About the job

It’s hard to listen to someone complain about their job.  First of all, I want to say that I too complain; have complained, and will probably complain at some point about an aspect of my job.  No matter how incredible the job, how great the pay, how well-suited you are for it, the fact is that we all have days when something bothers us, frustrates us, or when we just plain have to do something we don’t love or that isn’t our strength.  But I’m not talking about a bad day or a pet peeve.  I’m talking about people who routinely complain about their work.  Do you know one of those?  His boss is ignorant and doesn’t understand how to run the business.  Her colleagues are slow and can’t work at the same pace she does.  His pay is below market value and he will never reach his earning potential.  No one can be more ethical, honest, truthful or hard working than she is!!!  Now tell me, once you’ve heard the complaining, how many more times do you want to hear it?  Two, three times?  Five?  Seven?  Or alternatively, when you’ve heard it enough times, what happens?  Are you turned off by this person?  Do you not want to talk to this individual anymore?  Or does it maybe make you want to complain about your job too?  Like whose job is worse than the other’s?

If you’ve ever been in a situation on the giving or receiving end of this, here’s another way of looking at this.  Can you think of one person, just one person who would want to have the job?  Anyone?  Can you venture a guess as to why?  Maybe the person is unemployed?  Is it the type of work?  The pay?  Benefits?  Flexibility?  What about this job would be good, interesting, valuable or worthwhile to this person?  Would he perform the job better?  Would she enjoy it more?  Would he be a better employee?  And how many others would want the job?  I believe if we would look at it from that perspective, we would place great value in these jobs – no matter what we might dislike or be unhappy about.  And if we’re really unhappy, then the best thing to do is just move on.  We don’t do anyone any favor – not ourselves or our employers when we choose to remain in a place that just isn’t working for us.  Instead of complaining, let’s just move on!

Today I’m very, very grateful for my job. 

 

Birthday Month

Do you remember your 7^th birthday?  Family around you showering you with attention, a perfectly-themed cake and balloons?  Your 13^th birthday? Your friends, a special party, and perhaps finally getting a sought after gift you’d been talking about for months?   Your 18^th birthday?  How you celebrated being an ‘adult’ and the elation of thinking you were now finally free from your parents’ claws?  How were those celebrations?  Did you look forward to them with eager anticipation?  What you would do, who would be there, what presents would your friends and family bring?  Were they fun?  Full of excitement?  Did you play, party and laugh till your sides hurt?

My children have had wonderful birthdays and experiences.  We’ve done everything - tea parties, pool parties, paintball parties and sleepover parties at hotels.  I have loved indulging them and they’ve more than enjoyed the festivities and friends.  But to this day I remember a very small and humble party my mom held in my honor when I was 7 or 8.  I could not contain my enthusiasm.  We didn’t usually have parties; we could not afford them.  We had a little home-baked cake and my friends from the neighborhood brought me gifts – I recall a comb, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a beautifully wrapped pack of cookies – my favorite cookies!  I don’t remember any other parties from my childhood, don’t think I had any other, but I remember that one.  And I still recount that special birthday story to my kids because that day I was happy; really, I was ecstatic. 

So, Hear ye, Hear ye!  All ye Kings and Queens, Knights and Nobles!  I do proclaim this my birthday month!  I’m going to enjoy this birthday month as if I were 7 or 8 years old.  I’m going to look forward to partying with friends and family.  I will not settle for small ‘whatever’ lunches or dinners.  I will request all my extra-special places and favorite dishes.  I will not feel bad if someone wants to cook and bake for me or drive fifty miles to see me.  I will not turn down any gift nor say ‘it’s okay I don’t need anything.’  I will not discuss my weight, my skin or hair.  I will thank God and rejoice that I’m a year older and wiser.  I will laugh till my face hurts.  I will enjoy it all.  Completely.  Fully.  Unapologetically.
   

Being Grateful Can Extend Your Life

Today I cheated and borrowed.  But here's a great article on things you can do to extend your life.  Yes, being grateful is one of them!!!

http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/health-and-fitness/health/20140929-10-things-you-can-do-right-now-to-live-longer.ece

Teenagers

It came true. Maybe not everything; but a lot of it. Many people told me about it. Some were family members and others were friends, colleagues, teachers, and doctors. They warned me about it. They told me about the many things that my kids would do as they turned into teenagers. How they would change. How they would react. How they would some days not seem like my kids. What I could expect. What to watch out for. What to be flexible on. What to do about certain aspects of their behavior during this time. Some told me horror stories. But I didn’t really listen. I thought to myself, ‘no way, not my sweet son who still kisses me on the lips and asks me to hug him every night when he goes to bed. Not my baby girl; all she wants to do is have mommy-daughter time. She loves to cuddle and dress just like me.’ But I was obviously in denial. Both have changed in ways I could never imagine. Both have shown me that I cannot ever be sure of anything. Both have revealed a side of them I never truly knew. I don’t know if it’s temporary, but it’s certainly here now. And both have brought tears to my eyes – and no, not happy tears. Although I’m sure I can’t compete with others I’ve heard, I already have some horror stories of my own. 

This weekend was a tiring bit of heaven. Tiring because when a single mom has 7 kids to entertain, feed, talk with, direct, and most of all, send to bed over and over, it is exhausting. By the time I ‘made’ them go to sleep, it was time for me to get up. I had a splitting headache and I felt nauseous. I couldn’t fall back asleep, so I laid in bed staring at the ceiling for a while. Then I got up and started to plan breakfast and lunch while they slept. But I couldn’t be upset. As tired as I was, I was also thankful. Both my kids were with me and they were safe. They could’ve been out doing all kinds of crazy things, but instead they played basketball, volleyball and an hours-long game of monopoly. Who could ask for anything more? Not me. Just thankful for my teenagers.

Distribution Lists

Just two years ago I wouldn't have dreamed that I would be texting so many for so many reasons.  But my favorite way to text these days is via the distribution lists.  It's fantastic to share with many all at once.  I find myself informing, preparing, congratulating,  supporting, displaying, consoling, agreeing, voting, alerting, and encouraging via cell phone.  But the most use on these lists lately is the praying and responses.  There's obviously a lot of need; I'm not the only one doing this.  It's great to have a 'community' of friends come together to pray for one another in our good and bad times.  Although I know all this is virtual, during difficult times I've felt the encouragement.  Some send quick prayers, others send words of encouragement, while others delight in the sharing of bible verses.   As if many were there holding my hand; speaking soft words of wisdom.  Like small pats on the back.  Sometimes like tiny little hugs; priceless gifts sent from afar. 

Not my will...

I prayed for His help and for His will to be done.  I told myself that He is in control, but it still stung.  I thanked Him for letting me go through this.  We cannot love and trust only in the good periods of our lives.  It’s times like these that test our faith and our commitment to God.  And I want to trust more.  I want to commit more.  I want to love more.  But it still hurt.  We were never promised a life of all yeses and thumbs ups.  We were not promised happiness at every turn.  We were promised an abundant life if we believe, love and follow Him.  And that’s exactly what I want – a full life in Jesus in spite of my personal outcomes.  A few days ago I gave thanks for past failures.  Today I give thanks for being met with impolite rebuffs, difficulty, refusal, rejection and antagonism. I know, I believe, I trust that it all works for my good as a child of God. 

Storms

Thanking God for his gifts of peace, tranquility, clean hands and mind in the midst of the storms.