning down,

One star that I loved ere the fields went brown.

Photo by Hsianglin Tseng
Sun
By: Maria Del Pilar
Tags: Solstice, Cold, Landscape, Sun, Winter

Light showed its splendor, reflecting it on a cloud, it presented the unique act of sunrise, every day and every day different. When the sun climbed up to that cloud, it displayed itself, sending its multiple coloured light rays saying “Good morning” to me. Small than in another season of the year. It is winter, 25 December and our ship, The Earth is further away from The Sun. So it appeared small but radiant, divine.

Meanwhile I danced stamping my feet on the ground and my body embracing the air. The landscape started to get warm after being cold and dark for a while. River, mountain, cloud, sun.
A Very Covid Christmas
By: Joel Eisenberg
Tags: Christmas, Pandemic, Covid 19, Winter, Holidays

A Very Covid Christmas

Stock Image, Pixabay

As of today I have lost four longtime friends and associates to Covid-19. My immediate and extended families are, thankfully, safe for now. We all wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

48 hours ago, I made a quick trek to a local shop. I entered and no one was behind the counter. I waited, and one of the owners exited from a back room without a mask.

“No mask?” I asked. I’ve known the guy for close to five years; this was surprising to me.

“Not anymore.”

“You’re telling me you don’t wear masks here, anymore … at all?”

“We don’t require them for the customers anymore either.”

“Well, you just lost one, bro.”

He looked at me as I was about to turn, and added, “People are getting sick wearing masks. They’re getting sick without wearing masks. We decided to leave it up to our customers.”

I left, finding the explanation unacceptable. The store is in the Los Angeles area, the U.S. location presently considered the “epicenter” of Covid cases and deaths. The day before, I excoriated actor Kirk Cameron for similar irresponsibility holding a mask-less caroling event in nearby area.

I understand the “civil liberties” argument though I vehemently disagree with it. We all hold the same civil liberties, but if I can save a life by doing something as simple as wearing a mask, I will do so.

Four friends of mine lost their lives weeks after encountering people without masks. I mourn each and every one.

Walk a mile in my shoes. If you have lost no one to now, I pray that fortune will remain.
Christmas at Dawn
By: Jason Davis
Tags: Poetry, Winter, Writing, Creativity

Christmas at Dawn

How early is sunrise

In the summer?

By winter

I forget.

The fields

Once broad

As any horizon,

(So it seemed),

Contract,

Bleached white

In snow.

Noon reflections,

If at all,

Burn my sight.

I too reflect;

Tis the time of year

For birthing

Ain’t it?

That which someday

Can resurrect?

Unbury,

There’s food in that root.

More than a bite

To what any

Word screams to mean.

So short; life.

But a splinter from

A limb;

Anywhere begin.

Be the majesty

Of any lost

Horizon.

Sip upon any cup,

Those lips

Look

Too dry.
These 7 Nutritious Foods Will Keep You Warm During The Winter Season
Tags: Healthy Foods, Winter, Healthy Eating, Food

The winters are a time for warm food, drink and clothes. The human body during this season changes metabolism and energy levels. Our food preferences change. There is always an urge to eat more and go on a calorie binge during the winters to warm up and feel more comfortable.

Although your body needs extra protection during these cold months to battle any kind of sickness, the weather should not be a reason for unhealthy eating. There are a variety of winter foods that are not only healthy but tasty as well that can help you stay warm and provide you with nutrients that are necessary for winter.

Here is a list of winter foods that will help you remain fit and healthy during these chilly months.

Sweet Potatoes

While sweet potatoes contain more starch than regular potatoes, they are full of important nutrients like fiber, vitamin A, and potassium. Sweet potatoes are known to help with boosting immunity, cure constipation and reduce inflammation.

Turnips

This starchy vegetable is an excellent source of antioxidants which reduces risk of cancer. It has vitamin K and its leaves contain vitamin A. Eating turnips and its leaves will improve heart health, strengthens your bones and helps with digestion.

