Friday, September 21, 2012

CONVERSATION IS 2 PEOPLE????



Conversation according to most dictionaries is the spoken exchange of thoughts, opinions, and feelings
How fun is it when someone tells you how much they have just enjoyed a conversation with you  and you smile to yourself. In the two hours that the two of you were seated across from one another, the only thing you can remember doing is nodding your head. The few times that you were able to speak a few words reminded the person across from you of an event in their life which took at least twenty minutes to tell.

You can't be angry at this person because it's just not with you that this happens. You have seen them react with others in the exact same way. Perhaps they think their life is so much more interesting than yours, perhaps they are lonely and this is their way of being with someone. Maybe they never got the chance to actually learn how to exchange ideas  because no one ever took them to task for this behavior.

Sometimes it's frustrating and then sometimes you just have to accept this is the way the person is and if you have a relationship with this person, this is the way it is going to be.  You are hoping it is just a personality quirk and that they are possibly not that narcissistic. How sad would that be.

Of course my favorite things is to get the first drop, start a story and every time they want to interrupt, just talk over them.  I did this to someone who was always talking about them and their life and I heard from my friends that this person could not believe what a big ego I had. I still laugh when I think about it.

Moral of the story is to remember a conversation is so much more pleasant when all parties involved get to finish a thought, idea or just a fun story without the having to one up, interrupt or just talk over them. Try it and all of a sudden everyone enjoys talking to you.

Friday, August 3, 2012

BEWARE_THE VISITOR!!!!

"What can I do?"  This coming from me, the one who is never at a loss for what to do.


"What can I say?" This coming from someone who hasn't shut up in more years than most have lived.


 A new visitor has moved into our home.


This visitor has sucked the life out of a once happy place and moves from room to room to make sure no ounce of life is existing. The visitor has taken over what we eat, what we think, choices we make and just is a nuisance in everything that we had hoped for the future.


The visitor moves fast, doesn't apologize and always leaves the impression that no one is in control but it. Snarling, laughing, holding on tight are all the unwelcome  gestures from the visitor. We want to punch, hit, hurt and maim but this visitor has an impenetrable skin and holds strong against all attacks by us.


Crying, hurting, lashing out has no bearing on the visitor's soul. The more we hurt, the more it intrudes. Hate is such a strong word but is the only clean adjective to describe this life altering force that has physically and mentally drained all the want of life out of us.


Everyone gives different ideas about how to rid our lives of this beast but nothing seems to even move it anywhere near out of our life.


Watch out for the visitor. Guard yourself with everything you can because once it comes, it doesn't want to leave.


The visitor's name is cancer.

Friday, July 13, 2012

DON'T CALL ME A SALESPERSON!

"Everyone says you are the best salesperson in this store." says a co-worker with a sincerity in his voice that was a little unnerving.


I pondered that remark for hours and came to a realization that although it was a compliment he paid me, it was a misnomer.  I'm not the best salesperson in the store, I am the best product placement person.


When a customer is within eye contact, I smile or make a gesture as to the fact I am acknowledging their presence.  This is the welcoming  part of what my job entails. The next step is asking them, "What can I help you find?" This opens the dialogue for what my store can provide to fit their needs.


The reason I look like I'm the  best is because I know my products, what they do, and can give a reasonable explanation of why the product could be beneficial without crossing the line of diagnosing, offering a cure or trying to give them medical advice.


Realizing that the person is in the store because they want to buy something is what a few of our representatives miss.  Staying with the customer too long also creates a need on their part that is putting the representative in a position as to miss another customers need.


Multitasking as a representative is an art and can only be accomplished if you look up, look around, and make a point to make everyone that is in your vicinity aware that you see them. Just a small indication that you will be with them soon, can make a big difference in the impression the store makes.


I don't want to be the best salesperson in the store. I want to be part of a team that follows the examples that I set, not wait for me to step in and do their job for them.  I want customers to say of all of us, "Your store has the most knowledgeable and helpful representatives."


.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Thank God for unanswered Prayers.

In taking a moment to reflect the happenings of life, I found out one important thing.  "Thank God for unanswered prayers" should be at the top of everyone's list.


Remember at times how you might have wanted to trade places with the prettiest girl in your class, marry that good looking quarterback, get that job that your friend scored out from under you?  The nights you may have prayed for divine intervention to help you be the important child in the house, to look like your sister, have good grades like your brother?   At times thinking no one heard your prayers, you would feel a pity party coming on?


