This weekend I was reminded of the importance of being patient and of not being too quick to judge. I need to remind myself daily about giving people the benefit of the doubt. I am most impatient when I believe someone is fully capable of handling a job more quickly and with more passion than they are working at the time. I find myself counting backward from 10 and praying that I am able to smile and ward off any negative judgments. The use of handicapped parking spaces is another situation where I have caught myself judging people without knowing…
For those that I hold closest to my heart, there is little left unsaid, no regrets. They know what they mean to me, they know that I love them, and they know that every moment I spend with them is important. I knew when my husband was in a coma that it was my opportunity to say any last words to him, bringing closure to our time together here on earth. Oddly, I also knew in my heart that he knew everything that I felt. He knew everything I knew. He knew how much I adored him, how he made…
Finding courage is difficult and simple all at the same time. It is difficult because stepping outside one’s comfort zone and having faith that things will all work out is ambiguous and undefined. There is no guarantee that one will not fail. I have failed at so many things so many times, but for me, the key is learning from those failures. Having the courage to step out again using the information learned from past mistakes. For me, not repeating the same mistake is key. Finding courage is simple, in that I rely on my faith, but it…
What some might view as a negative transition, I choose to look at as an opportunity. I have always had faith that when one door closes another one will open with more opportunity than the last. Through numerous job changes and company closings, I am fortunate, in hindsight, to see how each roadblock became an important part of my journey. My transitions did not always result in a higher salary or higher levels of management, but always a better fit for my lifestyle at that time. There are moments when I get discouraged during transitions in my life. I quickly…
I was reminded this past weekend of both the importance of community and the effects of lack of community. All around me, there were signs of how valuable the right community can be for people. Signs of appreciation regarding the community, signs of helpfulness within the community, and signs of togetherness throughout the community. Not only did I feel a sense of community, but others were talking and writing about it also. It was a week filled with people observing the strength of the community, the benefits, and the disappointments regarding the lack of community. As I walk through the…
Appreciation, when used appropriately, is a gift. It is something we can give that costs nothing but our personal awareness. It means that we are aware of what is going on around us and within us. It means we are grateful for the positive influences in our lives. Appreciation of others is something my parents instilled in me from the beginning of their teachings. Being aware of the feelings and opinions of others has always been a high priority for my parents, it is a high priority for me, and hopefully for my children. Making others feel important and special…
I try to surround myself with people who follow through with what they say they will do; people who keep their word. “Let’s get together this summer,” is one of those catchphrases that make me smile. When I hear myself speak those words I make a mental note that I best put something on our calendar regarding my suggestion. I find it refreshing when someone follows through with their intention; I also find it a bit out of the norm. Following through on your word shows commitment and dedication. Being true to your word is important in every aspect…
There are so many things that we want to accomplish each day, why sweat the small stuff? When it comes to raising children, I often hear people say, “You have to pick your battles.” I tend to agree with choosing to focus on the things you feel are most important. Allowing some of the smaller less important things to go and focusing on the more important issues at hand. However, it is important to make sure you focus on some of the issues. Picking your battles does require you to choose items to focus on! For me, when we lived…
Honesty is a very tricky thing. On the one hand, we want to be honest with others and on the other hand, sometimes honesty can be very hurtful. Honesty is important and should be heartfelt, taking into consideration how we would feel being told the same information by someone else. One of the most crucial points is how honesty is delivered. Being honest to a fault can be tough on friendships. It can be hurtful, ugly, and yet sometimes necessary. It gets difficult when there is a fine line between being honest, not saying anything, and lying. Sometimes these are…
Sometimes our feelings of rejection are real, other times the rejection is perceived. Either way, it is a terrible feeling and one that we hope rarely or never happens to anyone. Unfortunately, it happens to most of us all too often. Welcoming people into our circle of friends is a risk, particularly those who were once rejected. We normally welcome people of like minds who have similar values as ourselves. However, it is more difficult to accept people who have for some reason been an outsider or lost their rapport with the group. Not being aware of people feeling rejected…