I received a card yesterday in the mail at the office which brought tears to my eyes. (As I write that statement, I wonder how many times I've done that lately - things bringing tears to my eyes). Anyway - as I've mentioned before, this is 'Administrative Professional Week'. At least it is on my calendar cause I put it there. It's all about me, right? Anyway, back to this card. It was from two of our nurses in Tucson that I only see perhaps once a month when they drive up for a meeting, and usually do not even have conversation with them otherwise.
The front of the card has 3 small children on the it with the statement, 'Medicines and medical supplies will be distributed in your honor.' Inside - 'Because of this gift....their future is brighter.'
and handwritten by the nurses, "During this week of employee appreciation we wanted you to know how very much we appreciate all that you do all year long and thought we would express our gratitude by making a donation in your name. Truly we are grateful for the way you make everyone's day brighter and life richer with the daily census messages. We absolutely love the way you have helped organize our staff meetings. You are awesome and a huge thanks for all that you do! (signed) Your Tucson friends..."
What a thoughtful gesture. I don't need a gift. How thoughtful they 'honored' me in this way. It helps someone who truly needs help, and honored me by doing it in my name.
Just like Jesus is honored when we do things for Him, and do them in His name. I don't mean just praying in His name, but actually DOING something.
Like giving money or food to the homeless. We don't (or shouldn't) do it because it makes us feel better, but because we have compassion on them. Just like Jesus does. But for the grace of God, there go I....
Like preparing a meal for someone who is broken-hearted. Or just for someone who has a need. Or just doing it to be a blessing.
I like to prepare extra food sometimes so that I can share it with my children and grandchildren. Sometimes also with the neighbors. I don't do it to make myself feel better, I do it because I love them.
Just like Jesus loves us. Me. You. He shows His thoughtfulness by orchestrating the unexpected surprises in our day. When He walks with us throughout this journey of life. He's with us when we narrowly miss an accident with our vehicle. He is still with us if we are involved in it, and He will take care of us. When we let Him.
Be thoughtful with / for someone today. Be kind. It benefits you as well as them.
Blessings!
Friday, April 25, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
I had a thought earlier.....
but I have obviously lost it. I started a post yesterday, and got about two sentences in it when I got interrupted. It has been a busy week - distracting, interrupting, scattered thoughts and all that stuff. I really had a good thought earlier too! Bummer. Therefore, you may have to listen just to my usual ramblings. The lack of thought must be going around - I've noticed my son hasn't written anything on his blog since Monday either!
Yesterday was 'Administrative Professional Day' - what used to be 'Secretary's Day' and then 'Administrative Assistant Day' - it's almost like 'good grief' we know who we are! But I did get "honored" as an "administrative professional". I know why they changed the title to professional - for example, there are about six women that I work with that they are called 'program coordinators'. They input information into a program and so specific work for a group of people. But they aren't administrative assistants. By making the day administrative professional - it just means more people get recognized who normally wouldn't be recognized for what they do. In the 'old' world, they would be called clerks and I would be called a secretary. Same work, just a different title.
It reminds me at a former job I had the same job, and numerous titles. Let's see if I can remember them all. I started out as a Statistician. Then it was changed to Auditor. Then it was changed to Medical Services Assistant. Then to Prior Authorization Clerk. Then to Medical Management Assistant. Then - shoot, I can't even remember them all. Over time the position evolved into other things and my responsibilities changed, but I stayed in that same position until I took a "promotion" to Administrative Assistant at that company. Here at my new company I started as a referral specialist, then took a promotion to Administrative Assistant. I guess I've gone full circle now.
My boss is in St. Louis for a meeting but that didn't stop her and some of the managers and directors I work with to honor me yesterday. They went together and had a huge bouquet of flowers sent to me with a balloon that says 'Thanks'. My boss had given me a card before she left - and in it she said we'd do something after she comes back. I know next weekend (not this one) we are meeting up with a mutual friend for breakfast, then my boss and I are going to get our toes done. She's buying. I'm not saying no. :-)
With my boss being gone I've been able to sit in her office and spread out all over her desk to get my work done. Haven't been able to get through as many minutes as I had hoped yesterday, but I've made a good dent. My plan is to work from home tomorrow morning for a few hours, then meet up with my daughter for lunch. After that I'm not sure whether I'll get back on the computer and work more, or just take the afternoon off too. Saturday we are running away for a couple days. A few weeks ago the stress of life was really getting to me so I suggested we get away for a couple days. We have no major plans - but just get away from home. Marley gets to visit her friends at the Pet Hotel. I'm also taking Monday off work so will not come home until that day. Then a grandson is being inducted into the National Honor Society that evening so we will be going to that. Tuesday will back to work as usual. But just having a couple days off will be nice.
I have decided we are not going to Indiana over the first part of May for the One America 500 Festival Mini Marathon. Financially we couldn't do it, but would have found a way if my heart was in it. This past year has taken its toll on me with all the family issues going on so I decided to take a year off. I have talked with my boss though and she is thinking of doing it with me next year. Which means she and I can train together on weekends occasionally and perhaps I can find my heart to put myself into it. If she does go with me, it will be a quick trip as I won't leave her alone while I'm running with family. Will have to see how the year goes. I've signed up to do a few 5Ks here in Arizona - my youngest son, my hubby, and my daughter have signed up to do some with me. Just trying to keep active.
I have to laugh - as I wrote the last sentence in the above paragraph my older brother sent me an email with Walkmeter that showed he just finished a walk of 5+ miles. And he only walked a little over an hour. That is a good pace. He hasn't been able to get out to walk due to all the snow and cold weather that state has had - but he has kept active. He sent it with a note to encourage me to never give up, but to keep walking and pushing myself to keep in shape. I needed that, for I have allowed life to wear me down and I haven't done anything lately.
Except work. Which means it is now 8AM and I need to get off here and start working. That's what they pay me for. Not to sit here and look beautiful (although I do). :-) Hope that you have a good day. Enjoy it - you never know if it will be your last.
Keep Active!
Blessings!
Yesterday was 'Administrative Professional Day' - what used to be 'Secretary's Day' and then 'Administrative Assistant Day' - it's almost like 'good grief' we know who we are! But I did get "honored" as an "administrative professional". I know why they changed the title to professional - for example, there are about six women that I work with that they are called 'program coordinators'. They input information into a program and so specific work for a group of people. But they aren't administrative assistants. By making the day administrative professional - it just means more people get recognized who normally wouldn't be recognized for what they do. In the 'old' world, they would be called clerks and I would be called a secretary. Same work, just a different title.
It reminds me at a former job I had the same job, and numerous titles. Let's see if I can remember them all. I started out as a Statistician. Then it was changed to Auditor. Then it was changed to Medical Services Assistant. Then to Prior Authorization Clerk. Then to Medical Management Assistant. Then - shoot, I can't even remember them all. Over time the position evolved into other things and my responsibilities changed, but I stayed in that same position until I took a "promotion" to Administrative Assistant at that company. Here at my new company I started as a referral specialist, then took a promotion to Administrative Assistant. I guess I've gone full circle now.
My boss is in St. Louis for a meeting but that didn't stop her and some of the managers and directors I work with to honor me yesterday. They went together and had a huge bouquet of flowers sent to me with a balloon that says 'Thanks'. My boss had given me a card before she left - and in it she said we'd do something after she comes back. I know next weekend (not this one) we are meeting up with a mutual friend for breakfast, then my boss and I are going to get our toes done. She's buying. I'm not saying no. :-)
With my boss being gone I've been able to sit in her office and spread out all over her desk to get my work done. Haven't been able to get through as many minutes as I had hoped yesterday, but I've made a good dent. My plan is to work from home tomorrow morning for a few hours, then meet up with my daughter for lunch. After that I'm not sure whether I'll get back on the computer and work more, or just take the afternoon off too. Saturday we are running away for a couple days. A few weeks ago the stress of life was really getting to me so I suggested we get away for a couple days. We have no major plans - but just get away from home. Marley gets to visit her friends at the Pet Hotel. I'm also taking Monday off work so will not come home until that day. Then a grandson is being inducted into the National Honor Society that evening so we will be going to that. Tuesday will back to work as usual. But just having a couple days off will be nice.
I have decided we are not going to Indiana over the first part of May for the One America 500 Festival Mini Marathon. Financially we couldn't do it, but would have found a way if my heart was in it. This past year has taken its toll on me with all the family issues going on so I decided to take a year off. I have talked with my boss though and she is thinking of doing it with me next year. Which means she and I can train together on weekends occasionally and perhaps I can find my heart to put myself into it. If she does go with me, it will be a quick trip as I won't leave her alone while I'm running with family. Will have to see how the year goes. I've signed up to do a few 5Ks here in Arizona - my youngest son, my hubby, and my daughter have signed up to do some with me. Just trying to keep active.
I have to laugh - as I wrote the last sentence in the above paragraph my older brother sent me an email with Walkmeter that showed he just finished a walk of 5+ miles. And he only walked a little over an hour. That is a good pace. He hasn't been able to get out to walk due to all the snow and cold weather that state has had - but he has kept active. He sent it with a note to encourage me to never give up, but to keep walking and pushing myself to keep in shape. I needed that, for I have allowed life to wear me down and I haven't done anything lately.
Except work. Which means it is now 8AM and I need to get off here and start working. That's what they pay me for. Not to sit here and look beautiful (although I do). :-) Hope that you have a good day. Enjoy it - you never know if it will be your last.
Keep Active!
Blessings!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Ramblings of the day....
What a blessed Easter it has been thus far. I woke up the first time around 3AM with a song going around in my head. I managed to doze off for a short while, when it woke me up again. Same song. I don't even know the name of it. A Christian song, of course, of which one of the versus is "I want to know Your heart". I finally got up at 4-something. I figured it was easier to get up and start my quiet time rather than toss and turn and be awake and wake hubby up too. It was nice getting to have a little extra time on Sunday morning that I didn't expect. We planned to go to an earlier service so that we could help greet, take offering, and serve communion. So we did that, and after the service headed home.
