Thursday, August 25, 2005
Yet, more thought about choices
Little did my friend know the discussion we had about baggage played right into my choices theme of the last 24 hours.
Everyone has baggage. How much depends on you and (here it comes) the choice you make of carrying it yourself or letting those who care about you help. That doesn't mean you just transfer your baggage to your friend. It means your friend will help you carry it and either lighten or get rid of it.
We choose how we feel. I'm not denying a bad mood once in a while. It happens -- I think it's called life. We choose whether to stay in that mood or to get out of it. Those who know me know I'm experienced here. I'm getting better at making the right choice.........
Everyone has baggage. How much depends on you and (here it comes) the choice you make of carrying it yourself or letting those who care about you help. That doesn't mean you just transfer your baggage to your friend. It means your friend will help you carry it and either lighten or get rid of it.
We choose how we feel. I'm not denying a bad mood once in a while. It happens -- I think it's called life. We choose whether to stay in that mood or to get out of it. Those who know me know I'm experienced here. I'm getting better at making the right choice.........
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
More thoughts about choices
I made a choice many years ago to get married. It wasn't the right choice. I ended up hurting myself and him. I'm no longer married.
Did I learn from that choice? Yes. Lots. I became who I am now. What doesn't break me makes me stronger. Well, it made me stronger.
Am I happy now? Essentially, yes. I am enjoying life again. I see my friends and family regularly again. I am doing things I've always wanted to do such as learn guitar and karate. I am challenging myself in ways I wouldn't have tried before such as training for a marathon. So, essentially, yes. Why then not just a resounding "Yes!"? There are still things missing.
Many ask me when I'll get married again. I don't know if I will. Not because I don't want to rather because I don't know if I'll find that person. I know what I'm looking for now. Is that person out there? I know he is.
What do I want? I want someone who....
....I can trust
....loves me for who I am
....I love for who he is
....I enjoy his company
....I can go out with or just stay home
....if we're sitting around bored, that's ok
....I am comfortable with
....respects me
....cares about me and about himself
....cares about family and friends
....wants to enjoy life
....still believes in romance
....makes me smile
....I make smile
....I can laugh with
....makes me want to do anything for him
....fills me with such emotion I feel as if I'll overflow
As the song says: "I want a man who stands beside me, not in front of or behind me...two arms that want to hold me, not own me"
Will find him? or he find me? I don't know. Am I too picky now? No. I tell all my friends to be picky. Make sure that person is who you want to spend your life with.
I am learning to live with the missing piece. There are days when it brings me down however those are appearing less and less. Sometimes I think I missed him while I was married. Doesn't seem fair, but may be true.
Or maybe it's just not time and I still have things to learn. I like that thought more.
Did I learn from that choice? Yes. Lots. I became who I am now. What doesn't break me makes me stronger. Well, it made me stronger.
Am I happy now? Essentially, yes. I am enjoying life again. I see my friends and family regularly again. I am doing things I've always wanted to do such as learn guitar and karate. I am challenging myself in ways I wouldn't have tried before such as training for a marathon. So, essentially, yes. Why then not just a resounding "Yes!"? There are still things missing.
Many ask me when I'll get married again. I don't know if I will. Not because I don't want to rather because I don't know if I'll find that person. I know what I'm looking for now. Is that person out there? I know he is.
What do I want? I want someone who....
....I can trust
....loves me for who I am
....I love for who he is
....I enjoy his company
....I can go out with or just stay home
....if we're sitting around bored, that's ok
....I am comfortable with
....respects me
....cares about me and about himself
....cares about family and friends
....wants to enjoy life
....still believes in romance
....makes me smile
....I make smile
....I can laugh with
....makes me want to do anything for him
....fills me with such emotion I feel as if I'll overflow
As the song says: "I want a man who stands beside me, not in front of or behind me...two arms that want to hold me, not own me"
Will find him? or he find me? I don't know. Am I too picky now? No. I tell all my friends to be picky. Make sure that person is who you want to spend your life with.
