Everything is easier to take when Spring arrives.
I have to go buy panty hose – the first I’ve bought in years.
I need rubber boots so that I can splash in puddles with Maddie.
Both Nikki’s and Julie’s soccer teams are in the running for city championships.
I’m tired of having a drippy nose.
There are few foods more perfect than the cashew.
Sometimes I have trouble deciding what I believe.
I have failed at my attempt to take a photograph every day.
I’m craving candy.
Alternate title: Not only am I communicator of the year, but as of today, I am SHOPPER OF THE YEAR! Oh yeah!
Designer jacket (Nygard!) at thrift store: 7.99
Short sleeved sweater to wear underneath: 3.99 (thrift store)
Designer skirt at Winners: 24.99
Fancy shoes that almost meet my daughter’s fashion standards: 6.99 (thrift store!)
Fair trade jewelery from Ten Thousand Villages: $20.00
Joy it gives me to have a whole “new” outfit that looks classy and put together (and makes my husband think I’m hot), AND fits within my “recycled, re-used, and/or fair trade” personal preference, for under $65: PRICELESS!
I actually really TRIED to get something snazzy and new and possibly even expensive for a change, but after 4 stores, I could fine absolutely nothing of interest. A quick stop at a thrift store, and I had almost the whole outfit. I’m still smiling.
And the best part? I didn’t even have that oh-I’m-so-depressed-about-clothes-shopping-I-need-cheesecake moment. Today’s lovely weather definitely helped the mood.
Note: photos to follow after I get a haircut and my nose is a little less red and raw from this blasted cold.
I’ve been thinking about blessings lately. How do we bless each other? (I like the Wikipedia definition of blessing – “the infusion of something with holiness, divine will, or one’s hopes”.) I think by offering words of encouragement, congratulations, comfort and hope, we offer each other our blessings. Sometimes it’s as simple as “have a nice day” or “hope your trip goes well”.
I’ve been lucky enough to receive a lot of blessings lately, and I definitely feel blessed by it all. Some of those blessings are coming from you, my blog friends (and in-person friends who read this blog). More and more people are learning of my upcoming award and so lots of people are calling or sending notes to say “way to go”, “you’ve done well”, or “you deserve it”. I appreciate and cherish each and every one of these little gifts and I am reminded that I need to make sure that I bless other people as often as I am blessed by them.
But sometimes blessings come with a catch. Sometimes there’s a little baggage attached, or a cryptic underhanded dig, and then the blessing can become null and void. Like, for example, “congratulations, kiddo!” Ummm… kiddo? I’m a 42 year old professional and haven’t been a “kiddo” for many, many years. Even though you’re a few years older and you were at one time my superior, doesn’t mean that I forever remain a “kiddo”. Or “I guess you’ve arrived now” said with a hint of bitterness and disdain. No, I haven’t “arrived”, but by saying so are you implying that this distinction has created a divide between you and me?
There’s also the notable silence from the people whose blessing your inner child craves. The people whose standards you’ve tried to live up to and have felt yourself failing again and again. The people who’ve intimidated you or made you feel insecure. Though you try not to let it happen, sometimes their silence speaks louder than the dozens of encouraging words from the other people in your life.
What kind of blessings have been meaningful to you lately? What kind have fallen short? I want to know, so that I make sure to offer the kind of blessings people will cherish.
In the meantime, I’m riding the wave of your blessings as I prepare my acceptance speech for next week.
I took a sick day today. I think my body is just plain worn out. At first I was just going to sleep a little longer than usual and then go in to work late, but I rolled over in bed (after calling the office) and the next thing I knew, I woke up and it was after 10:00. I don’t know when I’ve ever slept that late, but clearly I needed it. I’m awake now, but still feeling pretty groggy and worn out and a little achey, so I’ll just spend the day in rest mode.
There are some fun and exciting things happening these days, and maybe it’s taking a toll on my energy level. Today in the Winnipeg Free Press, I was named as a “Manitoba Mover” because of my award. Really? Me? A mover and a shaker? Wow! I’m certainly not feeling much like a “mover” today! And on every other day? Well, mostly I just feel like I’m doing my job the way I’m supposed to be doing it and not a whole lot differently from the way other people in similar positions are doing their jobs. I’m trying to write my speech for the gala luncheon (they want me to talk about some of the unique and successful ways I’ve communicated), and I’m having trouble figuring out what I do that might be noteworthy.
I’m also preparing to speak at this conference in Toronto in June. I’ve done lots of speaking engagements in the past, but this is the first time I’ll be flown in to be a conference speaker at a North America-wide conference. It feels like I’m “kickin’ it up a notch” so to speak.
I’m on a little high of excitement over all of this. Unlike many people who say they fear death less than speaking in public, I actually really, really enjoy public speaking and I’ve been wanting to do more of it. It gives me really great energy and confidence – at least when I feel like I have something worth sharing. I especially love it when people come up afterward to engage me in conversation because something I said really stuck with them and they just felt the need to explore it more with me.
When I started this year out with “fearlessness” as my theme (which, I realize, should probably be “courage” rather than fearlessness, since it’s more about moving through the fear than abolishing it altogether), I tried to be honest with myself about what things I wanted to do more of if I had the courage to ask for the opportunities. Public speaking was one of those things. I admitted it to myself (and to god), and then the opportunities started to show up without me having to look for them.
But there’s a down side to all of this, of course. It’s the expectations and new “standard of excellence” I’m setting up for myself. How do you top “communicator of the year”? Do I now have to become “communicator of the decade” to feel like I’ve arrived?
When I sent out the press release about my award, one of the board members said, jokingly, that they’d be expecting even more from me now… and that’s what I’m afraid of. What does “more” look like? And what if everything I try this year is a miserable failure? What will people think of me then?
For now, though, I’ll try not to worry about all that and instead, bask in the glow of the moment. For starters, I’m going to have a hot bath and listen to some good music…
A few random things that aren’t quite as self-centred as the last few posts have been…
1. I have become a little obsessed with desire to see this film. I was already fascinated with it months ago when I first heard about it, but now have become even more so after hosting a strong and passionate Liberian woman in my home. It costs about $300 to host a community showing of the film. This morning it occurred to me that I could probably rally enough interested women to make it worthwhile ordering a copy and planning an event. Anyone interested in joining me?
2. I want to believe in “innocent until proven guilty”, but if he is indeed guilty, I sincerely hope Rihanna has the sense and strength to walk away from Chris Brown. I don’t normally care much about the “lifestyles of the rich and famous”, but my impressionable daughters care a little too much, and they need to know that it is NOT OKAY for a man to beat a woman and then for a woman to walk back into the situation (unless he gets some good help and is truly reformed).
3. Every fibre of my being is longing for Spring! It is not healthy for me right now to be visiting blogs of people who live in places where grass is starting to grow and buds are bursting out all over. If you post pictures like that, I may have to ignore you for a month or so until it happens here.
I’ve sent out alot of press releases in my career, but this is the first time there’s one about me!