I didn't see any family because I am assuming that they will be going to the 10:30AM service. I thought briefly about going down to where we see a grandson before we left, but I didn't think our daughter in law would have arrived yet. Which probably means we won't see even our granddaughter who may be up from Tucson.
Life sucks sometimes when family squabbles. The division between them all affects everyone, not just those involved. I find I cry more, I'm sad more, and I just want to be alone more. I see no end to the squabbles until someone involved will decide 'enough' and begin the process of setting people free. Little do they realize how much they all are in bondage to each other. It's kind of funny, in an odd sort of way. They have put themselves in bondage to the person they are angry with because they have allowed their actions and words to crush them, to anger them, to defeat them. They would deny that, I'm sure, but it's the same o same o. If you hold anger within your heart, you are giving yourself into bondage of that anger.
When I think of the bondage these family members have placed themselves in, and how unhappy they are, even on their very best day they will have an unhappy heart until they let go of the bondage and anger and set things straight. Staying away doesn't mean it isn't there. Not speaking to the offense doesn't make it right. One needs to acknowledge their part and say the I'm sorry, please forgive me - in order to release yourself from bondage.
Besides, those people holding themselves in bondage aren't much fun to be around because they keep you on edge as everything can set them off in a fit of anger. It's the bondage.
It always reminds me of the trailer for Spiderman II, I think it is, where he becomes mean and covered in black web because of his anger of the man who killed his uncle. His revenge. This is happening, has happened, to those in bondage. They have covered themselves in black web - the black web of anger, bondage, and death to life.
You can not live if you have anger so intense in your heart and mind that you can not let it go. You will destroy every relationship you have and hold dear. It may seem fine now, but until you resolve your issue with the unforgiveness and anger, it will destroy not only your relationship with those you love most, but it will destroy you.
Wow - I've gone from thinking what a wonderful Easter morning it has been, to complete depression over all the issues of others. Currently I'm not angry with anyone, and I don't think anyone is angry with me. But, as you can see, the bondages of others does affect others. I hurt for everyone.
See, I had a family member who stepped away from the family for nearly seven years, and although it wasn't solely directed at me, but everyone, it hurt. I apologized, although I didn't know what I had done. I continued to remember birthdays and holidays. I refused to stay out of their life, but continued to do all I could to bring healing. Finally, healing came. My conscience was clear in that I did all I could to make it better. Now we are friends again. It was very hard though, and I cried many tears, and said many prayers. I did my part, then had to allow God to do His part in bring restoration and healing.
But on another positive note, the ham is in the oven heating up, and the potato salad is made. I'm thinking I should pull some out for a son who loves my potato salad and will not be there today. I just might do that, although I didn't make that much as I knew it would be a small group today. Taking my swimsuit too. It's a beautiful 'hot' day and I have some pain in my back from stress - it will be good to sit in the spa and let the heat work on it.
I guess I've rambled enough. Hope that you have a blessed Easter day. Take some time to remember why we have an Easter. No, not because of the Easter bunny. But because of Jesus' sacrifice for you, and for me, and took all my sins, and yours, and let them be put upon Him, allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross, and died for our sins. Thank you Jesus.
Blessings!
I didn't see any family because I am assuming that they will be going to the 10:30AM service. I thought briefly about going down to where we see a grandson before we left, but I didn't think our daughter in law would have arrived yet. Which probably means we won't see even our granddaughter who may be up from Tucson.
Life sucks sometimes when family squabbles. The division between them all affects everyone, not just those involved. I find I cry more, I'm sad more, and I just want to be alone more. I see no end to the squabbles until someone involved will decide 'enough' and begin the process of setting people free. Little do they realize how much they all are in bondage to each other. It's kind of funny, in an odd sort of way. They have put themselves in bondage to the person they are angry with because they have allowed their actions and words to crush them, to anger them, to defeat them. They would deny that, I'm sure, but it's the same o same o. If you hold anger within your heart, you are giving yourself into bondage of that anger.
When I think of the bondage these family members have placed themselves in, and how unhappy they are, even on their very best day they will have an unhappy heart until they let go of the bondage and anger and set things straight. Staying away doesn't mean it isn't there. Not speaking to the offense doesn't make it right. One needs to acknowledge their part and say the I'm sorry, please forgive me - in order to release yourself from bondage.
Besides, those people holding themselves in bondage aren't much fun to be around because they keep you on edge as everything can set them off in a fit of anger. It's the bondage.
It always reminds me of the trailer for Spiderman II, I think it is, where he becomes mean and covered in black web because of his anger of the man who killed his uncle. His revenge. This is happening, has happened, to those in bondage. They have covered themselves in black web - the black web of anger, bondage, and death to life.
You can not live if you have anger so intense in your heart and mind that you can not let it go. You will destroy every relationship you have and hold dear. It may seem fine now, but until you resolve your issue with the unforgiveness and anger, it will destroy not only your relationship with those you love most, but it will destroy you.
Wow - I've gone from thinking what a wonderful Easter morning it has been, to complete depression over all the issues of others. Currently I'm not angry with anyone, and I don't think anyone is angry with me. But, as you can see, the bondages of others does affect others. I hurt for everyone.
See, I had a family member who stepped away from the family for nearly seven years, and although it wasn't solely directed at me, but everyone, it hurt. I apologized, although I didn't know what I had done. I continued to remember birthdays and holidays. I refused to stay out of their life, but continued to do all I could to bring healing. Finally, healing came. My conscience was clear in that I did all I could to make it better. Now we are friends again. It was very hard though, and I cried many tears, and said many prayers. I did my part, then had to allow God to do His part in bring restoration and healing.
But on another positive note, the ham is in the oven heating up, and the potato salad is made. I'm thinking I should pull some out for a son who loves my potato salad and will not be there today. I just might do that, although I didn't make that much as I knew it would be a small group today. Taking my swimsuit too. It's a beautiful 'hot' day and I have some pain in my back from stress - it will be good to sit in the spa and let the heat work on it.
I guess I've rambled enough. Hope that you have a blessed Easter day. Take some time to remember why we have an Easter. No, not because of the Easter bunny. But because of Jesus' sacrifice for you, and for me, and took all my sins, and yours, and let them be put upon Him, allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross, and died for our sins. Thank you Jesus.
Blessings!
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Ready for a weekend....
I am definitely ready for some time off work. ironically, the past two weeks hasn't been that busy. I've had about 5 meetings, but it hasn't been too bad. My BIG meeting is next week and that is what I will be doing all day today, all day Monday. Yeah, didn't mention Friday because our company - thank you very much - has given us a "spring holiday" and it is this Friday, which is also Good Friday. I like having the extra day.
I do have to get up early though. I forgot we were off Friday and took the 3AM shift for prayer on our 24 hour prayer week. I could have changed it, once I realized that I had the day off, but I got to thinking about it.... Jesus wouldn't put me aside to fit His schedule. Why should I change things to make it convenient for me. If it doesn't 'cost' me anything (in this case, sleep), then why bother doing it?
We are having an egg decorating contest today. On a whim last night I decorated a couple eggs. I am not a decorator, I have no sense of decorating or creating anything. But I did it. And I had fun doing it. Well, I was going to show you photos - but they won't let me post. I'm not on my home computer so have to be careful what I do here. Oh well.
Picture one egg as a bride, and the other as a groom. Don't ask me why I did that - it just evolved. It was silly, yet fun to complete. Will see if I win a prize.
Tomorrow is a day off - which is nice. I may go back to bed after my 3AM prayer time. I think I will clean our closets - but if not - that's ok too. The only thing scheduled is getting my hair cut at 2:30PM. It's time for the hair cut. Saturday we are heading up to Sedona late morning to see the site of the son's wedding this fall. Not sure why they want to go up early to show us - but it will be a fun day and something to do.
Sunday of course is church. We are doing the early service so that we can relax the rest of the day. I guess family isn't getting together this year - well, other than us going over to the daughter's house. One thing for sure, it saves money for I don't have to buy such a big ham. I thought about switching to steaks for something different, although it is not my favorite, but ham has always been Easter and various ones want to keep the traditional Easter meal even without everyone attending. We will still have fun. I will definitely miss everyone being around.
But sometimes even I have to 'let go'.
And now I have to let go of this blog - it's time to get to work and I have so much to get accomplished today.
Have a blessed weekend!
Blessings1
I do have to get up early though. I forgot we were off Friday and took the 3AM shift for prayer on our 24 hour prayer week. I could have changed it, once I realized that I had the day off, but I got to thinking about it.... Jesus wouldn't put me aside to fit His schedule. Why should I change things to make it convenient for me. If it doesn't 'cost' me anything (in this case, sleep), then why bother doing it?
We are having an egg decorating contest today. On a whim last night I decorated a couple eggs. I am not a decorator, I have no sense of decorating or creating anything. But I did it. And I had fun doing it. Well, I was going to show you photos - but they won't let me post. I'm not on my home computer so have to be careful what I do here. Oh well.
Picture one egg as a bride, and the other as a groom. Don't ask me why I did that - it just evolved. It was silly, yet fun to complete. Will see if I win a prize.
Tomorrow is a day off - which is nice. I may go back to bed after my 3AM prayer time. I think I will clean our closets - but if not - that's ok too. The only thing scheduled is getting my hair cut at 2:30PM. It's time for the hair cut. Saturday we are heading up to Sedona late morning to see the site of the son's wedding this fall. Not sure why they want to go up early to show us - but it will be a fun day and something to do.
