I am so passionate about This American Life that I have asked my husband Ted only to talk to me during the hour it plays if someone is in danger. Oftentimes, I will sit in the car in the garage when I return home so that I can hear the rest of a story or news item. I cannot risk rushing into the house and turning the radio on as I might miss a gem in those 30 seconds.

I have learned a ton from NPR and I have been entertained enormously. This week I learned a big lesson thanks to NPR—although not in the usual way. I was not even listening to the radio.

This lesson came as I worked a volunteer shift at my local public radio station. I had offered to cover the afternoon shift during the Spring fund drive. So three men, one in his sixties, one in his forties, and one in his twenties, and I gathered around a table with phones and pledge forms at hand. During the on-air pitch when listeners were asked to call in, donate, and become members of the station, we kept busy answering phones. Then it would quiet down for 15 or 20 minutes until the next on-air pleas were made.

Extravert. Chatterbox. People person. Perhaps even busybody. These are apt descriptions of my personality. And on that afternoon at the radio station, I was sitting with three introverts. So I, of course, felt obligated to keep the conversation flowing.

I told the group of a recent mishap, the totaling of our Saab. My husband Ted was driving through an intersection and a woman ran a red light, hit the passenger side of the Saab, and scrunched it. When I saw the car a couple of hours later, I was amazed that Ted’s injuries consisted of only a couple of bruises. The Saab had done what it was supposed to have done and it kept Ted safe despite the extreme damage to the car.

But what a hassle. And Ted and I had just had a conversation over the weekend about, while it was a good time to buy a car, it would be nice to go another two or three years without a car payment. Turns out we meant two or three days! I whined about it for a while.

And I kept talking to my audience of three and asking them questions about themselves. And in the course of the afternoon I gleaned much about my co-workers.

The man in his sixties talked of his dog. He mentioned how much that companionship meant to him now that his wife had passed.

The man in his forties, upon learning that I had attended law school, asked me questions about bankruptcy. He had had a bad motorcycle accident a couple of years earlier and the medical bills were doing him in financially. His house was in foreclosure and his credit card debt was gargantuan.

I asked the man in his twenties if he had ever worked the pledge drive before. No, he informed me, he had not. He said he was only there that week for the public service hours he needed for his drunken driving offense. The whole ordeal had cost him so much cash that he had ended up quitting school, moved back in with his father, and basically had nothing. Did I mention he was in a wheel chair? He assured me that it was not connected to his drunken driving offense.

Wow, losing a car was put into perspective. Ted is fine and all that is missing is a thing. Life is wonderful!

Colorado Springs resident Cynthia Nimerichter has a juris doctorate from the University Of Colorado School Of Law and spent most of her legal career as a successful Deputy District Attorney, where she excelled in the prosecution of those charged with physical and sexual violence against women and children. In addition to a full schedule of inspirational speaking engagements, she also authors a weekly newspaper column in The Philadelphia Bulletin titled “Related by Marriage.”

While her column exudes humor, warmth, and insight in print, Cynthia’s professional speaking engagements project these same qualities in person. Her message – “You Deserve a Delicious Life!” – inspires audiences to consciously live in a more grateful, gracious, and generous way. The Delicious Theory™ will change your view of the world!

For thirty years, community involvement has driven Cynthia, who has served on nonprofit boards and committees, and organized countless fundraisers. She was recently honored as one of the Colorado Springs Business Journal’s “Women of Influence” and the Accolades Committee is very pleased and fortunate to be able to announce that she will deliver the keynote address at the 2009 Accolades Award Luncheon at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort, August 18.

“I attended the CLE presentation you put on yesterday at the EPA.  I did not have an opportunity to thank you for your presentation. I found your presentation to be the best one all day, but more importantly, I found you to be inspirational.  For me, your presentation came at the exact right time. Just the day before, I decided to work up a plan to get myself back to being grateful for the good things I have in my life. I have very much lost that positive outlook after losing a family member earlier this year. So, thank you for doing what you do.” -Melody Mirbaba, Assistant Attorney General

“On behalf of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, thank you for your participation in the Legal Ethics for Government Attorneys program. Your presentation was informative and interesting. The response from the audience was overwhelmingly positive. I appreciate your time and effort to keep us current in this important, but often neglected, area of law.”

-Michael T. Risner, Director, Legal Enforcement Program

“The Delicious Theorytm applies to everyone, no matter what your profession. As a lawyer, I believe Cynthia’s theories are relevant to each of us and her speech has inspired me to work on being more gracious. The legal profession would be greatly enhanced if there was more graciousness and professionalism!”
- Leslie Hansen, Assistant District Attorney, 18th Judicial District

“Cynthia’s presentation to our Judges and Magistrates was entertaining, inspirational, and thought-provoking. Cynthia’s Delicious Theory has universal relevance and appeal, from the courtroom to the boardroom, to the classroom, to the playground, and everywhere in between. Her marvelous sense of humor and use of poignant anecdotes makes it impossible to ignore her wake up call. We all deserve a delicious life and Cynthia’s recipe can help us get there.”

Honorable Ann Rotolo, County Court Judge

“Cynthia’s ‘Delicious’ presentation to the Pikes Peak Advertising Federation’s membership and guests was both much needed and quite relevant. In a time of high stress and enormous pressure to over-perform, her topic was a breath of fresh air that people walked away from feeling energized. To this day, we are still receiving positive comments about her presentation, with people thanking us for having the foresight to bring in such a dynamic and thought-provoking speaker. Thank you for what you do!”

- Mark Boswell, President, Pikes Peak Advertising Federation

“This delicious concept has legs!”

- Attendee at a presentation to Advertisers

“I love the delicious theory™. Since I have heard it, I have used it and it has changed my life! Now I say no and I don’t feel guilty. I simply explain the principle–it is liberating!”

- Cari Davis, Director of Communications & Marketing, Memorial Health System

Handouts for Civility Course
(click to download PDF)

Cynthia has created a keynote speech for attorneys that has been approved in Colorado for an hour of legal ethics and professionalism CLE credit. The topic can be expanded to a 2 or 3 hour training.

Discussed are the problems of declining civility, the importance of good relationships, and finding our unique and individual talents and using them to create a fulfilling and civil life. After all, what is graciousness if not being the consummate professional?

“The Delicious Theory™ applies to everyone, no matter what your profession. As a lawyer, I believe Cynthia’s theories are relevant to each of us and her speech has inspired me to work on being more gracious. The legal profession would be greatly enhanced if there was more graciousness and professionalism!” - Leslie Hansen, Assistant District Attorney, 18th Judicial District

“Cynthia’s presentation to our Judges and Magistrates was entertaining, inspirational, and thought-provoking. Cynthia’s Delicious Theory™ has universal relevance and appeal, from the courtroom to the boardroom, to the classroom, to the playground, and everywhere in between. Her marvelous sense of humor and use of poignant anecdotes makes it impossible to ignore her wake up call. We all deserve a delicious life and Cynthia’s recipe can help us get there.” – Honorable Ann Rotolo, County Court Judge

“Public schools are being forced to do more with fewer resources. This can be wearing and frustrating. But after hearing Cynthia’s upbeat motivational message, staffs pull together to face the task at hand as a team. It is delicious!”
Anne Cook, Assistant Principal