Dates

Dates are rich sources of iron, protein, calcium and plenty of other vitamins which are essential to maintain good health and immunity. As winters are infamous for a range of illnesses, adding dates to your daily routine will surely help!

Nuts

Almonds and walnuts are the best winter foods that will keep your nervous system healthy during the winters, boosts insulin sensitivity, and promotes a healthy heart due to high content of vitamin E and omega fats.

Oats

More than being just a comfortable breakfast food, oats contain nutrients that are important for the winter, like zinc which boosts immunity and soluble fibers which are important for a healthy heart, better digestion and bowel movements. Winters make us more susceptible to constipation due to reduced water intake, so a warm oat-porridge shall help relieve or prevent this!

Broccoli and cauliflower

Cruciferous veggies are important for immunity during winters as they are rich in vitamin C, which is known to boost immunity. They can fight off cold and keep you active during this season.

Remaining healthy requires a wholesome approach that should include a good diet and exercise. The best way to consume these winter foods is to incorporate them into your daily diet. This way you are ensuring overall good nutrition. You should also focus on getting enough fluids into your body to keep it healthy.

For a customized diet plan that meets your health goals and takes your lifestyle into account, consult top dietitians on the MFine app.

Despite our best efforts if you feel the sniffles building up or feel your throat itching then you should definitely consult with a doctor and get it checked.
Mega Project: Winter Drive
Tags: Projects, Helping, Megaprojects, Winter

Mega Project: Winter Drive

As Saint Francis Said” Start by doing what is necessary , then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing impossible” and helping others a way we can help ourselves, this life is not always the same today if we are on high, we can also get down and where we are successful and someone else is in tough time, the best responsibility of us to help the one in need. That help can be supporting someone morals or in form of any aid that can tackle their hurdles . and those who have all in their lives would never notice if its summer or winter when they are happy and in order to retain smiles we as human can do a little to bring happiness and smiles.

Problem Statement:

Winter is toughest season and due to the cold , people suffer & need much to fight the cold. In Pakistan winters get cold in northern regions and parts of Balochistan and Punjab and the need and desires to tackle the cold i.e shawls, blankets, gloves, clothes, caps, shoes, socks, beds, shelters etc and other items particular to their need increase which are to be provided to every needy and poor in the society as gesture of kindness, love and humility.

Introduction:

Balochistan is the largest and mineral richest province of the country and despite of its all natural resource i.e Cupper, Gold, Chromium, Lead, Zinc, Gas etc has been neglected since the beginning and poverty rules almost at the top. The lack of infrastructure, quality educational institution, hospitals , electricity , roads etc make it very difficult to survive. Balochistan despite producing the country natural gas since in 1956 providing the rest of the country and suffers to receive natural gas for its own citizens. Only 4 out of 36 districts of Balochistan merely have gas to deal in their daily lives and deadly winters where the temperatures reaches up to freezing points below -16–18 in average. Majority of the province relies on the wood and have to bear the worst winters. Similar conditions do exist in the vicinity of the Quetta where the majority of people get electricity for about 5–8 hours daily and rest of the community outside the capital city spent the winters in dark.

United Nations Development Programme has declared Balochistan being the poorest province of the country lacking basic needs, the province has further fallen down in terms of sustainability and is on top of the poverty index in Pakistan and much needs to be in done in other matters but to tackle the winter it would be a great idea to launch a program and after getting donations distribute people with the needs to kill the winter.
You Can’t Survive Winter Without Surviving Your Neighbors
By: Amy Shearn
Tags: Winter Season, Life, Winter, Holidays, Snow

You Can’t Survive Winter Without Surviving Your Neighbors

Photo: FTiare/Getty Images

Last spring, when the pandemic turned New York City into a weird zombie apocalypse version of itself, I admit that I was one of the many apartment-dwellers who fantasized about moving to the country. All there was to do was hike in the woods anyway, might as well get out there, drop out of the rat race, and live my best folklore-flavored life, right? Well, had I decamped to literally much greener pastures then, I would now be experiencing my first rural winter, and to be honest, I would probably be dead. Or at least very cold and confused. And definitely wondering how to obtain espresso.