Sunday of course is church. We are doing the early service so that we can relax the rest of the day. I guess family isn't getting together this year - well, other than us going over to the daughter's house. One thing for sure, it saves money for I don't have to buy such a big ham. I thought about switching to steaks for something different, although it is not my favorite, but ham has always been Easter and various ones want to keep the traditional Easter meal even without everyone attending. We will still have fun. I will definitely miss everyone being around.
But sometimes even I have to 'let go'.
And now I have to let go of this blog - it's time to get to work and I have so much to get accomplished today.
Have a blessed weekend!
Blessings1
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Sometimes we just need to look at another person's perspective....
I've noticed this a lot lately - people jumping on the bandwagon about one thing or another - not realizing that there is a possibility, small or large, that they could be wrong. Do I hear a 'GASP'? Yes, I said some people can believe the wrong things about others. Why do they believe it? Because they have been told it by someone they trust. Or they form their own opinion from things that happened to them. Or they see how another person may have been treated.
But it all comes down to perspective.
From our perspectives come disappointment or dislike. From our perspectives can also come respect, like, love, and admiration. Opinions about people will suddenly drop and you won't feel quite as comfortable around them. You start to build a wall to protect yourself because you have seen - or felt - firsthand what viciousness can come forth - or you feel comfortable, accepted, loved by them. It is based on your perspective of situations, problems, and people.
Unfortunately there is a lot of self-perspective going on in my family right now. A lot of hurt. Big fractures. Division. Separation. I sit back (I've learned to try and stay out of these situations to protect myself)and watch, and read, and listen - and it still comes down to the perspective of what each individual sees. Things said in fun or teasingly to one is taken as hateful by another and comments are made. So of course the first person it was directed at shuts down at the one who was trying to make light of a situation. Anger happens.
People are human. I know that may surprise some of you. People can be mean, but they can also be loving. Until you walk in the other person's shoes to understand why they did what they did, you really can not judge their response to a situation.
We all go through tough times. We all do things we wish we didn't do. Especially if it fractures relationships. So the relationship is fractured - what are you going to do to help mend it? You may have to endure some harsh words. You may need to choose not to respond just for someone to get those words in your face. It will crush you. It will fracture your heart. Trust me, I have been there. Only time will heal the wounds that break the heart. No words can heal it quickly, no I'm sorrys, no hugs, only time can eventually heal. But you have to take the first step and begin the healing process.
You have to let it go. You will cry. You will get angry. But the longer you hold it in, it changes you. You become bitter. You become mean. You become cold and unfeeling. Unfortunately, it is also to those you love the most. You take it out on them because they are the closest to you. The only way you can get over it, to let it go, is to choose to let it go.
Yes, I said choose. You can choose to hang on to your hurt, your anger, your frustration and push everyone away from you. Or you can let it go and choose to look for the good in others, in the situation, put yourself in their shoes for that moment and try to understand why such situations occurred. It could have been nothing more but burned your finger that morning on the stove and the pain put you on edge so that when anyone said anything to you - you went off on them. They may not have known you hurt your finger, so they went off back on you. And it escalates. No one stops to understand it was only because one person burned their finger and it hurt.
So how to you become better at seeing things from another person's perspective? By doing four things.
1. Leave your place of perspective and visit their place of perspective. In others words, walk the mile in their shoes. Put yourself in their shoes to understand why did they do what they did?
In the 1930s, American Airways, which later became American Airlines, had a tremendous problem with complaints from passengers about lost luggage. LaMotte Cohn, general manager of the airline at that time, tried to get his station managers to overcome this issue, but he saw little progress. Finally he came upon an idea to help the airline’s personnel to see things from their customers’ points of view. Cohn asked all of the station managers from across the country to fly to company headquarters for a meeting. Then he made sure that every manager’s luggage was lost in transit. Afterward, the airline suddenly made a huge leap of efficiency in that area.
2. Acknowledge that the other person has a valid viewpoint. There will always be differences of opinion. That's all right. My viewpoint isn't right just because it's mine. Your viewpoint isn't right just because it is yours. Be willing to look at both sides.
3. Check your attitude. You feel offended and taken advantage of. You become bitter and angry and hurt. You start striking out at those around you. Why? Because you let something eat at you until you are living and breathing only the issue. Stop and evaluate how you carry yourself around others. Your attitude affects your job, your relationship with those you work with (it isn't just their fault you are having difficulty with them - part of it could be your attitude towards them because of your anger toward someone else) and your relationship with family and friends. Your children and spouse usually end up getting the brunt of your attitude.
Life is too short to hold a grudge against someone. If that person should die and you have a grudge against them, you will become even more embittered because you did not resolve the issue. You missed opportunities to love them. To share in their life. Staying away from a person that caused you hurt and anger doesn't heal the situation. It creates a wedge that over time creates more confusion and hurt to the one it is directed at. Talk to them, clear the air. You can agree to disagree. That's ok. But walk away with a clear conscience that you did everything you could to resolve the situation.
4. Ask others what they would do in your situation. That is a tricky one. Your friends and those close to you would probably tell you that your anger and hurt is justified. I've seen some 'two-facing' going on these past few months that has truly disappointed me. I never expected anything but honesty in these people. When you ask others what they would do, be sure you have put yourself in the other person's shoes so that you can see their side for what they did. Don't do the 'blame game'. You only hurt others by blaming those you think is the root cause of the situation. But in blaming others, you do not accept your own part. If compensation or apology has been made, you need to let it go for you are still living in the past.
There is something to be said about the song 'Let it go' and it has become a favorite of mine. I choose NOT to live in the past. What has happened, has happened. I can not go back and change it. I can only look at what is before me and see how I can make it better. I choose to look to today and to my future. If I lived in what happened last week, last month, last year - though things did happen that crushed my spirit, I choose to see how I can grow past it today. I don't want to be a bitter old woman that no one will want to be around. I want to be loved and cherished, joyful until the day I die. I want people whose lives I touched be sad I'm gone.
If you put yourself in the place of others instead of putting others in their place, it changes the way you see life, and it changes the way you live it. Author and speaker Dan Clark recalls that when he was a teenager, he and his father once stood in line to buy tickets for the circus. As they waited, they noticed the family immediately in front of them. The parents were holding hands, and they had eight children in tow, all well behaved and all probably under the age of twelve. Based on their clean but simple clothing, he suspected that they didn’t have a lot of money. The kids jabbered about the exciting things they expected to see, and he could tell that the circus was going to be a new adventure for them.
As the couple approached the counter, the attendant asked how many tickets they wanted. The man proudly responded, “Please let me buy eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets so I can take my family to the circus.”
When the attendant quoted the price, the man’s wife let go of his hand and her head dropped. The man leaned a little closer and asked, “How much did you say?” The attendant again quoted the price. The man obviously didn’t have enough money. He looked crushed.
Clark says that his father watched all of this, put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a twenty-dollar bill, and dropped it on the ground. His father than reached down, picked up the bill, tapped the man on the shoulder, and said, “Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket.”
The man knew exactly what was going on. He looked straight into Clark’s father’s eyes, took his hand, shook it, and with a tear streaming down his cheek, replied, “Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family.”
Clark and his father went back to their car and drove home. They didn’t have enough money to go to the circus that night, but it didn’t matter. Because they had put themselves in the place of others, they had done something more important.
I know this is lengthy today but I have a lot on my heart this morning. For today - put yourself in someone else's shoes. View life from their side. Let go of any grudges and take the first step to healing.
Blessings!
But it all comes down to perspective.
From our perspectives come disappointment or dislike. From our perspectives can also come respect, like, love, and admiration. Opinions about people will suddenly drop and you won't feel quite as comfortable around them. You start to build a wall to protect yourself because you have seen - or felt - firsthand what viciousness can come forth - or you feel comfortable, accepted, loved by them. It is based on your perspective of situations, problems, and people.
Unfortunately there is a lot of self-perspective going on in my family right now. A lot of hurt. Big fractures. Division. Separation. I sit back (I've learned to try and stay out of these situations to protect myself)and watch, and read, and listen - and it still comes down to the perspective of what each individual sees. Things said in fun or teasingly to one is taken as hateful by another and comments are made. So of course the first person it was directed at shuts down at the one who was trying to make light of a situation. Anger happens.
People are human. I know that may surprise some of you. People can be mean, but they can also be loving. Until you walk in the other person's shoes to understand why they did what they did, you really can not judge their response to a situation.
We all go through tough times. We all do things we wish we didn't do. Especially if it fractures relationships. So the relationship is fractured - what are you going to do to help mend it? You may have to endure some harsh words. You may need to choose not to respond just for someone to get those words in your face. It will crush you. It will fracture your heart. Trust me, I have been there. Only time will heal the wounds that break the heart. No words can heal it quickly, no I'm sorrys, no hugs, only time can eventually heal. But you have to take the first step and begin the healing process.
You have to let it go. You will cry. You will get angry. But the longer you hold it in, it changes you. You become bitter. You become mean. You become cold and unfeeling. Unfortunately, it is also to those you love the most. You take it out on them because they are the closest to you. The only way you can get over it, to let it go, is to choose to let it go.
Yes, I said choose. You can choose to hang on to your hurt, your anger, your frustration and push everyone away from you. Or you can let it go and choose to look for the good in others, in the situation, put yourself in their shoes for that moment and try to understand why such situations occurred. It could have been nothing more but burned your finger that morning on the stove and the pain put you on edge so that when anyone said anything to you - you went off on them. They may not have known you hurt your finger, so they went off back on you. And it escalates. No one stops to understand it was only because one person burned their finger and it hurt.
So how to you become better at seeing things from another person's perspective? By doing four things.
1. Leave your place of perspective and visit their place of perspective. In others words, walk the mile in their shoes. Put yourself in their shoes to understand why did they do what they did?
