An inspirational New Year’s message from Milwaukee’s retail past and present
By Jeff Sherman
In the pile of morning e-mails, one stood out today. And, it’s one that I love to get every year.
Mark Pasch, the owner of Mark Pasch Ltd. in Bayside, a suburb of Milwaukee, annually shares a New Year’s message from his father, who owned Polacheck’s, a men’s store at 227 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Downtown Milwaukee.
Polacheck’s was founded in 1887 and Mark’s father and grandfather bought it in 1959. It closed nearly 30 years ago.
Pasch’s father shared the following message every New Year's Day with his customers. I’m sharing it now too.
TOMORROW (and as many tomorrows as you can)
Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word or deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine your demands on other. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Go to your house of worship. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty of the world. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still once again.
Happy New Year, Milwaukee.
