Notes In My jUnKdRaWeR

Greatness

I wrote this about two years ago. I ran across it, while i was reading through my journal...

 

Ever wonder what causes one to be so great? Many of the greats came from extremely different backgrounds; where one great came from poverty, another great came from royalty. I then ask the question, “Are the great just born great?” I look at it like this; of course the great are born great; no matter the background or socioeconomic status. But I pose the question if  you and I are already born great, why do we need or seek what it takes to be great?

I am simply reminded that, Yes! Truthfully we are all born great. The earliest human beings as we know, Adam and Eve were perfect and made in God’s image; they didn’t have to eat of the “forbidden fruit”; yet by choice, they chose to eat of it and so is greatness faired to us; It’s a choice.  If you are thinking like me, I thought that sounds good, but seems so contradictory. If I am born great, then why am I struggling to be something that I already AM?  

It is not until you come in to full awareness of who you are that you activate that greatness and choose to be great! Especially when all around you, are those who chose not to follow the path that would lead them to realize that they were already great from the start. So, I’ll end with challenging myself as well as you, to choose to be great.

Dare to be great, it’s a choice, but be assured when you manifest it, you were Great All along!

 

Why Not??

Some people see things as they are and say, Why?

I dream things that never were and say, Why not?
- Robert F. Kennedy 

This week is my last official week of school. I am tired but excited that I will have accomplished another milestone. I ran across this quote by Robert F. Kennedy and couldn't help but post it. Looking back over my graduate experience and headed towards my future, I now realize what it means to dream and ask, Why not???

*If you haven't already... You should try it, and watch your mindset shift!!!

Betcha Didn't Know??? or Maybe you did???

 Ok, so I am a sucker for fun facts! I love learning new things about different things that I never even thought to learn about...  Hope you can enjoy these and are enlightened as much as I was about these three topics.

Thanks Discover Magazine!

Hygiene

Death 

Nothing 

In all Fairness...

It’s NOT fair….

Amidst the melody of typing, fax machines, copy machines, printer, professional calls and office dialogue, this phrase in particular rang out to me, It’s NOT Fair.

 

The individual that stated this seemed to be quite frustrated along with her cohorts of a new system that is now in place that is said to help increase output on services provided to the specific population. She is approaching retirement and I might add, a veteran at what she does. Due to her experience and age I am sure that she has seen all sorts of systems or methods implemented that all were intended to do the same thing, so…. I can see where here frustration comes…

 

Ultimately, behind the scenes actions are actual slowing up productivity to the front view making veterans look like neophytes… What struck me is that this late 50s to early 60s year old lady, sound like me when I was in elementary school when I thought something wasn’t fair.

Like when the teacher punished everyone for one person’s bad behavior… I hated it! Because the class never got rewarded on one’s good behavior.. lol I don’t know why her saying  took me back, but I guess I can say that,  feelings never change… It is what it is; from school rooms to the cubicles in the office or work place or where ever. If something isn’t fair, it just isn’t fair….

Undefined=Infinity

Not to harp on the Circuit breaker episode… but since the last post, the cable has been malfunctioning. Well you know me, or even if you don’t, I am trying to discover the problem; you know, what’s wrong(?)… Interestingly, while reading for class, I ran across this quote in the beginning of the chapter "Road Map for Coping":

 

 

 An undefined problem has an infinite number of solutions…-Robert A. Humphrey

 

I don’t know about you, but that helps bring clarity to the situation(s). We get stressed when life’s demands seem to outweigh our coping ability. But the truth of the matter is we’d probably save a lot of time and energy if we defined the problem and specifically addressed that…

In short if you don’t know what the problem is, you will expend unnecessary amounts of energy on things that ultimately don’t even matter….

Circuit Breakers

A circuit breaker is an automatically-operated electricalswitchdesigned to protect an electrical circuitfrom damage caused by overloador short circuit. Its basic function is to detect a fault condition and, by interrupting continuity, to immediately discontinue electrical flow. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then has to be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.

http://electronics.howst uffworks.com/circuit-breaker.htm

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_breaker>   

I picked up the remote to turn the t.v. on… No response.  I put the remote down and attempted to turn the t.v on manually (you know, by pressing the power button on the t.v.) no response.

I then, decided to reset the power surge protectors and re attempt to power on the t.v.…. Might I add no success..  So, I thought to myself, I know the cable  is paid and the utilities are taken care of… what's going on? On top of that, I heard the t.v. in the other room and the cable working just fine.. I am thinking… what's really good??? I returned to the living area and decided to turn on some lights and take another stab at this problem.. The lights wouldn’t' turn on… Needless to say, I sat; baffled at what could really be the issue.