In the 1930s, American Airways, which later became American Airlines, had a tremendous problem with complaints from passengers about lost luggage. LaMotte Cohn, general manager of the airline at that time, tried to get his station managers to overcome this issue, but he saw little progress. Finally he came upon an idea to help the airline’s personnel to see things from their customers’ points of view. Cohn asked all of the station managers from across the country to fly to company headquarters for a meeting. Then he made sure that every manager’s luggage was lost in transit. Afterward, the airline suddenly made a huge leap of efficiency in that area.
2. Acknowledge that the other person has a valid viewpoint. There will always be differences of opinion. That's all right. My viewpoint isn't right just because it's mine. Your viewpoint isn't right just because it is yours. Be willing to look at both sides.
3. Check your attitude. You feel offended and taken advantage of. You become bitter and angry and hurt. You start striking out at those around you. Why? Because you let something eat at you until you are living and breathing only the issue. Stop and evaluate how you carry yourself around others. Your attitude affects your job, your relationship with those you work with (it isn't just their fault you are having difficulty with them - part of it could be your attitude towards them because of your anger toward someone else) and your relationship with family and friends. Your children and spouse usually end up getting the brunt of your attitude.
Life is too short to hold a grudge against someone. If that person should die and you have a grudge against them, you will become even more embittered because you did not resolve the issue. You missed opportunities to love them. To share in their life. Staying away from a person that caused you hurt and anger doesn't heal the situation. It creates a wedge that over time creates more confusion and hurt to the one it is directed at. Talk to them, clear the air. You can agree to disagree. That's ok. But walk away with a clear conscience that you did everything you could to resolve the situation.
4. Ask others what they would do in your situation. That is a tricky one. Your friends and those close to you would probably tell you that your anger and hurt is justified. I've seen some 'two-facing' going on these past few months that has truly disappointed me. I never expected anything but honesty in these people. When you ask others what they would do, be sure you have put yourself in the other person's shoes so that you can see their side for what they did. Don't do the 'blame game'. You only hurt others by blaming those you think is the root cause of the situation. But in blaming others, you do not accept your own part. If compensation or apology has been made, you need to let it go for you are still living in the past.
There is something to be said about the song 'Let it go' and it has become a favorite of mine. I choose NOT to live in the past. What has happened, has happened. I can not go back and change it. I can only look at what is before me and see how I can make it better. I choose to look to today and to my future. If I lived in what happened last week, last month, last year - though things did happen that crushed my spirit, I choose to see how I can grow past it today. I don't want to be a bitter old woman that no one will want to be around. I want to be loved and cherished, joyful until the day I die. I want people whose lives I touched be sad I'm gone.
If you put yourself in the place of others instead of putting others in their place, it changes the way you see life, and it changes the way you live it. Author and speaker Dan Clark recalls that when he was a teenager, he and his father once stood in line to buy tickets for the circus. As they waited, they noticed the family immediately in front of them. The parents were holding hands, and they had eight children in tow, all well behaved and all probably under the age of twelve. Based on their clean but simple clothing, he suspected that they didn’t have a lot of money. The kids jabbered about the exciting things they expected to see, and he could tell that the circus was going to be a new adventure for them.
As the couple approached the counter, the attendant asked how many tickets they wanted. The man proudly responded, “Please let me buy eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets so I can take my family to the circus.”
When the attendant quoted the price, the man’s wife let go of his hand and her head dropped. The man leaned a little closer and asked, “How much did you say?” The attendant again quoted the price. The man obviously didn’t have enough money. He looked crushed.
Clark says that his father watched all of this, put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a twenty-dollar bill, and dropped it on the ground. His father than reached down, picked up the bill, tapped the man on the shoulder, and said, “Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket.”
The man knew exactly what was going on. He looked straight into Clark’s father’s eyes, took his hand, shook it, and with a tear streaming down his cheek, replied, “Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family.”
Clark and his father went back to their car and drove home. They didn’t have enough money to go to the circus that night, but it didn’t matter. Because they had put themselves in the place of others, they had done something more important.
I know this is lengthy today but I have a lot on my heart this morning. For today - put yourself in someone else's shoes. View life from their side. Let go of any grudges and take the first step to healing.
Blessings!
Monday, April 14, 2014
Feels Like a Tough Morning
Not sure exactly why. I had a busy weekend, which is unusual anymore like this one, but it was a fun weekend.
Saturday morning we had our Market on the Move at the church for which I volunteer. I couldn't make it at 5AM - the body just said no - but I did make it by 6AM and stayed until about 10:30AM. Then I got to have lunch with my daughter, which was fun. We are looking at some 5K and other "races" that we can do for the rest of the year. I know Pat's Run is coming up soon, but the $50 cost is more than I can pay right now so we are bypassing that one. I'm hoping the two of us can start meeting up some time on weekends and get some walking in and just get caught up on things. It seems forever since I've had any time alone with any of my children. Everyone is so busy.
Saturday afternoon/evening was the Extraordinare Carnival at church - for which I volunteered for again. So did hubby. He did hotdogs. I was at the small slide and was there from about 3:30PM until 7:00PM. With working Market on the Move in the morning, I was getting a bit tired come about 7:30PM. It was a fun time, though, and I got to see nearly all the grandchildren as they came over to give me hugs before taking off to do their own thing. I always love seeing the grandchildren, even if only for a few minutes! We grabbed a couple burgers on the way home and then basically collapsed when we got home!
Yesterday it was church in the morning. I had some Easter baskets to pick up for work - we are donating to a Crisis Nursery Project that has about 82 children under the age of 5, I think. Work is collecting baskets so I picked up a couple. I brought home some work to catch up on so got that done too. Then back to church for our Seder Dinner, which is always interesting. Then home to collapse.
Back to work this morning and I'm already tired. I have a meeting this morning that has already caused me some frustrations. I create the agenda from what the open items were on the minutes from last time - only for the "owner" of the meeting to go in behind me and change the agenda so that I either don't have all the information or have some I don't need. I worked on some this weekend. I need to print out the latest agenda yet and get the packets completed. The meeting is in less than two hours. Of course I need to tape it and then have minutes to type from it. The "owner" of this meeting is very thorough, but drives me crazy sometimes. I understand why she makes the changes, but I still wonder 'why' she has to rearrange and change things. I just do what I'm told.
And it's already after 8AM as I had a couple things to do for my boss when she came in. Already saw our President and CEO in his office this morning and chatted for a moment with him, as well as the Chief Financial Officer and one of the managers. Everyone wants a piece of me some mornings and now that I'm back at my desk, I sit and wonder where do I start.
Oh well.
Sorry I don't have anything for you this morning - I really meant to add something - had it all planned out - but looks like I need to get to work and get these packets finished. At least that gives me something to share tomorrow!
Hope that you have a great day!
Blessings!
Saturday morning we had our Market on the Move at the church for which I volunteer. I couldn't make it at 5AM - the body just said no - but I did make it by 6AM and stayed until about 10:30AM. Then I got to have lunch with my daughter, which was fun. We are looking at some 5K and other "races" that we can do for the rest of the year. I know Pat's Run is coming up soon, but the $50 cost is more than I can pay right now so we are bypassing that one. I'm hoping the two of us can start meeting up some time on weekends and get some walking in and just get caught up on things. It seems forever since I've had any time alone with any of my children. Everyone is so busy.
Saturday afternoon/evening was the Extraordinare Carnival at church - for which I volunteered for again. So did hubby. He did hotdogs. I was at the small slide and was there from about 3:30PM until 7:00PM. With working Market on the Move in the morning, I was getting a bit tired come about 7:30PM. It was a fun time, though, and I got to see nearly all the grandchildren as they came over to give me hugs before taking off to do their own thing. I always love seeing the grandchildren, even if only for a few minutes! We grabbed a couple burgers on the way home and then basically collapsed when we got home!
Yesterday it was church in the morning. I had some Easter baskets to pick up for work - we are donating to a Crisis Nursery Project that has about 82 children under the age of 5, I think. Work is collecting baskets so I picked up a couple. I brought home some work to catch up on so got that done too. Then back to church for our Seder Dinner, which is always interesting. Then home to collapse.
Back to work this morning and I'm already tired. I have a meeting this morning that has already caused me some frustrations. I create the agenda from what the open items were on the minutes from last time - only for the "owner" of the meeting to go in behind me and change the agenda so that I either don't have all the information or have some I don't need. I worked on some this weekend. I need to print out the latest agenda yet and get the packets completed. The meeting is in less than two hours. Of course I need to tape it and then have minutes to type from it. The "owner" of this meeting is very thorough, but drives me crazy sometimes. I understand why she makes the changes, but I still wonder 'why' she has to rearrange and change things. I just do what I'm told.
And it's already after 8AM as I had a couple things to do for my boss when she came in. Already saw our President and CEO in his office this morning and chatted for a moment with him, as well as the Chief Financial Officer and one of the managers. Everyone wants a piece of me some mornings and now that I'm back at my desk, I sit and wonder where do I start.
Oh well.
Sorry I don't have anything for you this morning - I really meant to add something - had it all planned out - but looks like I need to get to work and get these packets finished. At least that gives me something to share tomorrow!
Hope that you have a great day!
Blessings!
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Short and Sweet....
That's what the post will be today as I don't have a lot of time left before it is time to start work. I got out of the house about 8 minutes later than usual, traffic bunched up in a couple places, and I got to work about ten minutes later than usual. Then I had some things to do before I could sit down to do this - and I had the two reports to get out, create something on those emails - and here I am.
Not much time left - and I hear my boss just come in. Which reminds me - yesterday I brought her a beautiful pink, fragrant rose from my "rose garden". I also brought her some of my strawberry jam and peach relish jam. Our CFO came into my boss's office yesterday and accused me of "brown-nosing" my boss. I had to laugh for my boss told her I wasn't brown-nosing, I didn't have to. She knew I did it because I love her.
