Six-Word Sunday

jazz

friends

wine

afternoon

evening

sublime

Thursday Thanks

I am thankful for the memories that hearing a song evokes and how a particular song can take me back to a specific time in my life. Tonight as I was on my way home from playing racquetball, I heard Hotel California and I was transported back in time...

• the year was 1977;
• the month was June;
• the event was my graduation from 8th grade (Catholic school);
• the happening was the 8th grade graduation dance;
• the crush was Stephen Denevan;
• and the final song of the night was Hotel California.

Reflections

My last post was about reflections making us see things differently. Today, after being in an all-day professional development session at work, I am again thinking about reflections. In the context of a group, often the reflections we are faced with come in the form of feedback from others. People will provide us with the ability to see things in a new or different way if we are willing to open our minds to a perspective that is different than our own.

I wonder, though, if we get feedback that is akin to standing in a 360 degree mirror, how we can fail to see parts of ourselves that are being reflected clearly? It's kind of like a woman asking, "Do these pants make my butt look fat?" and being given the reflection showing the answer to that question and refusing to believe what she sees. Maybe the answer is yes, maybe it's no; either way she chooses to cling to her own perception despite evidence to the contrary.

Sometimes the truth is hard to process, especially if what is being reflected to us is far different  from how we see ourselves. Instead of choosing to say the mirror (read feedback) is wrong, maybe we should step back, look at the mirror again, and if need be, get out the window cleaner to better see the reflection in front of us. And if we still don't believe what we see, perhaps it is time to look in another mirror, and another, to see if the reflection (read feedback) is the same. Doing so can only help us improve our relationships because it means we are willing to see ourselves as others see us.

I imagine members of my work group will all be spending time thinking about the feedback that was given today, looking in the mirrors that were graciously provided, with some wondering what's wrong with the mirrors. Hopefully if the reflection was not what we expected to see, we will all take time to consider it carefully to learn more about ourselves. As for me, I am headed off in search of the Windex.

Six-Word Sunday

Reflections make us

see things differently.

Thursday Thanks

Today I am thankful for brothers and feeling blessed because I have four! My big brothers are pictured above with our dad - Dave, Mark, Dad, Gary and Ron. While my brothers all live in California, they are with me every day in spirit and in my heart.

In the last 24 hours, two of my bros called me (Mark and Ron) and through conversations about life, I was reminded of what wonderful men my brothers have become. All of them are kind, caring, intelligent, loyal, protective, and fun; all of them are dedicated to their families and love their children fully and without reservation; all of them are mine, my brothers, my blessings!

Birthday for Days

I turned 47 last week, which is a little mind-boggling when I wonder where the last 20 years have gone. This year I had a lovely birthday--one of my good friends took me out for a fun lunch. And another took me out for dinner on the river, followed by a nice walk. Today at work, my coworkers gathered around for birthday cake and pie. This evening my own sweet boy treated me to dinner and a movie. Later this week another friend is taking me out for a birthday lunch. Oh, I also got some lovely cards and phone calls from my family. So this year, my birthday is truly lasting for days. I have to admit, it is really nice to be remembered in so many special ways!

Six-Word Sunday

Encouragement and support

make me believe!

People I Love

I was fortunate to talk with my parents this evening and I so enjoyed conversing with them. They always give me great advice and encouragement, and I am sure to have a good laugh every time we talk. I also chatted with my Auntie Irene tonight and was pleased to hear she is on the mend from a recent injury.

I am filled with great appreciation for the many people in my life that I love who love me, too. Some of them are:

• My son, Matty


• My parents, Ron and Marian


• My siblings (Dave, Ron, Gary, Mark and Jamie) and their spouses (Carleen, Linda, and Peggy)


• My nephews and nieces (Lisa, Brian, Eric, Laurie, Katie, Annie, Kalie, Lex, Stan, Bill, Ben, Carrie, Kyle, Natalie, and Marcus)


• My Auntie Irene

There are so many more people in my life that I love, but for now I'll leave it at the list above. Clearly this is going to require a "People I Love II" post in the near future.

A Friendly Nudge

Today one of my friends, Vanessa, posted on Facebook that she is going to blog every day in August. So her post is the nudge I needed to get back to blogging on a regular basis. I really enjoyed when I was blogging daily, but after I took a break because I was "unplugged" while on vacation, I just haven't got back in the groove of blogging. I have had several ideas for posts pop in my head, but I haven't been writing. I have still been reading other blogs, but haven't been making the time to post to my own.

So, thanks, Vanessa, for giving me the nudge I needed. Hopefully if you check back tomorrow, you'll see another post. Now I have to go see what she has posted on her blog!