Novelist Courtney Maum has some words of wisdom for people now living through their first country winter, and it truly applies to everyone: “Going with the flow is crucial to success in a country winter and beyond.” Maum notes that surviving winter — like surviving any difficult season — takes a lot of planning, grit, and most importantly, community. “But above all, love thy neighbor,” she reminds us. “Love thy neighbor despite the twelve-foot inflatable Grinch they currently have plugged in on their front lawn.” Advice for the ages.
‘10 Tips For Driving In The Snow’
By: Becky Boughton
Tags: Women, Trucking, Truck Drivers, Winter, Driving

‘10 Tips For Driving In The Snow’

“I want you to roll back and forth a bit first…about a foot both ways…then you can stop and park”, said my driving instructor.

We had pulled into the Husky truck stop in Blue River. It was the middle of winter and it was snowing.

Blue River. Enough said.

Stopping to grab a coffee and stretch our legs, we (I!) needed a break before hitting the highway for the four or so hours back to Kamloops.

I was on one of my mandatory ‘long distance’ drives that had to be done before I could take my road test.

Since getting my Class 1 license about 15 years ago, I’ve hauled various materials, with various vehicles/equipment in some cray cray conditions and situations. Hauling in-town, out-of-town, up almost deactivated forest roads, up and down New Afton Mine’s steep switchback, unlit pit road with a full load of concrete at 3am on night shift and it’s -10 degrees celsius and snowing…there were some interesting times driving truck.

Now teaching Braden how to drive in winter, I thought I’d share some tips that may or may not be new and may or may not be helpful.

Here ya’ go:

1.) When parking in the snow, roll back and forth a foot or two when you stop. That way you’ll have a flattened area for your tires to have a bit of a rolling start and not get stuck.

2.) You can use creek water (or any water) as coolant to tide you over when overheating if cruising in the middle of nowhere ;)

3.) (Most of the time) Remember it’s the gas you need to press— not the brakes — around slippery corners when losing traction.

4.) If you see fresh tracks that go off the road and out of sight, have a look and check if anyone is still down there.

5.) Always have a proper kit in your vehicle with first aid supplies, jumper cables, a few snacks, water, one or two cones, flares and other emergency vehicle stuff applicable to your ride.

6.) Learn to change a tire.

7.) Learn to put on a set of chains.

8.) Heed. Speed. (limits ;)

9.) If the road looks dark and wet but the temperature is lingering around zero or below and there isn’t water splashing from the wheels of the vehicle ahead of you, be aware — it’s probably black ice. Temperature is always important to know and constantly check especially when lingering around zero, driving by water (lakes, rivers etc.) and/or in the dark. In winter when it’s snowy and possibly icy, the rule is white roads are better than black roads.

10.) If you have a manual transmission, use your gears as much as possible to slow down when it’s icy. Doing that will save your brakes and the control of your vehicle.

Also, hot tip…pun intended ;)

In the summer if your engine is overheating, turn on the heat full blast. You may enjoy an impromptu sauna experience but it will help get you to the nearest mechanic shop without blowing up your engine.

Safe travels all!

-Becky
Dark before Light before Dark
Tags: Poem, Poets On Medium, 2020, Winter, Poetry

Just before the rain lifted it got

darker as though the

damp hem of a long black dress was

drawn across my face, then the

clouds were torn into great

unmoored battleships slipping with the tide

downstream to destruction or escape,

swept there by a

wind that left the sky almost

albino with seldom-seen stars.
Season’s Greetings
By: Barry Dredze
Tags: Human Civilization, Xmas, Winter, Happy Holidays, Climate Change

Mummers, from a manuscript in the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

Cold. Freaking cold…. Finally! Not that anyone really looks forward to the freaking cold but it is December and at least it feels right, here in the northern hemisphere for when it is.

