BALANCING ACT

Work – Life = Balance

Having worked for a global consulting firm at one time, one of their core beliefs in their Work Value Pyramid was to make sure that the employees recognized and practiced Work-Life Balance. Many workshops were given and the firm was (and still is) adamant about making sure everyone practiced such.

Recently I started to think about this and how I need/must re-implement this philosophy into my life again as a result of recent personal life/work events, reading some blogs from SamWise and Veganskater (I bow in appreciation to you both!) and, notwithstanding, currently reading The Power Of NOW.

WORK – It’s had its ups and downs. I’ve been on the fence if I should stay or go. I’m rather headstrong, diligent, ornery, stubborn, and of the mindset of “gosh darn it, I know I’m good – let me prove it!)”. So many needed, wonderful & positive changes have started to be put into place as a result of a recent internal audit (and my input if you will). Finally it’s recognized that I am valued, worth the education I have, experience and knowledge which I contribute. Further, I will not take work home or have it occupy my thoughts after 5 p.m.! YAY!!!!!

LIFE – Oy vey! “Someone once warned me he'd seen people totally lose their grip on keeping their lives going, under the spell of the party scene” - Veganskater’s blog** I know of a few that fit into that way of living and it truly saddens me for the fact they have so much potential. But it’s their choice.

Our actions, choices & way of living can sometimes dictate repeating itself and then one gets into a cycle of patterned habits. Well, I for one am choosing to stop it. Can’t and don’t want to live in the past. Can’t and don’t want to live for future things based on past experiences.

Have FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN!!!! Life is not worth living if you can't have FUN and enjoy your family (chosen or given).

OK, so I work so I can enable myself to enjoy the pleasures of having fun as I'm sure most of us do. Having a fun, playful life is my priority. I'll quote Veganskater from the wedding this past weekend......."There's no other place I'd rather be than here" - Profound and NOW!

What is so very important is right now. NOW! Yes, I did this, that and the other last week, two days ago, yesterday, or this morning…..but that doesn’t matter. What matters is NOW. Albeit by the time this is posted, it will be in the past, but that’s okay because as I’m writing, it is in the NOW *

*SamWise’s insight = Day 7: I CHOOSE A DIFFERENT ROAD!!!

**Veganskater’s insight = It's intensely stimulating, on every level. So, it's very seductive. There have been times I've struggled very hard to keep my focus on work, paying the bills, maintaining a household. Someone once warned me he'd seen people totally lose their grip on keeping their lives going, under the spell of the party scene.


So on this end note of my lengthy tome, I bid you all a wonderful, fulfilling and happy, happy life!!!!!



XOXOXOXOXOXO!

What Will Matter

Commentary I heard this the other day on news radio by Michael Josephson

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Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours, or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame, and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.

It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built. Not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered, or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom, and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.

Just Another Day In My Life.....

My beloved Susie died in my arms tonight. He was most loved and cherished as being the most loving felines I've ever had.

Fleas, fleas, fleas, fleas = GROSS!

With the most recent heat wave and feral cats outside on my patio, it has created a haven for breeding fleas! I notice I track them in when they attach to my clothing and yet my cats NEVER venture out. I've bathed them all with flea shampoo, but to no avail. I've got a huge, Huge, HUGE flea problem. Can't afford to buy Advantage for the indoor cats on this day, but we're being eaten alive. I've heard bleach sprays and garlic sprays work.......

Any advice?

Kittens, Kittens, Kittens, Kittens - HELP!

Four kittens born April 1st (no foolin') on my patio and need to be adopted ASAP! I can't keep them and can't bear the thought of taking them to a shelter. If you or someone you know can provide a purrrfect home, please drop me a note.

=^..^=

Awww, Nuts! Another Accident!!!

Put me 35,000 feet in the air in a metal tube, flying 600 mph, and I'm grace on a cloud.

Put me in an office wearing 3-inch heels, walking backwards to sit in my chair - BOOM! Chair wasn't there. And as much as I tried to be that 'grace on a cloud', that didn't happen either. Messed up my knee, fractured my hand, and now sport lovely black-blue-green-yellow-purple bruises.

And now to add insult to injury. Yesterday - stackable chairs on a dolly rolled over my foot crushing it. Not sure if anything is broken, but it totally f*cked up my pedicure. I now sport a swollen left foot to complement my right side bruises.

It really is amusing!!!!

Please Listen . . . That's all I ask.

I listen to NewsRadio most 24/7 and enjoy the "Character Counts" segment. This following segment regarding 'listening' really hit home with me in many ways. I wanted to share and hope you can find where it applies to you as well.

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Listening: A Vital Dimension of Respect 564.3
The virtue of respect is demonstrated by being courteous and civil and treating
everyone in a manner that acknowledges and honors their essential human dignity.