 

THEN… A LIGHT BULB TURNED ON… not literally, lol, but you know an AH HA moment occurred.

 

I headed to the circuit breaker and found that the living area's electricity  had been automatically shut off…

What I thought was the issue wasn't. (nothing was wrong with tv, cable, or lights. )  I tried everything I thought would fix the problem not realizing that the source of the issue was something totally different . I confused the source of the  issue as being the actual issue.  For what seemed to be the issue really wasn't. The issue was there was too much overload going into one electrical circuit. The circuit breaker automatically intervened; protecting the house and household.

 

It's easy to be distracted by what may seem to be the issue. Or, better yet dwell on the issue.. But when I went to the source the issue completely changed. I had sort of a new appreciation for the tv not coming on, the lights not coming on.

 

Go check the Circuit breaker...... You might come back with a new appreciation.

Nuggets

I love Hershey's chocolate nuggets with toffee & almond in the gold wrapper!!! You wanna talk about something that is rewarding to your tastebuds and your sweet tooth????

But although gratifying and delicious it’s nothing like nuggets of wisdom… Using wisdom is very rewarding.

After attending a Bible study yesterday, here is what was shared. I would be greedy and selfish to keep these nuggets to myself.

 

Life is not  meant to be lived and then when you die it’s the end of you, but one should always leave a legacy; leave a piece of you for the generations to come. Here are three things that will out live you...

1. Writing a book
2. Planting a tree
3. Having a child

Secondly the three listed below are independent of each other, but are things that were spoken of that I thought was profound, may you use them, as you see fit..

Ø      Faith is not a substitute for wisdom and hope is not a strategy.

Ø      Everyone knows something about themselves that they can change.

Ø      You don’t get in life what you want, but rather what you prepare for…..

Institutions

  

On February 28, I took a road trip; I drove to St. Louis! The ride was quite refreshing; although the scenic  route wasn't quite so appealing to me. However, I was able to clear my head. But this isn't why I am writing…  Here's what caught my attention.

I found my self on the highway in the middle of two interesting institutions:

The PENITENTIARY AND UNIVERSITY… I mean in the middle of "no where land" were replicas of advantages and disadvantages, opportunities and missed opportunities, freedom and bondage both physically and mentally for some.  I wonder when students look across the street what do they see? What occupies their thoughts? And vise versa..  When the inmates are out on the yard, what do they see across the street?

 

Now let me ask… How many times have you found your self between the pro's and con's of life?

What did you choose? If it's ok to make this assumption, I would like to think that the difference between those individuals were the choices they made  and as a result  one gained access to make decisions for themselves while one lost that, and others make decisions for them.

 

I am interested in what you think about this?

Your thoughts are welcomed either through post or email. I look forward to hearing from you...

63 years; Mr & Mrs. Smith

Today is a holiday so to speak in the Smith family. Today, March 10, 2009, marks the celebration of my grandgparent's 63rd anniversary!

These are the two wisest young people i know, and I want the world to know.

Here's what my grandmother taught me a few years ago, that I'd love to share with you. It's one reason that I think my grandparents have stayed together for so long.

I was having a little issue with people pleasing. Below is grandma's reply:

Honey, I told Simmy, I can't please myself 100% of the time, so I know I won' t be able to please you. If you can't accept that, then maybe we need to do each other a favor and go our separate ways...

What a  simple way to put it, grandma!Hence they will be celebrating 63 years... Once we decide to love people for who they are, not necessarily what we want them to be or do, we would be much better off  appreciating each other.

Happy 63rd Anniversary, Grandma and Grandaddy!

It's all about Perception

I am entering what can become a stressful time in my life. I am approaching the end of my graduate studies and besides the required examinations within the course, I have a series of examinations for certifications coming up. Let me just be honest and say I am somewhat anxious about this...

Interestingly, I am taking a Stress Management course this semester as my elective... Was studying for a test last night and ran across this...

When a stressor is introduced to us, we naturally do two things. First, we evaluate this potential stressor with regard to how significant it is. Then we evaluate the resources and options presented for changing the outcome. This assessment eventually shapes meaning and emotions to this encounter. It is believed that stress isn't something that happens to you, but a result of the meaning assigned to situations and events.

With that said, we feel stressed when we come to the conclusion that what is being demanded outweighs our resources. In most cases, most of those demands are self-imposed.To sum it up, Stress is related to perception.

What is your perception about the things going on around you?