I am learning to live with the missing piece. There are days when it brings me down however those are appearing less and less. Sometimes I think I missed him while I was married. Doesn't seem fair, but may be true.
Or maybe it's just not time and I still have things to learn. I like that thought more.
Right Choice?
Life is made up of choices. Have I made the right choices? Lately I don't think some were so wise.
The biggest one dragging me down right now is my role at work. Not my company, not the people I work with, but the actual role. When I posted for the position, I was not leaving one I didn't like. I was posting for the opportunity to move to the other side of business -- strategy. I needed to get away from tatical day to day activities. One thing I knew I did not want, at all, was to be a project manager. There is nothing wrong with being a project manager - it's a good job. It's just not me.
Guess what I am? That's right, you win the prize, I am a project manager. Sigh. OK, so I step outside my comfort zone and tell my boss. She understands and is trying to do something. That was a while ago. I have a new boss. He doesn't quite understand - though he's starting to (hmmm, maybe rolling my eyes when he said this is a great opportunity may have been too strong). Is anything done yet? No. Typical corporate red tape -- too many resources, not enough money, wait for the re-org. I've heard them all.
In the meantime, I argue with myself to go to work each day. My boss should really be happy my family raised me right. So I go to work. I feel sad, angry, frustrated, burnt out (getting crispy now), tired (oh, so tired) and demotivated. Do I blame the company? my boss? No. It was my decision, my choice. At least this is one I can do something about. Just got to figure out exactly what to do.
The biggest one dragging me down right now is my role at work. Not my company, not the people I work with, but the actual role. When I posted for the position, I was not leaving one I didn't like. I was posting for the opportunity to move to the other side of business -- strategy. I needed to get away from tatical day to day activities. One thing I knew I did not want, at all, was to be a project manager. There is nothing wrong with being a project manager - it's a good job. It's just not me.
Guess what I am? That's right, you win the prize, I am a project manager. Sigh. OK, so I step outside my comfort zone and tell my boss. She understands and is trying to do something. That was a while ago. I have a new boss. He doesn't quite understand - though he's starting to (hmmm, maybe rolling my eyes when he said this is a great opportunity may have been too strong). Is anything done yet? No. Typical corporate red tape -- too many resources, not enough money, wait for the re-org. I've heard them all.
In the meantime, I argue with myself to go to work each day. My boss should really be happy my family raised me right. So I go to work. I feel sad, angry, frustrated, burnt out (getting crispy now), tired (oh, so tired) and demotivated. Do I blame the company? my boss? No. It was my decision, my choice. At least this is one I can do something about. Just got to figure out exactly what to do.
A matter of choice
Immaturity is thinking that you have all the answers. Wisdom is knowing that you don't.
Weakness is wanting to control everything around you. Strength is gracefully accepting and valuing what is.
Insecurity is the constant, gnawing desire to have more and more. Confidence is knowing that you already are enough.
Failure is thinking that you can advance yourself by pushing others down. Success is understanding that the more you lift others up, the more you'll be lifted yourself.
Despair is committing yourself to shallow, superficial things that too soon will wither and die. Joy is filling your world and your life with the things that truly matter.
Every moment, you are fully capable of living with wisdom, strength, confidence, success and joy. It's not a matter of chance, but always a matter of choice.
And you can make the choices now that will surely take you there.
-- Ralph Marston
Weakness is wanting to control everything around you. Strength is gracefully accepting and valuing what is.
Insecurity is the constant, gnawing desire to have more and more. Confidence is knowing that you already are enough.
Failure is thinking that you can advance yourself by pushing others down. Success is understanding that the more you lift others up, the more you'll be lifted yourself.
Despair is committing yourself to shallow, superficial things that too soon will wither and die. Joy is filling your world and your life with the things that truly matter.