Because the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) (who is also a friend from my previous employment) made a big deal of it - and I like her as well, I brought her her a couple roses and jam this morning. It will be interesting to hear her when she comes in. She will either come over - LOL - I laugh because just as I wrote that beginning statement, my phone rang and it was her. She was laughing and telling me thank you. I had made orange marmalade a couple months ago and the same thing happened. She came over to visit my boss (which is really not a daily thing) and saw the orange marmalade I gave her. So I had to bring her one. I love doing things for others.
Which reminds me - my Saturday is truly full this week! I have Market on the Move Saturday morning from about 5AM - 10AM. My daughter and I had talked about having lunch - but it isn't concrete. Then we have our big Spring Fair at the church in the afternoon from 4-7, I think it is. Anyway, hubby has volunteered to help with the hotdogs (as in the past) and I volunteer to help with the small children's slide. I love it when the little ones come down the slide and I pull them off. I soon begin to get hugs from them as they come down the slide for the many numerous times. I have so much fun. And I get a lot of twisting, turning, squating exercises to boot!
Sunday evening we have the Seder dinner at church. I bought tickets, but am still not sure if we are going to go - but guess we will. It's a different Rabbi this year. We knew the Rabbi from the past 2-3 years as we had met him at a conference. This one we don't know - so it should make it interesting anyway.
It's time to get to work - or right close - and I have a lot to do. Minutes from the meeting yesterday will once again prove challenging. Have a couple meetings to schedule. Plus have about six meetings to prepare for next week - which means binders and packets. Busy day today, tomorrow and Monday morning as I prepare for the beginning of them.
Hope you have a great day!
Blessings!
Not much time left - and I hear my boss just come in. Which reminds me - yesterday I brought her a beautiful pink, fragrant rose from my "rose garden". I also brought her some of my strawberry jam and peach relish jam. Our CFO came into my boss's office yesterday and accused me of "brown-nosing" my boss. I had to laugh for my boss told her I wasn't brown-nosing, I didn't have to. She knew I did it because I love her.
Because the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) (who is also a friend from my previous employment) made a big deal of it - and I like her as well, I brought her her a couple roses and jam this morning. It will be interesting to hear her when she comes in. She will either come over - LOL - I laugh because just as I wrote that beginning statement, my phone rang and it was her. She was laughing and telling me thank you. I had made orange marmalade a couple months ago and the same thing happened. She came over to visit my boss (which is really not a daily thing) and saw the orange marmalade I gave her. So I had to bring her one. I love doing things for others.
Which reminds me - my Saturday is truly full this week! I have Market on the Move Saturday morning from about 5AM - 10AM. My daughter and I had talked about having lunch - but it isn't concrete. Then we have our big Spring Fair at the church in the afternoon from 4-7, I think it is. Anyway, hubby has volunteered to help with the hotdogs (as in the past) and I volunteer to help with the small children's slide. I love it when the little ones come down the slide and I pull them off. I soon begin to get hugs from them as they come down the slide for the many numerous times. I have so much fun. And I get a lot of twisting, turning, squating exercises to boot!
Sunday evening we have the Seder dinner at church. I bought tickets, but am still not sure if we are going to go - but guess we will. It's a different Rabbi this year. We knew the Rabbi from the past 2-3 years as we had met him at a conference. This one we don't know - so it should make it interesting anyway.
It's time to get to work - or right close - and I have a lot to do. Minutes from the meeting yesterday will once again prove challenging. Have a couple meetings to schedule. Plus have about six meetings to prepare for next week - which means binders and packets. Busy day today, tomorrow and Monday morning as I prepare for the beginning of them.
Hope you have a great day!
Blessings!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
The Wind beneath my wings....
I love that song from the movie "Beaches". I haven't watched it for a long time because it makes me cry at the end. Sometimes crying is good, but I just haven't watched it lately. (Yeah, other movies make me cry too) I know I am scentimental, and I know things touch my heart easily, and I choke up. A granddaughter told me one time to look at it as tears of joy streaming down my face because I can't control the joy. That can be true sometimes, like at weddings, happy things. Shoot, even at birthday parties I can choke up and then water up! I don't know why God has made me where I tear up and choke up so easily over good things, and bad things. But I do, and that is who and what I am. A crier.
Anyway, this morning I wrote my story for the reports and I shared a story about a professor who challenged his class for one month to compliment 3 people every day. Since I have already ran out of time to spend time on this blog today - I'm just going to place the story below. (my boss came in and we got to chatting)
In the 1920s, physician, consultant, and psychologist George W. Crane began teaching social psychology at Northwestern University in Chicago. Though he was new to teaching, he was an astute student of human nature, and he believed strongly in making the study of psychology practical to his students.
One of the first classes he taught contained evening students who were older than the average college student. The young men and women worked in the department stores, offices, and factories of Chicago by day and were trying to improve themselves by attending classes at night.
After class one evening a young woman named Lois, who had moved to Chicago from a small town in Wisconsin to take a civil service job, confided in Crane that she felt isolated and lonely. “I don’t know anybody, except a few girls at the office,” she lamented. “At night I go to my room and write letters home. The only thing that keeps me living from day to day is the hope of receiving a letter from my friends in Wisconsin.”
It was largely in response to Lois’s problem that Crane came up with what he called the Compliment Club, which he announced to his class the following week. It was to be the first of several practical assignments he would give them that term.
“You are to use your psychology every day either at home or at work or on the streetcars and busses,” Crane told them. “For the first month, your written assignment will be the Compliment Club. Every day you are to pay an honest compliment to each of three different persons. You can increase that number if you wish, but to qualify for a class grade, you must have complimented at least three people every day for thirty days….
“Then, at the end of the thirty-day experiment, I want you to write a theme or paper on your experiences,” he continued. “Include the changes you have noted in the people around you, as well as your own altered outlook on life.
Some of Crane’s students resisted this assignment. Some complained that they wouldn’t know what to say. Others were afraid of being rejected. And a few thought it would be dishonest to compliment someone they didn’t like. “Suppose you meet somebody you dislike?” one man asked. “Wouldn’t it be insincere to praise your enemy?”
“No, it is not insincerity when you compliment your enemy,” Crane responded, “for the compliment is an honest statement of praise for some objective trait or merit that deserves commendation. You will find that nobody is entirely devoid of merit or virtue…..Your praise may buoy up the morale of lonely souls who are almost ready to give up the struggle to do good deeds. You never know when your casual compliment may catch a boy or girl, or man or woman, at the critical point when he would otherwise toss in the sponge.”
Crane’s students discovered that their sincere compliments had a positive impact on the people around them. And the experience made an even greater impact on the students themselves. Lois blossomed into a real people person who lit up a room when she entered it. And another student, who was ready to quit her job as a legal secretary because of an especially difficult boss, began complimenting him, even though at first she did so through clenched teeth. Eventually not only did his surliness toward her change, but so did her exasperation with him. They wound up taking a genuine liking to each other and were married.
George Crane’s Compliment Club problem sounds a little bit corny to us today. But the principles behind it are just as sound now as they were in the 1920s. The bottom line is that Crane was teaching was John Maxwell calls the Elevator Principle: we can lift people up or take people down in our relationships. He was trying to teach his students to be proactive.
Crane said, “The world is starving for appreciation. It is hungry for compliments. But somebody must start the ball rolling by speaking first and saying a nice thing to his companion.” He embraced the sentiment of Benjamin Franklin, who believed, “As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.”
YOUR CHALLENGE:
For the next 30 days – from April 8 – May 7 – compliment three people every day that you either speak to on the phone or see in person. Your single compliment can change their entire outlook on that day, and upon their life.
Please send me an email after May 7th and let me know what you have learned in that 30 days. Tell me if you complimented co-workers, or grocery store clerks, family members, or our members that depend upon Bridgeway for their care. When you see these special people, encourage them. Show them that you care. Those members that you found the most difficult, will become the most cooperative. You will discover your family members will do special things just to get a compliment from you. How do YOU feel when you get a compliment – treasure that feeling and pass it on.
When I get all the responses, I will give you an update on all the comments.
Have a positive day – YOU are the wind beneath someone’s wings. Help them to fly.
Blessings!
Anyway, this morning I wrote my story for the reports and I shared a story about a professor who challenged his class for one month to compliment 3 people every day. Since I have already ran out of time to spend time on this blog today - I'm just going to place the story below. (my boss came in and we got to chatting)
In the 1920s, physician, consultant, and psychologist George W. Crane began teaching social psychology at Northwestern University in Chicago. Though he was new to teaching, he was an astute student of human nature, and he believed strongly in making the study of psychology practical to his students.
One of the first classes he taught contained evening students who were older than the average college student. The young men and women worked in the department stores, offices, and factories of Chicago by day and were trying to improve themselves by attending classes at night.
After class one evening a young woman named Lois, who had moved to Chicago from a small town in Wisconsin to take a civil service job, confided in Crane that she felt isolated and lonely. “I don’t know anybody, except a few girls at the office,” she lamented. “At night I go to my room and write letters home. The only thing that keeps me living from day to day is the hope of receiving a letter from my friends in Wisconsin.”
It was largely in response to Lois’s problem that Crane came up with what he called the Compliment Club, which he announced to his class the following week. It was to be the first of several practical assignments he would give them that term.
“You are to use your psychology every day either at home or at work or on the streetcars and busses,” Crane told them. “For the first month, your written assignment will be the Compliment Club. Every day you are to pay an honest compliment to each of three different persons. You can increase that number if you wish, but to qualify for a class grade, you must have complimented at least three people every day for thirty days….
“Then, at the end of the thirty-day experiment, I want you to write a theme or paper on your experiences,” he continued. “Include the changes you have noted in the people around you, as well as your own altered outlook on life.
Some of Crane’s students resisted this assignment. Some complained that they wouldn’t know what to say. Others were afraid of being rejected. And a few thought it would be dishonest to compliment someone they didn’t like. “Suppose you meet somebody you dislike?” one man asked. “Wouldn’t it be insincere to praise your enemy?”
