![]() No-no, this is not a post on how to be a better writer, but thanks for checking out my provocative title! Instead I'm going to focus on the word tips and write a bit of my feelings on the subject. I started thinking about tips when I was thirteen-years-old. Every Saturday night my parents and I went to our church's Bingo social. Mom played Bingo. She and her gal pals enjoyed the camaraderie way more than any prizes won. Dad sold scratch-off tickets at the door with his buddies. Mar served sandwiches, chips and drinks to the gamblers. It thrilled me to make people happy, learning that condiments and extra napkins were a sure smile maker. It thrilled me even more when I got a tip for my good service. Whether a nickel, a quarter or even the occasional dollar, my tip jar had a way of filling up week after week. This experience left an imprint on my heart. I tend to be a generous tipper when someone has bent over backwards to make me happy. I also gained an appreciation for the concept that change makes change. I have always valued coins. Once found in my tip jar and now in wallets, pockets, even the street. Mom even gave me a coin counter as my guru go-to for financial suggestions. My favorite clerk in the Post Office told me a remarkable story. He cashed in $600 worth of pennies, mostly found on his daily walks. Four new tires were purchased with small change. As a nurse and teacher, my tips have included:
I've had to refuse some patients / their family over the years who've tried to tip me monetarily ~ as that is a breach of my professional ethics. Yet, the gesture was a tip in itself! My years in the health care profession has undoubtedly influenced my initial reaction to the following posts from respected writing friends... I would never have thought of a writer's tip jar for myself, yet I loved the idea of this being installed on others' websites. I've shared countless posts from writers I follow and via e-mail to friends and colleagues. In addition to a comment of support, the thought of a tip to express my appreciation sounds more than reasonable. Thanks to my ongoing collection of coin, I always have a few extra bucks now for such occasions. I have decided to incorporate my first tip jar in over 40-years (see right)...!
Should some tips find their way to my jar, I'll see this as positive evidence that I have helped someone through my writing. How about you...? I welcome my friends on HubPages to consider building their own website. There is help available with writing webmasters like Angelia Phillips of flashPress, who built my amazing website. Shauna L. Bowling of Bravewarrior's Feathered Pen and Mike Friedman of Mockingbird Books have set up their own websites and provide support and wisdom to me on an ongoing basis. I prefer selecting who I'd like to critique and edit my writing over the external mechanism that's currently being proposed on this site. Having my own Weebly website, I take even more pride and ownership in the writing I share with those who choose to follow me. Websites and virtual tip jars - long may they both live! Hoping to hear soon about your new website - would love to stop by and check out what's cooking. Meanwhile in the rest of Weeblyhood, I have a brand new page on my site I hope you'll check out called I recommend... (just click the title--the link's embedded for you), and please don't miss the Weeblyhood's latest.. Until next week, wishing you peace and hugs, mar
32 Comments
Sunshine
8/26/2015 01:04:52 am
Tip jars are a excellent idea! I always drop tips when I see a jar. Whether I'm picking up pizza for dinner or at my local 7-11 where theirs isn't exactly a tip jar, but for donations for a cause of sorts.
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Gail Sobotkin
8/26/2015 01:58:39 am
Dear Maria,
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Dear Mareer,
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Dear Vickster,
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Shauna
8/26/2015 02:38:08 am
Mar, like Linda, I usually tip when I see a physical tip jar. It wasn't until Vicki's post - and now seeing Linda's comment - that I realized there's really no difference between a cyber tip and an in-person one.
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Mike
8/26/2015 07:36:23 am
Hello Maria - What an interesting concept a virtual tip jar. I'll have to give that some thought. I might put an 'idea jar' on my page. People could stop by and give me their ideas. Oh, wait, that could lead to trouble. Ok, we'll stick with your idea.
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8/26/2015 07:38:07 am
Prof. Mahreer,
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Dear femme,
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Mike
8/26/2015 07:38:54 am
Oh, and thanks for showcasing my work on your 'I Recommend' page.
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Dear Maria,
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Vinaya Ghimire
8/27/2015 03:45:34 pm
I heard about this "tip" idea from Vicki and I liked this very much. I don't have my own website or blog and most of my writings are pulished on residual income sites like HubPages. Since couple of months I am also thinking to start my own website. In fact I have a weebly account, however, I have not decided to go free weebly or weebly pro. My paypal has zero balance, once I have few bucks I will off course make some tips.
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Angie
8/28/2015 12:39:17 am
Hi, Maria - this has become a really hot topic here! I should investigate it for my site, too, I suppose. I really need to get on the ball and add content to my site - it's kind of bare as of late.
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Theresa
8/31/2015 09:33:12 am
Do I hear a big Cha-Ching! What a progressive idea here, I must say. I am reminded of the struggling musicians on the streets collecting donations in their hats from passersby. Or in church when alms for the poor are collected as a love offering. I'd like to think of it as a love offering for all the love you share to others. Darling Maria, I would love to make a deposit in your change jar and it just happens that I just received my second payment from HP in well over three years to my PayPal account LOL ...so pitiful, but any who, I do not have a PayPal card to even begin to know how to send anything to anyone else, and I have had to reset my password the two times I accessed PayPal because I can't remember it. Well, I did figure out how to get it transferred to my bank account so I can at least use my debit card. So, having stated all of that, how about the next mailing I send to you I'll include a large roll or two of stamps, being you are always so thoughtful to mail out cards and packages to all ...would that help any and be considered some sort of a tip? Plus, I am sending you a ton of warm southern hugs your way, however, I am mindful that is like saying (as God tells us) when we see a hungry person or a cold person on the street, we just say, "Be blessed, stay warm" and walk away! Does no good at all ...
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Dear Theresa,
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Genna East
9/6/2015 02:40:12 pm
What a wonderful idea, Maria. :-)
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Hi dear Maria,
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Thanks for stopping back, dear Vicki.
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