The recently forecast snow mostly missed us, leaving many of us in the American flyover to light the final candles of Chanuka in a frigid landscape of bare trees and dormant grasses. Memories of a “White Christmas” are fading with the changes to our global climate.

Our winter holidays are too early for the season in these longitudes. MLK, Presidents and St. Valentine’s Days unfortunately lack the cultural juice to really get us through the brutal winters that keep those of us who aren’t snowbirds close to home and hearth through St. Patrick’s Day.

As the sunlight begins to last a little longer with the coming of the solstice, there is only Christmas and the New Year before we all must face the worst of the winter. Our winter holidays are over before the full brutality of the season starts leaning hardest on us here “where rivers freeze and summer ends”.*

The NFL’s “Super Sunday” league championship game has become a decent winter holiday as it creeps deeper into February, right when we need something for those who are left out by St. Valentine’s Day, whether by their own fault or not. Although it appeals most strongly to the residents and fans of the professional football teams in only two metropolitan areas, the social gathering and gambling opportunities created by the spectacle of sport come admirably close to good enough — especially in the off years of the Olympic Games.

It has certainly been tough times for social celebrations, in this time of need for social distancing. However, we as a civilization desperately need to emerge from the other side of this plague with one or two steps forward. We are out of excuses. We have enough choices to pull it off.

*”Girl From the North Country” by Bob Dylan
Haiku 354
By: Zoe Day
Tags: Haiku, Mindfulness, Winter, Poetry, Meditation

Sign up for Writers on Fire Community News

By Writers on Fire

Occasional missives for writers passionate about following the words to see where they may lead... The WOF group is an online writing group affiliated with The Nexus Generation community. Take a look.
Winter Solstice
By: John Twohig
Tags: Solstice, Shortest Day, Winter, December, Winter Solstice

Picture from the Irish Times

The IOS Rooster crows its digital reveille.

Emerging from slumber still sleepy I grumble,

Buried in the comfort of our marital bed,

As the wintery elements resound overhead.

The heating doing battle with the raw morning chill.

Technology persistently announcing the new day agrrrrrrrr.

Screens too costly to contemplate shattering.

Stumbling around in the dark as I wake.

Fumbling for handles and taps, eyes full of sleep.

Another murky morning in the darkness of wintertime.

Winter solstice signals a new dawning.

The shortest day starts another half year cycle.

Lengthening days trigger the re-birthing season.

Our existence ebbs and flows with each passing second.

Relentlessly ticking, tocking, ticking, life just rolls along.

The end

Twitter john_twohig
Winter’s Rest
By: Kat Magik
Tags: Health, Feminism, Sacred Feminine, Inspiration, Winter

The Womb is the keeper of the inner mysteries which in the old ways was seen as the living matrix of life, the dark portal, the void.

The old Celts practiced the Womb Mandala whereby the four seasons of a woman’s cycle from the Summer of ovulation to the Winter of menstruation, like the four cycles of the moon, were seen as synchronously rebirthing new life and generating personal truth in alignment with nature.

From Maiden, Mother, Enchantress to Crone — womb or not — all folks benefited from ‘Wombology’, honouring the natural ebb and flow of life.

Winter is a time to draw deeply from the dark fertile earth, to allow outworn parts of ourselves to be fully seen and fall away. What we shed creates new ground for visions to be planted and creative essence to grow.

And again I find myself embracing it this year….but not.

Resisting the drop, the long nights, the dreaming depths…

But something came through for me in October so very profoundly — the need to fully celebrate and accept the total earthy, ordinariness of life.

To ground deeply with the cyclical everyday and make my baseline strong.

And something I love doing in Winter is reading books about animals, plants, trees, all nature really.

So now I’m snuggling up and learning about owls!

Owls live the Winter’s mystery all year round, nocturnal creatures long misunderstood.

‘An owl is to the night as an eagle is to the day.’

To rest in this moment is a courageous act — all those pieces of ourselves we tend to keep behind the veil come to the fore to be seen and released.