“No, it is not insincerity when you compliment your enemy,” Crane responded, “for the compliment is an honest statement of praise for some objective trait or merit that deserves commendation. You will find that nobody is entirely devoid of merit or virtue…..Your praise may buoy up the morale of lonely souls who are almost ready to give up the struggle to do good deeds. You never know when your casual compliment may catch a boy or girl, or man or woman, at the critical point when he would otherwise toss in the sponge.”
Crane’s students discovered that their sincere compliments had a positive impact on the people around them. And the experience made an even greater impact on the students themselves. Lois blossomed into a real people person who lit up a room when she entered it. And another student, who was ready to quit her job as a legal secretary because of an especially difficult boss, began complimenting him, even though at first she did so through clenched teeth. Eventually not only did his surliness toward her change, but so did her exasperation with him. They wound up taking a genuine liking to each other and were married.
George Crane’s Compliment Club problem sounds a little bit corny to us today. But the principles behind it are just as sound now as they were in the 1920s. The bottom line is that Crane was teaching was John Maxwell calls the Elevator Principle: we can lift people up or take people down in our relationships. He was trying to teach his students to be proactive.
Crane said, “The world is starving for appreciation. It is hungry for compliments. But somebody must start the ball rolling by speaking first and saying a nice thing to his companion.” He embraced the sentiment of Benjamin Franklin, who believed, “As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.”
YOUR CHALLENGE:
For the next 30 days – from April 8 – May 7 – compliment three people every day that you either speak to on the phone or see in person. Your single compliment can change their entire outlook on that day, and upon their life.
Please send me an email after May 7th and let me know what you have learned in that 30 days. Tell me if you complimented co-workers, or grocery store clerks, family members, or our members that depend upon Bridgeway for their care. When you see these special people, encourage them. Show them that you care. Those members that you found the most difficult, will become the most cooperative. You will discover your family members will do special things just to get a compliment from you. How do YOU feel when you get a compliment – treasure that feeling and pass it on.
When I get all the responses, I will give you an update on all the comments.
Have a positive day – YOU are the wind beneath someone’s wings. Help them to fly.
Blessings!
Monday, April 7, 2014
Talking about hammers this morning......
Yeah, in my little "chat" I send out with the two reports I wrote about hammers this morning. More importantly, those who act like people are nails and they hammer on them. I have seen that in some people here at work. They feel their job is to "pound" on people to keep them in line. I had a director who would write such scathing emails to our group - I would forward them to the VP for I felt they were harboring on harrassment and threats. Seriously. You can't treat people like that. The VP spoke with them about it and another email came out that basically said "some of you were offended by my previous email. I meant what I said." Hello? Was a lesson learned here? If I had not known the VP, I could have sent it direct to HR and that person would have been really spoken to. But, I'm off my topic.
In self-reflection, I don't think I am a hammer-type person. Reflect on yourself for a moment, do you think you are? What would classify as a 'hammer' person? A hammer person is usually a high-achiever. When they give something their attention, they go at it full force. That's usually a good approach to tasks - but it is a terrible way to treat people. Hammer people tend to criticize and condemn those around them. They condemn those they are in contact with on a daily basis. They criticize the way things are done, insisting it would be better "their" way. They want to "nail" everyone and everything in place so that they can be in control.
Psychologist Abraham Maslow observed, "If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." People require more judicious treatment than that. (Judicious - having, exercising or characterized by sound judgment: discreet). I think I need a real dictionary for that word.
Anyway, if you desire to develop a softer touch with people, take the following advice to heart:
Let the past stay in the past.
Two men were complaining about their wives. "When we quarrel," said the first man, "my wife becomes historical."
His friend replied, "Don't you mean hysterical?"
"No," the first responded, "I mean historical. She reminds me of everything I ever did wrong."
Resolve an issue when it occurs. And once you've done that, don't bring it up again. If you do, you are treating someone as a nail.
Ask youself, is my reaction part of the problem?
When a person's response is greater than the issue, the response is about something else. Don't make things worse by overreacting.
Remember that your actions are remembered long after the words are forgotten.
When you graduated from high school or college, do you remember anything about the ceremony? The commencement address? Or, if you are married, can you recite your wedding vows? More than likely the answer is 'no' - but you do remember graduating, and you do remember getting married. The action stays with you much longer than the words spoken.
Never let the situation mean more than the relationship.
Relationships are based on bonding. The more important the relationship, the greater the bond. Your relationship needs to be a higher priority than always being "right". It is better to let things in the past, stay in the past, and build on a positive relationship and get to the point where issues can be discussed freely without bringing hurt and anger into it. The relationship is more important than the disagreement.
Treat loved ones with unconditional love.
Many people have never had good models of unconditional love. In The Flight, John Whit gave his perspective on where we fall short in our treatment of the important people in our lives: "We gossip because we fail to love. When we love people, we don't criticize them. If we love them, their failures hurt. We don't advertise the sins of people we love any more than we advertise our own."
Admit wrongs and ask forgiveness.
Admitting you are wrong and asking for forgiveness can cover a multitude of sins. That approach is also one of the best ways to try to make things right when you find that you've used the hammer instead of the soft glove. As you read this, perhaps a friend, relative, or co-worker comes to mind, and you may be thinking, "I know somebody who needs this". Before you try to take the hammer out of their hand, stop for a moment. The first thing you ought to do is to look at yourself.
The problem with most individuals who use the hammer all the time is that they may not know that they do it. A recent article by executive coach Marshall Goldsmith told about a man named Mike who was a top-performing investment banker. Goldsmith was asked to help him because he was a hammer wielder.
Mike saw himself as “a warrior on Wall Street but a pussycat at home.” Goldsmith instructed Mike to call his wife to confirm his self-assessment, and much to his surprise, she said that he was a jerk at home too. When his children confirmed her assessment, Mike finally began to see himself as others did.
Goldsmith’s advice is this: “Let your colleagues hold the mirror and tell you what they see. If you don’t believe them, do the same with your loved ones and friends.” If you do that, you will find out whether you treat others as people or as nails. If you do the latter, then you need to make a change.
(above thoughts taken from "Winning with People" by John Maxwell - no credit to me)
Hope that you see yourself as others see you, and that your week will be a hammer-less one! Soft looks good on you.
Blessings!
In self-reflection, I don't think I am a hammer-type person. Reflect on yourself for a moment, do you think you are? What would classify as a 'hammer' person? A hammer person is usually a high-achiever. When they give something their attention, they go at it full force. That's usually a good approach to tasks - but it is a terrible way to treat people. Hammer people tend to criticize and condemn those around them. They condemn those they are in contact with on a daily basis. They criticize the way things are done, insisting it would be better "their" way. They want to "nail" everyone and everything in place so that they can be in control.
Psychologist Abraham Maslow observed, "If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." People require more judicious treatment than that. (Judicious - having, exercising or characterized by sound judgment: discreet). I think I need a real dictionary for that word.
Anyway, if you desire to develop a softer touch with people, take the following advice to heart:
Let the past stay in the past.
Two men were complaining about their wives. "When we quarrel," said the first man, "my wife becomes historical."
His friend replied, "Don't you mean hysterical?"
"No," the first responded, "I mean historical. She reminds me of everything I ever did wrong."
Resolve an issue when it occurs. And once you've done that, don't bring it up again. If you do, you are treating someone as a nail.
Ask youself, is my reaction part of the problem?
When a person's response is greater than the issue, the response is about something else. Don't make things worse by overreacting.
Remember that your actions are remembered long after the words are forgotten.
When you graduated from high school or college, do you remember anything about the ceremony? The commencement address? Or, if you are married, can you recite your wedding vows? More than likely the answer is 'no' - but you do remember graduating, and you do remember getting married. The action stays with you much longer than the words spoken.
Never let the situation mean more than the relationship.
Relationships are based on bonding. The more important the relationship, the greater the bond. Your relationship needs to be a higher priority than always being "right". It is better to let things in the past, stay in the past, and build on a positive relationship and get to the point where issues can be discussed freely without bringing hurt and anger into it. The relationship is more important than the disagreement.
Treat loved ones with unconditional love.
Many people have never had good models of unconditional love. In The Flight, John Whit gave his perspective on where we fall short in our treatment of the important people in our lives: "We gossip because we fail to love. When we love people, we don't criticize them. If we love them, their failures hurt. We don't advertise the sins of people we love any more than we advertise our own."
Admit wrongs and ask forgiveness.
Admitting you are wrong and asking for forgiveness can cover a multitude of sins. That approach is also one of the best ways to try to make things right when you find that you've used the hammer instead of the soft glove. As you read this, perhaps a friend, relative, or co-worker comes to mind, and you may be thinking, "I know somebody who needs this". Before you try to take the hammer out of their hand, stop for a moment. The first thing you ought to do is to look at yourself.
The problem with most individuals who use the hammer all the time is that they may not know that they do it. A recent article by executive coach Marshall Goldsmith told about a man named Mike who was a top-performing investment banker. Goldsmith was asked to help him because he was a hammer wielder.
Mike saw himself as “a warrior on Wall Street but a pussycat at home.” Goldsmith instructed Mike to call his wife to confirm his self-assessment, and much to his surprise, she said that he was a jerk at home too. When his children confirmed her assessment, Mike finally began to see himself as others did.
Goldsmith’s advice is this: “Let your colleagues hold the mirror and tell you what they see. If you don’t believe them, do the same with your loved ones and friends.” If you do that, you will find out whether you treat others as people or as nails. If you do the latter, then you need to make a change.
(above thoughts taken from "Winning with People" by John Maxwell - no credit to me)
Hope that you see yourself as others see you, and that your week will be a hammer-less one! Soft looks good on you.
Blessings!
Friday, April 4, 2014
When is it a good time to look at......
someone's butt. Yep. I said it. BUTT. B-u-t-t.
