Events in Our Life

This sequence of events varies with each individual.

1. Education

2. Driver’s License

3. Job

4. Dating

5. Continuing education further

6. Dating some more

7. Career

8. Meeting someone to spend your whole life with

9. Engaged

10. Married

11. House

12. Kids

I’m twenty-five (this week) and I haven’t done a majority of things on the list above. But, I know plenty of people my age who have.

Driving was put on hold because my father didn’t have the urge to teach me or practice with me when I was a teenager. Before I knew it, years passed and knew I had to rely on someone else to be my coach so I could be independent. But, it took a while to overcome my fear first. I had this nervousness of being in a car accident each time I was on the road. Once I overcame my fear, I was able to practice smoothly in a vehicle. My goal now is to have my license before the end of the year. That leaves me with two months to achieve this goal.

After three years of graduating community college, I am ready to continue my education to receive a bachelor’s degree in Communications. I’m destined to write for a newspaper or magazine; I know it. If I had the urge to go for my bachelor’s degree right after community college, maybe my job area would be different than it is now. Maybe I wouldn’t be in retail. Maybe I would be getting paid to write part-time or full-time! Am I upset about it? No! I truly believe in the phrase: Better late than never. I had a small bump in the road last year with my illness, but with some words of encouragement from the palm reader last month, she made my direction very clear. I’m excited to see what the world has in store for me and also curious to see what career I end up with.

There are a lot of people who are amazed that I am not married or at least engaged. Why? Well, because I’ve been with my boyfriend for eight years. A lot of people know he’s the only guy I’ve dated. So, yes, he’s my first and only love of my life. I guess you can say I don’t know much when the dating topic gets brought up. My advice given is off of what makes sense to me and what I learn from my surroundings.

I have plenty of time to get engaged and married. I want that all, along with kids and a house. But, I’m being realistic; I can’t have any of that now if I’m not financially ready. That would be a disaster waiting to happen if I was to do that now. First comes first: careers. And then the rest will fall into place.

Relationships

Communication, Compromising, Trust, Honesty, Respect.

These are essential to make any relationship thrive.

When a problem arises, ignoring it is not the answer. Why? Because it makes matters worse, not better. Both individuals must communicate in order to solve any matter. Talk it out. Discuss your opinions and your concerns.

Once you’ve mastered communication, compromising is another big one. Compromising makes both people happy. Individuals must meet each other half way; that is how a relationship survives. If only one person is trying, the relationship is bound to end at some point.

Without trust, honesty, and respect, you will no longer have a relationship, nor will you have a friendship, or a business partner.

If your relationship is in jeopardy and you feel puzzled because you do not know how to fix it, use this guide. More than likely one or all of these might need to be worked on.

Accomplishments & Disappointments

After accomplishing a task, you’ve felt that feeling of satisfaction, right? Your face has a permanent smile and you can’t help but jump up for joy? It’s a great feeling! It can be the simplest thing like finishing an art project or it might be something a little more rewarding like losing weight.

The beginning process though to get to the end result might be rough. Something that seems easy is usually not, but the best thing to do is to not get your hopes up. If it doesn’t go the way you planned, you end up in a big disappointment and it can ruin your whole mood and your day. If you don’t expect success on the first try, it won’t be a big deal.

So, what am I trying to say? You’re supposed to have a negative outlook right from the beginning? No. That’s definitely not the answer. Negative thinking doesn’t do anyone any good.

For instance, losing a few pounds is difficult. People try so hard to eat well, count calories, exercise, and they have it in their mind that they had to have lost at least a pound or two for the next weigh-in. But, if they get on the scale and it doesn’t show the results they were expecting, they are suddenly frowning and moping around.

Do not have it in your head that there should be a weight loss for that next weigh in. Whatever happens; happens. There are other factors that could have caused you to stay at the same weight or caused the weight gain. Do not be so tough on yourself; be proud that you were able to maintain a week of counting, no fast food, and a steady pace of exercising!

Failing to achieve a task does not make you a failure. To be a failure, you would have to quit at something instead of trying to complete it. The saying, “I cannot do it,” is not appropriate if you quit. You didn’t carry it out fully. Always go through the whole process! At least you’d be able to say, “I tried.”

Manners. Courstey. & Such

Have people forgotten what manners are? Or did they never have them to begin with?

I’m not just referring to a simple, “Please” and “Thank you.”

At midnight on a Sunday night, or any day for that matter, no one should be outside making a ruckus. You should not be cursing, arguing, or yelling across the street to a neighbor. No one wants to hear your business. No one wants to be interrupted by that! It’s obnoxious.

If you are working in retail, please be nice to your customers. Yes, I know some can be impolite, but it’s always best to keep calm. I’ve worked a few retail jobs; if you’re having a crummy day, it’s not best to bring your negative energy to work. It rubs off on everyone. Yes, I know what it feels like to dislike your job, but I always smiled at customers and engaged in conversation.

If you are a customer, be nice to your cashier! If a price rang up wrong, do not get snippy with the person behind the counter. Keep your cool. What’s so difficult about politely asking if it were possible for someone else to double check the price on the item? Wouldn’t you feel overwhelmed if the shoe were on the other foot? Oh, you only have five minutes to get to the bus stop to pick up your child? That’s a poor excuse to get all flustered. Sorry, you shouldn’t have spent the time shopping when you knew you had to be at an important place! So, you need to deal with the consequences! Or, calmly ask if they could remove your item from the purchase if you do not have time to wait.

One thing that gets irritating is having uninvited guests to a party or small gathering. Did we forget how to ask the host if it would be all right? You are capable of asking, so ask, and do not leave it up to someone else to do the dirty work for you.

In my opinion, parties and gatherings are for friends and family. I do not care if you disagree with me, but I do not like the fact that people assume it is all right to bring anyone their little heart desires. I’m sorry, but I am not having people related to your boyfriend or his friends attending my gathering. I do not know them. They do not know me or anyone else that is attending. It’s my party, my rules. If you do not like it, there’s a simple solution: stay home.

Another thing that irks me: No, you may not bring home a plate of food to everyone you share an apartment with! I do not need to go into detail for this one; it’s that simple.

If I’m throwing a party, do not get moody with me because you are upset I denied your request to bring someone. I do not appreciate that.

If you are attending a party, it is beyond rude to continuously talk on your phone, leave countless of times and come back, and sneak off into hiding whenever you feel like it. I do not need to go into detail for this one either! It should be self-explanatory.

If you make plans with someone, it is not okay to ditch that person without warning. Have the consideration to make a quick phone call to reschedule!

A writing piece like this could go on forever, but this one will end like this:

To receive respect, you have to give it. If you treat someone like garbage, it’s going to come back and bite you in the behind. That is the way the world works.

Speak Up

Yes. I will admit…I am a bit ticked off.

Why?

Because you cannot say anything to my face – you say things about me to everyone else. I am the one hearing it from them and not you.

Sometimes…many times…the things you say come off as negative and a bit selfish, but you do not see it. You do not realize it.

For me, I’m taking into consideration your tone of voice and what you say. If my first instinct is to take it negatively, I will in fact take it that way. I do not care if I find out it was not how you intended it to sound – you said it, and I do not appreciate it.

I’m trying my best to make everyone happy; I try to please everyone. If I ask you a favor; you may say ‘no.’ I am not by any means forcing you to do anything. You need to tell me if you cannot or do not want to do it. I rather get an honest answer than have you go behind my back.

I’m the type of person that likes to cool off for a day or two before approaching someone with an issue.

But, depending on the situation, I might just leave it alone and never ask you for a favor again. I know where I stand with you. I don’t like when something is thrown back in my face.