Every moment, you are fully capable of living with wisdom, strength, confidence, success and joy. It's not a matter of chance, but always a matter of choice.
And you can make the choices now that will surely take you there.
-- Ralph Marston
I've been Spammed in the Comments!
Is it not possible to get away from spam anywhere?? In my last blog "Tired" I noticed a 2nd comment. Cool, I thought, a new comment. It was a SPAM! from mandyjones82912247. She posted a profile for Energy & Asset Technology, Inc. (EGTY). (since deleted from my comment section)
You know what mandyjones82912247 -- feel free to post comments about someone's blog in the comments but post your notices and causes in your OWN blog for others to read and comment.
You know what mandyjones82912247 -- feel free to post comments about someone's blog in the comments but post your notices and causes in your OWN blog for others to read and comment.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Tired
So very tired. Brain is tired. Body is tired. Soul is tired.
"She said I`m tired, woke up tired
Life is wearin` me smooth down to the bone
No rest for the weary, ya just move on
I guess you just keep goin` till your gone
Tired, Lord I`m tired "
(Toby Keith/Chuck Cannon)
"She said I`m tired, woke up tired
Life is wearin` me smooth down to the bone
No rest for the weary, ya just move on
I guess you just keep goin` till your gone
Tired, Lord I`m tired "
(Toby Keith/Chuck Cannon)
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Evils of Corporate Life Part 2 - Death by PowerPoint
PowerPoint decks. Every company has them. They are like gremlins -- get them wet and they multiply.
Here are pet peeves of decks:
1. Never, ever, ever, EVER read your deck word for word in a presentation. I can read it myself in less time, thank you.
2. Don't put too much information in a deck. More than 10 pages and most people think twice about reading it. Not to mention printing them destroys small trees each time.
3. Don't overload on decks. Not everything is appropriate for a deck. If there are instructions for a process, try a simple Word document or even a checklist.
Think about it -- simple checklist vs 28 page deck....hmmmmm..........
4. Version control!!! Document what version it is on the cover page and the footer. It's great in the file name, however once printed, the file name doesn't do much good.
In November '04 I started a new position. Sadly, I must say, my Director had on her desk a pile of PowerPoints that was at LEAST 2 foot high! This was background information. Sigh. I just recylced at least 10 decks that were sent, printed for meetings (or given at a meeting) that I have not since touched. There are now at least 3 newer versions of most.
There are good uses for a PowerPoint deck. IF done properly. A good PowerPoint that is easy to read (especially when projected on a screen), has enough information to understand & not forget what you're told, but not so much that you overload and can be understood without requiring a presentation can be a great tool.
But, can I please go one week -- just ONE week without having a new deck sent to me!!!!!
Here are pet peeves of decks:
1. Never, ever, ever, EVER read your deck word for word in a presentation. I can read it myself in less time, thank you.
2. Don't put too much information in a deck. More than 10 pages and most people think twice about reading it. Not to mention printing them destroys small trees each time.
3. Don't overload on decks. Not everything is appropriate for a deck. If there are instructions for a process, try a simple Word document or even a checklist.
Think about it -- simple checklist vs 28 page deck....hmmmmm..........
4. Version control!!! Document what version it is on the cover page and the footer. It's great in the file name, however once printed, the file name doesn't do much good.
In November '04 I started a new position. Sadly, I must say, my Director had on her desk a pile of PowerPoints that was at LEAST 2 foot high! This was background information. Sigh. I just recylced at least 10 decks that were sent, printed for meetings (or given at a meeting) that I have not since touched. There are now at least 3 newer versions of most.
There are good uses for a PowerPoint deck. IF done properly. A good PowerPoint that is easy to read (especially when projected on a screen), has enough information to understand & not forget what you're told, but not so much that you overload and can be understood without requiring a presentation can be a great tool.
But, can I please go one week -- just ONE week without having a new deck sent to me!!!!!
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