An important but often neglected aspect of respect is listening to what others
have to say.

Respectful listening is more than hearing. It requires us to actually consider
what's being said. That's hard when we've heard it before, aren't interested, or
don't think much of the person talking. It's even worse when we act like we're
listening but are really waiting for our turn to speak.

The fact is, most of us don't listen very well, certainly not all the time, and
especially with people closest to us. Kids are especially adept at tuning out
their parents, but parents are equally skilled at ignoring or dismissing as
foolish or irrelevant what their kids have to say.

Disrespect is most apparent when others ignore or patronize us. Like when they
roll their eyes or betray fake interest by vacantly staring or letting their
gaze wander.

We all want to know that what we say and think matters. But if we want others to
care about what we say, we need to care about what they say. Like all the
important virtues, we teach respect best by demonstrating it.

So listen up! It'll make people feel better, and you may even learn something.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

***************************

P.S. the pic was only to get your attention . . . hope it did :)

Rolling on Triple EEE!

This weekend, I’m still reeling and rolling from a continuous high on a triple dose of E…..that is: Energy, Excitement, and foremost Endorphins!!!!! (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphin) Not Dolphins, but Endorphins – just wanted to make sure you knew there was nothing fishy about this blog. (Hahahaha, I’ll be here all week, come back and see me sometime, just leave a tip in the jar…..)

I’ll make this short and sweet, as I don’t like reading page after page of another’s blog…. However, I do tend to wax on and on and on and on and on . . . .damn candle is burning on both ends . . . . Yes, I do crack myself up….it’s just me 

Last 3 weekends have been spent (and I mean ‘spent’ where I don’t get home til 4, 5, 6, 7 the next morning, or 2 or 3 in the afternoon and then I sleep the whole next day away….WTF?) going to parties, and frankly, just got really tired of not getting up to doing stuff around my home. Next thing I know, it’s 10 at night and time to go to bed again.

Woke up this last Saturday late in the afternoon and flaked on a friend whom I was going to a party with. Really felt bad about being the ‘flake’, but also not feeling physically well. Slept the rest of the day. Bad, BAD, BADDDDD!!! I did manage to do some laundry and paperwork (IRS crap, replying to invites and thank you notes) and went to bed early – 1:30 a.m.

I awoke this a.m. to news radio – Clinton & Obama, gas prices, recent shootings, et al – gotta cut loose from this crap! I felt most invigorated to a sense of Carpe Diem! I did so by getting on my bicycle and rode to Burbank and noodled around areas I’ve never explored. So, soo, sooooo, much fun!!!! Got home to realize I have so much energy and unspent Endorphins (again, not dolphins) as I look at my patio/garden: I need to clean it up and Veganskater and Peaches have influenced me by their postings of their lovely back yards. We’re now at 2:30 pm.

Worked my fingers/arse off until 7 pm, . . .raking, sweeping, clipping plants, and hosing off the patio. Off to the store to get food for the cats and me. Standing in a long-ass line, people are cranky, and cranky, and cranky……a wonderful emotional realization came over me. I stood in line and just giggled….I’m dirty from working in my garden, I stink to high hell, and couldn’t care less of who gets checked out sooner before me…..All this on just a high of EEE!

Damn! Life is good! Regardless of whatever crap goes on, life is really, really good. I have this overwhelming sense of joy. It’s not Over-The-Top, but just a peaceful and blissfull sense of happiness. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much and I love it. I also came to the conclusion that “Joy” is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.

I love this feeling and just wanted to share. Thanks for listening/reading.

Now, go to sleep! ))))

Metamorphosis

I can't sit here and stay the same. I simply must change who I am and what I am. If we take control, we have control.

The strength, power, encouragement, love, and affection that has been provided me unconditionally is beyond words for me to thank you all. I bow in gratitude. Most of you don't even know how much you have influenced me, but for those that do, just know you've made a huge impact in my life and way of living it.

It's often said that our choices reveal our character, but it's also true that our choices shape our character. Thus, the more aware we become of the choices we make every day - about our attitudes, our words, our actions, and our reactions - the more power we have over our destiny.

Thank You To All Who Made My Virgin Burn A Reality!

My heart and soul are deeply overwhelmed by the insurmountable generosity, kindness and love that contributed to making my virgin Burn a reality. What an amazing experience! Every waking and sleeping moment was filled with incredible sensory overload, running a whole gamut of emotions. WOW! Simply WOW!!! I miss the dust. I miss the music. I miss not having seen half my friends on the Playa. I miss it all and can't wait to return to Black Rock City next year and the year after that and the year after that . . .

What I experienced through the sense of community, giving, caring, and sharing was/is truly amazing. It's not easy for me to accept 'gifts' especially one of this magnitude, so THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!

***Martemis, you are my rock!***