What if you changed your perspective?

In what I like to call my "big girl life", I work for a large food company. I spend a lot of time sitting in meetings learning about macro trends in the world. The economics of the average family and how much (or little) they have to spend on groceries.

Our office building is smack dab in the middle of a major city. Walking down the street, I am often stung by the irony of corporate executives stepping out of the way for the legless, homeless man to navigate the city sidewalks in his duct taped wheelchair.

The homeless lady who yells obscenities at the wind.

The trumpet guy with his dirty instrument case, entertaining the more financially fortunate on their lunch breaks for an hourly wage of $3.18-all in change.

How does this happen?

All I know is that when I think about changing my life, I know this. I like a warm bed in my cozy house, a shower whenever I want, medical insurance, a foofoo cup of coffee every now and then and not worrying if I spend more than $1.38 per person per day to feed my family. I know, my chaos is someone else's heaven. #getoveryourself

Every "big girl" career decision I've ever made has been mostly about the salary. In my twisted thought process; the larger the salary, the less I have to worry. (Which for the record, I'm fantastic at.)

I often justify this head job by thinking; your kids can go to college, they can get new shoes when they need them, you don't have to wait until the next paycheck, they can join obnoxiously expensive show choir, they can go to camp.

By doing this job and trading my life hours for a paycheck, we turn can'ts into cans. I can give them opportunity, knowledge, experience and choices. 

That's a lot of power and responsibility given to a j-o-b.

So you can understand how the thought of wanting to quit isn't just about the job.

If I quit, they suffer. I worry. We become the statistics. I become the wind yeller.

Only, what if we don't?
 

http://youtu.be/je3rQevW-cw

 

 

18 Years.

Almost 50% of marriages today end in divorce.

This year, especially, my husband and I have been bombarded with this news; couples that have been a constant in our lives, are no longer. It always leaves us shocked, sad, & dumbfounded. I listen to these people and hear the very same situations & feelings we’ve experienced. “What is the tipping point?”, I always wonder. Sometimes I can understand, and sometimes I just don’t get it.

Whatever love gods were at work when Mister & I were “matched”, they were on their “A” game that day. This is not to say it is love rainbows and unicorns over here.

 

Far, very far, from it. The running anecdote in our house is, “You may not be perfect, but you’re perfect for me.”

 

{Throw Back--Circa 1993ish}

A Mind Maker Upper Needs to Make up Her Mind

Been busy thinking, wishing, hoping, dreaming and have decided that I'm tired of it. Planning is good, yes, but waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect conditions, the perfect time...frankly we could wait a lifetime and never have it perfect.

Went to a funeral last week (ugh, I know) but during the priest's homily he said 6 simple words in his Jamaican/South African/South American accent that resonated somewhere deep,

"You're life is only so long."

Profound no, but often the only way I get something is to have it smack me square in the forehead. That phrase stung a bit.

I think sometimes it's just about getting on with it..and listening to the universe the right way.
(Ahem, Mrs. Possibility.)

Cleaning behind the TV cabinet the other day, and I found this little book I had purchased at Barnes and Noble a year or so ago called "Reach for the Stars". I had forgotten about it so I thumbed through it again. It contains little inspirational quotes......

Loved this one for more than the obvious reasons..Also this piece of art from another one of my favorite artists, Denise Carbonell.

"An entrepreneur is someone willing to go out on a limb, having it cut off behind her, and discovering she had wings all the time."

-Leigh Thomas

After experiencing the limb extraction, I think it's high time to see if these babies can fly.

A few observations today:

By the way, Happy Birthday, Ma.

I read somewhere once (I have no idea if there is any truth in this) that our heads, due to its size and shape, resonate sounds differently.

That being said, it is safe to assume (in my opinion) that
*Certain sounds can either:

A.) Harmonize with our inner tone creating a soothing, relaxing response or


B.) Create a “fork across a plate” shriek that when heard, makes us want to grind our teeth and snap like a jealous dog.


I’m convinced that it is scientifically possible to have reaction B to the sound of someone else’s voice. I’ve been trying to figure out how I can be so irritated by someone that is so nice.
Eureka! The notes F flat and G sound just fine played separately, but together they make a really ugly sounding chord.


What’s a woman to do? I’ve heard that Pamprin might change the shape of my resonating chamber so that I can sit for 8 hours without the hair rising on my neck.


I am also fascinated by the studies done on the differences between my Generation X tendencies vs. those of my younger peers. I witnessed something that I have not yet read about in any article. It happened two days in a row, by two different people so there must be something to it.


You ready? These Y’s like to carry things.

Perhaps an evolutionary shift caused by the “consumerism” in this country-practice toting 10 lbs of excess baggage so you may case two tiers of the MOA before you need to make a trip to the car? I have no idea.


Case in point, following a young Y out the door yesterday. A huge bag the size of two year old draped over her right shoulder, a purse attached to her right forearm, keys in right fingers. In her other hand, a mini cooler for her lunch (you know the size..a six pack of beer fits nicely in these), and across her index finger a neon green Nalgene water bottle was dangling. I thought to myself, who needs this much shit to go to work? I’m dying when I have a purse and a laptop bag to carry.

This morning, it happened again. A purse, an extra large Vera Bradley, the Nalgene water bottle (this time it was pink) and the lunch bag.


This might not be that earth shattering but as a mother, it kills me. Motherhood teaches you efficiency-we don’t do bags for each purpose. One bag-wallet, lunch, water bottle, excess crap.
Keep it light because there is no doubt that you will be, in addition to your bag, carrying 20 extra pounds of thrashing toddler sometime that day. Am I getting old? Unhip to the ways of fashion? What can you possibly have in that big bag that you’ll need during the hours of 8 and 5?


Anyone have insight into this? (Next thing you know, I’ll be complaining about how many miles I had to walk to school in my bare feet.) Whatever it is, these future 30-somethings are going to either have spines of steel, huge biceps, or some serious posture issues.


One more and it speaks for itself.. horoscope from Monday. Go figure.


GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have no problem figuring out what it is you want. The trouble comes when you realize that you'll have to wait for it. Try not to think of waiting as a static condition. All the while be busy making yourself ready.