This morning was a good time, I guess you could say. Today is Friday, therefore, it is "jean day" at work. We can wear jeans today if we pay $2.00 and that money (monthly) goes to a charity. We get occasional free jean days, but Fridays, unless designated 'free' - is pay the $2.00. I'm the one who collects it in our area.
But - back to my topic. BUTT.
I was dressed - in my jeans - and walking out to my car this morning. My hubby, as is typical I hear of most men, was apparently watching my butt. (don't groan or say TMI) Anyway, I get almost to the car and he says, "wait a minute, you have a piece of lint on your butt."
I stop. He tries to pick it off - and discovers it isn't lint, but a rip in my pants. Not in the seam, nor around the pocket, where one would expect an old pair of jeans to start a hole. But it was the material itself. It had just worn out. My jeans are probably at least 5 years old - if not more. They are all in good shape, and I don't wear jeans every day so don't usually worry about replacing them. The pair I put on this morning was my "thin material" pair - and the back had just worn out. It was a straight line in the material, which tells me that it just worn thin enough to start to shred.
I went back into the house and changed to another pair of jeans. I took a look at the pair I took off - and sure enough, the rip was about 1 1/2 inches long. IF I had gotten in the car, they probably would have ripped more without my knowing it - and by the end of the day, others would be telling me that I had a rip in my pants for it would be easily seen at that point. My hubby saved me from great embarrassment today for sure.
His comment was "you always tell me you don't need jeans for birthdays or Christmas" - and I don't. I still have two-three good pairs. I don't wear them that often. But I feel pretty good that I had a pair of jeans that I actually wore out. That doesn't happen often. Usually it is that I can't wear them anymore. Wearing them until they fall apart is a good thing. Although I will see if I can patch these - sewing the tear isn't going to do it for it looks like it's shredding. This will require a real patch. Will see.
So, in today's case, I guess it was ok hubby was looking at my butt as I went to the car. I know, it's a "man thing". Be careful who's butt you are looking at! You might get slapped!
Now wipe that smile off your face and get to work. :-)
Blessings!
This morning was a good time, I guess you could say. Today is Friday, therefore, it is "jean day" at work. We can wear jeans today if we pay $2.00 and that money (monthly) goes to a charity. We get occasional free jean days, but Fridays, unless designated 'free' - is pay the $2.00. I'm the one who collects it in our area.
But - back to my topic. BUTT.
I was dressed - in my jeans - and walking out to my car this morning. My hubby, as is typical I hear of most men, was apparently watching my butt. (don't groan or say TMI) Anyway, I get almost to the car and he says, "wait a minute, you have a piece of lint on your butt."
I stop. He tries to pick it off - and discovers it isn't lint, but a rip in my pants. Not in the seam, nor around the pocket, where one would expect an old pair of jeans to start a hole. But it was the material itself. It had just worn out. My jeans are probably at least 5 years old - if not more. They are all in good shape, and I don't wear jeans every day so don't usually worry about replacing them. The pair I put on this morning was my "thin material" pair - and the back had just worn out. It was a straight line in the material, which tells me that it just worn thin enough to start to shred.
I went back into the house and changed to another pair of jeans. I took a look at the pair I took off - and sure enough, the rip was about 1 1/2 inches long. IF I had gotten in the car, they probably would have ripped more without my knowing it - and by the end of the day, others would be telling me that I had a rip in my pants for it would be easily seen at that point. My hubby saved me from great embarrassment today for sure.
His comment was "you always tell me you don't need jeans for birthdays or Christmas" - and I don't. I still have two-three good pairs. I don't wear them that often. But I feel pretty good that I had a pair of jeans that I actually wore out. That doesn't happen often. Usually it is that I can't wear them anymore. Wearing them until they fall apart is a good thing. Although I will see if I can patch these - sewing the tear isn't going to do it for it looks like it's shredding. This will require a real patch. Will see.
So, in today's case, I guess it was ok hubby was looking at my butt as I went to the car. I know, it's a "man thing". Be careful who's butt you are looking at! You might get slapped!
Now wipe that smile off your face and get to work. :-)
Blessings!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
The boss is in and other thoughts.....
I had to give up the office this morning as my boss is back. No biggie. I did get a lot done while I was in there. It was nice to be able to spread my work out and work on a bit here and there. My cubicle I have now is smaller than the one I had before. I feel scrunched, to say the least, but it is big enough to get things done.
I went to the doctor with my hubby yesterday. I have been feeling so guilty because I wrote a letter to the doctor about six months ago about some issues my hubby was having, only I didn't send the letter, with some additional things,until a couple weeks ago, when things seemed to be getting worse. The doctor refused to keep it quiet that I had written him, insisting I come to the office with hubby to discuss these things. I had to tell hubby I was "busted" and that I had written the letter. Surprisingly, he took it well, stating that it showed that I cared. Did he realize even then there are real issues going on? I don't know.
Once we got in the office the assistant gave hubby his lab tests. He looked them over, then gave it to me. I noticed some things that were "high" but wasn't sure how much that affected everything else. There was one item that was extremely high. His TSH. Thyroid.
Long story short..... for an unknown reason, hubby had quit taking his thyroid pill (we figure) back in January. When the doctor came in, he honed in on the TSH being so high. To the point he said that I had saved my hubby's life. Wow. I had no idea not taking a thyroid pill (when you are supposed to) would affect so many things. As the doctor went through some of the things that is caused from not taking the pill, I'm mentally recognizing the things going on with hubby. Confusion over simple things. Jaundice around the eyes. Sleepiness. Weight gain. Speech difficulty. Not wanting to do anything. and other things. The doctor told hubby that if I had not sent the letter telling the doctor of these issues, he would not have checked hubby's thyroid until October as last October it was perfect. Thyroid is usually once checked once a year.
I didn't realize how crucial taking thyroid pill is. The doctor told hubby that if I had not sent the letter, hubby would have been in a coma and in the hospital by the end of the month. THAT was a scary thought! I guess the thyroid also manages the metabolism in us; hubby's metabolism was nearly gone - and when that happens, a coma happens and you die. All because you don't take a pill that only costs $10 for 90 days (that's why mine is anyway). The body can not live without metabolism.
Who would have thought?! Hubby went home and found the bottle of thyroid pills in the cupboard - filled in January. He still does not know why he quit taking them; why he didn't realize he wasn't taking them. I think we all we surprised. The doctor says he will run more tests after another series of lab work in about two months. Needless to say, I don't think he will ever forget to take it again.
So what about you? Are you taking all the pills the doctor has prescribed for you? Thyroid? Cholesterol? Are you taking your baby aspirin every day? Do you have other prescriptions that you need to be taking and put off because you don't have the money to get them, or too busy to take the time to go get them?
This situation has really opened my eyes to how important it is to take what you are supposed to take. As we get older, we may need more things to help our bodies keep active, to keep focused, to stay alive. In spite of my rebellion in taking medication, I know my doctor wants to prescribe it for my welfare.
But I get stubborn; especially when it comes to cholesterol medication. I just have an adversion to taking it and want to control it by diet. Problem is, I don't always work at my diet to control it. Same with gluclose. With diabetes in my family, it is something I do need to be watchful of, but thus far, none of my sisters nor I have it, but the brothers do. I do need to watch our diet more - and besides buying the fruit and vegetables, we need to eat them and quit throwing them away. I quit buying a lot of fruit and veggies cause hubby wouldn't fix during the week, and by the weekend we were busy doing other things so I didn't fix them either. Got to quit wasting food.
So we have resolved to 1) take all our medication, and 2) start eating more healthy. What about you? Are you taking everything you are supposed to be taking? If not, please take this as a wake-up call and get to your doctor and get your prescriptions you need. Take your medication. The doctor knows more than we do. If you don't agree (as with me and the cholesterol pills), discuss it with you doctor. As long as your doctor knows you are watching your diet and the numbers fall in an acceptable range (mine ranges from 189 to 201) then you may be able to not take pills. I just don't want to take pills if I have control over it. My food I do have control over.
And I'm taking control. Soon. :-)
God created us and He wants us to live. Are you doing what you are supposed to do in order to live? Wake up calls happen - take this as one.
Blessings!
I went to the doctor with my hubby yesterday. I have been feeling so guilty because I wrote a letter to the doctor about six months ago about some issues my hubby was having, only I didn't send the letter, with some additional things,until a couple weeks ago, when things seemed to be getting worse. The doctor refused to keep it quiet that I had written him, insisting I come to the office with hubby to discuss these things. I had to tell hubby I was "busted" and that I had written the letter. Surprisingly, he took it well, stating that it showed that I cared. Did he realize even then there are real issues going on? I don't know.
Once we got in the office the assistant gave hubby his lab tests. He looked them over, then gave it to me. I noticed some things that were "high" but wasn't sure how much that affected everything else. There was one item that was extremely high. His TSH. Thyroid.
Long story short..... for an unknown reason, hubby had quit taking his thyroid pill (we figure) back in January. When the doctor came in, he honed in on the TSH being so high. To the point he said that I had saved my hubby's life. Wow. I had no idea not taking a thyroid pill (when you are supposed to) would affect so many things. As the doctor went through some of the things that is caused from not taking the pill, I'm mentally recognizing the things going on with hubby. Confusion over simple things. Jaundice around the eyes. Sleepiness. Weight gain. Speech difficulty. Not wanting to do anything. and other things. The doctor told hubby that if I had not sent the letter telling the doctor of these issues, he would not have checked hubby's thyroid until October as last October it was perfect. Thyroid is usually once checked once a year.
I didn't realize how crucial taking thyroid pill is. The doctor told hubby that if I had not sent the letter, hubby would have been in a coma and in the hospital by the end of the month. THAT was a scary thought! I guess the thyroid also manages the metabolism in us; hubby's metabolism was nearly gone - and when that happens, a coma happens and you die. All because you don't take a pill that only costs $10 for 90 days (that's why mine is anyway). The body can not live without metabolism.
