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.

Words

Words do hurt.

They sting; especially when they are being spit out the mouth of a loved one.

What impression did I ever give you to think I would be a moocher? How can it be that you would think I would have a man support me for the rest of my life? What did I ever do or say to make you think I did not want to work? That I would much rather stay home and sit on my behind?

If I did not want to work at all, why would I have been working since I was a teenager? I worked while I was in school; at one time I worked two part-time jobs and still managed my schoolwork.

But, now I have an illness, so what went on years ago apparently does not matter to you.

I do not make excuses for my illness.

If I did not want to work at all, I would have quit my job when I got diagnosed. If I did not want to work, why did I just agree to quit my current job just to get another?

Before you criticize my life, know your facts. You do not know anything of my ailment. What you are doing is looking at the people in my life and comparing me to them. I am nothing like them.

What irks me is that I tell you I am finally going to be continuing my education – and there wasn’t any emotion. No, “Congratulations,” no, “Oh, I’m so glad you decided.” I was talking to a brick wall; I wasn’t getting any response back.

So, I guess what you are waiting for is to see if I’m being truthful and not saying just what you want to hear.

And, in time, I will prove you wrong.

Changes

Some people wait patiently for changes in their life. I am one of those people.

I was in a position where I felt stuck. Did I verbally say it? No. But, I thought it; I felt it inside. Where was I going? What did I truly want to do with my life? Where did I see myself a year from now? Three years from now? Seven years from now?

I wasn’t too sure. I had dreams and goals – but everything was at a standstill.

It was a year of debating on whether I was ready to further my education. Last year didn’t quite work out how I had planned. I was going back to community college to do Business Administration. And, then a higher being decided that was not the right path for me. I was diagnosed with a chronic pain syndrome. I figured it was not the right time in my life for schooling.

I really wanted it though; deep down. I enjoyed homework, I enjoyed getting my papers graded, and I enjoyed that feeling of accomplishment. But, I was worried about my health, so it was quickly figured out that the best option for me would be online schooling. That’s where I was stuck again. I didn’t know what I wanted to major in. I was having second thoughts on Business Administration. 

Three years ago, I received an Associate’s Degree in Journalism, but I wanted to write novels, not write news. I wanted to be published.

On top of this, I despised my current job. I wanted to leave, but had no other job lined up. I applied to places, but no one got back to me. I also wanted to get my license. I told myself when I did; I would quit even if there wasn’t another job available to me. Again, everything was at a standstill.

And, then, when I least expected it, my prayers were answered one by one.

It all started with having a session with a palm reader for the first time. I’m not joking. I’m being very serious. You can call it bogus, but it was a remarkable moment in my life.

She told me it was the right time to go back to school and that she saw me in an area of public relations/public speaking. I have a way with words, is what she said. She also told me that I needed to have more confidence in myself. I didn’t give myself credit and I needed to work at it.

Writing is the only thing that has ever made sense for me. I excelled at all my English and Journalism classes. I’m not saying I’m perfect, because I’m aware of the areas that need improvement and I’m okay with that. But, give me a math class and I’d fall flat on my face in a heartbeat! And, I know I do not have confidence. I have always second guessed myself at everything; I question everything.

But, I finally got the direction I needed! After being told this; it felt right– I went to school for Journalism, why not use the degree somehow? It’s what I’m good at. I need to have confidence in myself to be able to make a career for myself. Being a novelist is not crossed off my list, I will still be able to work on that.

So, I started on my search to find a university where I could receive my bachelor’s degree in Communications through online schooling. As of now, I am going through the admissions process.

And, just about three weeks after having my palm reading session, I received a callback from a job I applied for a month before seeing her. This meant, I was finally able to give my two week notice at my current job.

I have never felt better.