Your prayers were heard but God could see the road ahead and had other, better plans for you. Now that you are older and much wiser and have run into some of the people you wanted to be, aren't you thankful your prayers weren't answered?


Some people have the 'elephant in the room' that can't be shown to the public and no matter what color you paint it, it's still an elephant in the room.


That person you wanted to be may have turned out to have a bad drinking or drug problem and alienated everyone around them because the only way they could feel good about themselves was by hurting everyone that tried to help.You see this person and offer help and they throw up about all your past indiscretions which you and God had worked out a long time ago. You can do nothing but be there when they fall and help them back up if they will let you.


As we take each day at a time trying to become the best person we can be, then we also need to take a moment each day, relish where you are and what you have.  Open the window, look outside, take a deep breath and thank God for where you are and for not letting you lead the life you thought you wanted.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Daylight saving time and sunshine were my gifts for trying to stay healthy another year.  Every dreary Winter, I make the proclamation that healthy habits will be part of my life if I am just blessed with one more Spring and Summer.  This may not be the most worthy goal to try to achieve but for me, it is one of the most valuable things I could be given.

Slow, leisurely walks with Mya, my dog, birds dart diving into the bird feeder to make the water splash, the sounds of lawnmowers in the distant, people walking, weeding, sunning and just celebrating a great day to be outside, are just a few of the many things to smile about.

I open my closets and anything I have that looks like a lot of maintenance is put into the recycle pile for anyone wanting to take the time to keep the garment intact. I check for my easy, pull on shorts, shirts, jeans, baggy dresses and sandals, tennis shoes and flip flops. Anything with an elastic waistband stays in my closet.  It may seem like a waste to some but I always make sure somewhere else has the opportunity to wear anything I deem salvageable.  Life is getting to where there is no time for  clutter and my wardrobe is simplified enough that when I pass from this world, no one has to wade through all my things to see what to do with them.

The first buds of flowers are opening and how majestic is the feeling of new life popping out of the ground. Nature has blessed me with a garden that is actually going to produce some vegetables this year.

Little things in life should now be looked at, loved and appreciated. With no promises of another year, stop, take a deep breath and wow yourself with just what is serenity around you.  If you have to put on rose color glasses to see the beauty, then do it.  You only have this one time chance of a full life and it's up to you to make whatever and wherever you are in your life, work to YOUR advantage.

Friday, January 27, 2012

"AND THE BEAT GOES ON!!"

My sister's birthday is coming soon and since she won't accept gifts, I figured out the perfect thing to give her.  I called my son and asked if I made a list of all the things I heard her say that she wanted done in the house, would he be willing to do them?  He does excellent work and does not charge family members.....yet.

When he said yes, I made a list of things I was sure would please her....my second mistake.  The first was when I got my son involved.

Her Internet always runs slow so why not upgrade the modem.  A little time in the attic, a few changed receptacles and within a few hours, better Internet service.  I did not realize the withdrawal from the Internet would cause such chaos.  As she stood blocking her computer, nailing up the door to the attic and rewiring, taking the old modem and hiding it for future use, Maybe that should have been an indication she wasn't happy.

As my son is trying to get around her, making another trip to the hardware store, gets aggravated and tell her that because of not letting him do it the easy way, he was out $75.00 more.  This, of course, was not a smart move on his part as now he has gone from THAT person who has invaded her space, to THAT MAN that yelled at her.

Many hours later, everyone is back on the Internet, everything moving along at a better pace.  She is now happy and cannot understand why everyone around her is agitated.

The second project was taking the nails from the wall that a mirror had hung from by a chain.  He put a new latch on the back, removed the chain, made sure it was done correctly and lo and behold....how were we to know she loved that chain.  She retrieved it and probably will put more nails in the wall and hang it.

New windows put in the front, new security lights in the trees,
porch being redone. She has now hid his ladder, hid all the light bulbs and said too much light would show everything.

A new faucet is going into the kitchen. She was asked as to which one she preferred. Her reply, "the old one". I explained that this was the identical model but that it just didn't leak.  She called us disposable people with no care of quality things.

My son said that he would give her anything she wanted if he could just not have to do anything that required changing anything around her.  So tomorrow, I'm sure the old modem will be back, the chain will be back and the satisfaction that she won a pissing contest with a man will make her birthday a very happy one.

..and the beat goes on.