Who would have thought?! Hubby went home and found the bottle of thyroid pills in the cupboard - filled in January. He still does not know why he quit taking them; why he didn't realize he wasn't taking them. I think we all we surprised. The doctor says he will run more tests after another series of lab work in about two months. Needless to say, I don't think he will ever forget to take it again.
So what about you? Are you taking all the pills the doctor has prescribed for you? Thyroid? Cholesterol? Are you taking your baby aspirin every day? Do you have other prescriptions that you need to be taking and put off because you don't have the money to get them, or too busy to take the time to go get them?
This situation has really opened my eyes to how important it is to take what you are supposed to take. As we get older, we may need more things to help our bodies keep active, to keep focused, to stay alive. In spite of my rebellion in taking medication, I know my doctor wants to prescribe it for my welfare.
But I get stubborn; especially when it comes to cholesterol medication. I just have an adversion to taking it and want to control it by diet. Problem is, I don't always work at my diet to control it. Same with gluclose. With diabetes in my family, it is something I do need to be watchful of, but thus far, none of my sisters nor I have it, but the brothers do. I do need to watch our diet more - and besides buying the fruit and vegetables, we need to eat them and quit throwing them away. I quit buying a lot of fruit and veggies cause hubby wouldn't fix during the week, and by the weekend we were busy doing other things so I didn't fix them either. Got to quit wasting food.
So we have resolved to 1) take all our medication, and 2) start eating more healthy. What about you? Are you taking everything you are supposed to be taking? If not, please take this as a wake-up call and get to your doctor and get your prescriptions you need. Take your medication. The doctor knows more than we do. If you don't agree (as with me and the cholesterol pills), discuss it with you doctor. As long as your doctor knows you are watching your diet and the numbers fall in an acceptable range (mine ranges from 189 to 201) then you may be able to not take pills. I just don't want to take pills if I have control over it. My food I do have control over.
And I'm taking control. Soon. :-)
God created us and He wants us to live. Are you doing what you are supposed to do in order to live? Wake up calls happen - take this as one.
Blessings!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Naner Naner Naner - I'm in the office today! Literally!!
My boss is heading up to Flagstaff today for a conference and will be out of the office today and tomorrow. Because we have a "trainer" who thinks she should have this office, or rather a office, because of her "important" work, whenever my boss is out, the trainer will plop herself in this office and shut the door and close the blinds. She runs in and out down two offices to her boss to sit and chat for an hour at a time. Now tell me, how can a "trainer" be a trainer if they are running down the hall and sitting in her boss's office most of the time? We just won't go into my opinion of the "training" word I have used loosely.
Anyway, the last time my boss was on vacation for two weeks, the trainer plopped herself in here. When my boss came back last week, her desk was totally rearranged (to how the trainer wanted it) and my boss had to put everything back the way she wanted it. As I mentioned above, my boss is going to be out of the office for a couple days. She's so funny. She told me yesterday that I need to "move" into her office for a couple days to use it for whatever I want to. So when I left yesterday I put the "reserved" sign on the door and here I sit, in my boss's chair, at my boss's desk. And I'm getting started on my day.
I already realize something. I guess I knew it, but really realize it now that I'm in her chair. Whenever anyone walks by, they look in and see my boss, and come in to chat. Regardless of what she is doing. And, because she is one of the very few who truly has an "open door" policy, she will not tell them she is busy, but will listen patiently while they talk.
I'm sitting here trying to get the two reports out that I do every morning. I was actually looking for an inspiring story to tell for I wasn't wanting to go through the next section of the book I have been going through. Just being lazy. So I started looking for an inspiring or motivating story on the computer to add to the report. Anyway, as I am sitting here, one of my former co-workers comes by from her boss's office and sees me, and of course comments how my hair has changed (from my boss), etc. Then she has to proceed to tell me how tired she is, she didn't want to get up this morning, etc. I listened for a moment, then started to allow my attention to go back to the computer because I do have a deadline to get these two reports out. She finally took the hint and left.
My two reports have gone out (or I wouldn't be writing this). I did find a short inspiring story to share. I probably won't be writing on here tomorrow cause hubby has a doctor's appointment and I have to go with him. (tee hee, the trainer just walked by the office - don't know if she saw me or not though. Yet.) I will probably still get the two reports off in the morning, but will do it from home. Perhaps today while I have time I will look for something to share in the morning to save me time. His appointment is at 8AM, so figure I will be at work by 9:30AM or 10:00AM. I'm going to leave the reserved sign on the door so that the trainer doesn't come in and take it over. I've already decided I'm going to spread some notebooks around to look like I'm really involved. I could work from home, but it isn't one of my favorite things to do. If I was on a special project, perhaps, but I don't have anything pressing to focus on - and my computer won't let me into all my folders when at home.
The reality is that I am pretty much caught up and don't have that much to do. I only have one meeting on Thursday for which I have the notebooks completed for. Just waiting on the finishing of the agenda. Next week only one meeting on Wednesday. The following week I have 5 meetings in 4 days because we are off on Friday - what they are calling our "spring holiday". I'll take it. Then my biggest meeting is the following week. That's all my meetings this month. Whoo hoo. Only 8 this month - have 11 meetings next month.
I'm still waiting to hear back from HR/Corporate on whether or not we will have a "Biggest Loser Challenge" here at work this year. I kind of got roped into leading it if Corporate says we can do it. That will be adding a lot to my plate, but will do it as best I can. I've been pulling things together from the one we had last year so that I can get an idea of things to share. I could work on that today, just in case. :-) Even though my son had challenged me, I've not stuck to any plan and I have gained back everything I lost last year. Wanting to get refocused and get exercising again. Evenings I am just too lazy and the mornings there is just no time. There has to be a happy medium somewhere here. I would think.
So what are your plans for today? Do you have a job? Thank God for it. Do you feel sickly? Ask God for intervention. Are you feeling weary? Ask God for strength. Do you wonder what you are going to do? Surrender it all to God and ask for His direction. Most of all, just ask Him and He will meet your needs; thank Him for providing what you do have, and will need. Praise Him for always being there at the right moment, the right time. He's waiting to hear from you.
Don't get 'fooled' today!
Blessings!
Anyway, the last time my boss was on vacation for two weeks, the trainer plopped herself in here. When my boss came back last week, her desk was totally rearranged (to how the trainer wanted it) and my boss had to put everything back the way she wanted it. As I mentioned above, my boss is going to be out of the office for a couple days. She's so funny. She told me yesterday that I need to "move" into her office for a couple days to use it for whatever I want to. So when I left yesterday I put the "reserved" sign on the door and here I sit, in my boss's chair, at my boss's desk. And I'm getting started on my day.
I already realize something. I guess I knew it, but really realize it now that I'm in her chair. Whenever anyone walks by, they look in and see my boss, and come in to chat. Regardless of what she is doing. And, because she is one of the very few who truly has an "open door" policy, she will not tell them she is busy, but will listen patiently while they talk.
I'm sitting here trying to get the two reports out that I do every morning. I was actually looking for an inspiring story to tell for I wasn't wanting to go through the next section of the book I have been going through. Just being lazy. So I started looking for an inspiring or motivating story on the computer to add to the report. Anyway, as I am sitting here, one of my former co-workers comes by from her boss's office and sees me, and of course comments how my hair has changed (from my boss), etc. Then she has to proceed to tell me how tired she is, she didn't want to get up this morning, etc. I listened for a moment, then started to allow my attention to go back to the computer because I do have a deadline to get these two reports out. She finally took the hint and left.
My two reports have gone out (or I wouldn't be writing this). I did find a short inspiring story to share. I probably won't be writing on here tomorrow cause hubby has a doctor's appointment and I have to go with him. (tee hee, the trainer just walked by the office - don't know if she saw me or not though. Yet.) I will probably still get the two reports off in the morning, but will do it from home. Perhaps today while I have time I will look for something to share in the morning to save me time. His appointment is at 8AM, so figure I will be at work by 9:30AM or 10:00AM. I'm going to leave the reserved sign on the door so that the trainer doesn't come in and take it over. I've already decided I'm going to spread some notebooks around to look like I'm really involved. I could work from home, but it isn't one of my favorite things to do. If I was on a special project, perhaps, but I don't have anything pressing to focus on - and my computer won't let me into all my folders when at home.
The reality is that I am pretty much caught up and don't have that much to do. I only have one meeting on Thursday for which I have the notebooks completed for. Just waiting on the finishing of the agenda. Next week only one meeting on Wednesday. The following week I have 5 meetings in 4 days because we are off on Friday - what they are calling our "spring holiday". I'll take it. Then my biggest meeting is the following week. That's all my meetings this month. Whoo hoo. Only 8 this month - have 11 meetings next month.
I'm still waiting to hear back from HR/Corporate on whether or not we will have a "Biggest Loser Challenge" here at work this year. I kind of got roped into leading it if Corporate says we can do it. That will be adding a lot to my plate, but will do it as best I can. I've been pulling things together from the one we had last year so that I can get an idea of things to share. I could work on that today, just in case. :-) Even though my son had challenged me, I've not stuck to any plan and I have gained back everything I lost last year. Wanting to get refocused and get exercising again. Evenings I am just too lazy and the mornings there is just no time. There has to be a happy medium somewhere here. I would think.
So what are your plans for today? Do you have a job? Thank God for it. Do you feel sickly? Ask God for intervention. Are you feeling weary? Ask God for strength. Do you wonder what you are going to do? Surrender it all to God and ask for His direction. Most of all, just ask Him and He will meet your needs; thank Him for providing what you do have, and will need. Praise Him for always being there at the right moment, the right time. He's waiting to hear from you.
Don't get 'fooled' today!
Blessings!
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