Be Inspired

BFF

 my dearest friend

and confidant

our friendship's old

but we are not

Suze, it was so great to spend time with you and have you be a part of my life when I needed you the most. Who would have thought that you would be in Dallas on such short notice but perfect timing, nonetheless?  I am so grateful and we had a heck of a lot of fun too :-)

Abundance and The "Santa Clause"

Abundance is a word that seems neglected and one rarely used in the shadow of our economic woes but it may be possible to use that word in a Thanksgiving Blessing.  I personally accredit all abundance to God and I do believe that there is always a divine hand in meeting my needs in every aspect of my life.

The Holiday Season is approaching and before the Halloween candy is consumed, the "Santa Clause" can put a lot of families in an even worse financial situation.  I know there is a lot of pressure to buy popular gifts for the children but if it means more credit than you can handle, don't do it.  Please.

Simple advice, right? But we all know how easy it is to go over budget and as consumers we easily accept the debt thinking only of the happy faces rather than our credit scores.  Right now, our credit is precarious.  I have a friend who works at a bank and she can barely give a small business or personal loan to someone with a 789+.  Things aren't going to get any easier in the near future. Just think about your mail...That is a good reference point. Consider how many offers you used to receive on a weekly basis versus the last 3 months?   On the average, I am guessing it is far less than before.

I have a very large family and a lot of gifts that I should buy, but not one will be without the purpose of saving them money.  One of my favorites is Debbie Meyer Green Bags and containers.  All fruits and veggies stay fresh longer. I have tested it myself and I have been extremely impressed with the value.  My 5 nieces and nephews probably won't care how long their bananas are fresh but I am still trying to find a creative way to impart good financial values to the 9 and under crowd. 

Ideas???

Imperfections

If you are anything like me, you may go to great lengths to hide your imperfections unaware that sometimes people like you more because of them.  Can you recall developing a new relationship because you were both so perfect? Or do you remember growing friendships from sharing life experiences?  It seems kind of simple, really, but only showing the world what we want to about ourselves can often leave us lonely.  The walls that were constructed to protect also serve as barriers. Unfortunately, the infallibility that was projected disappoints the people that believed that you were without fault and they will be the first to judge when you need them.  The friends you really should have called were pushed aside due to your pride.  You know that they would have offered you more but you didn't want to bother them.  The same people that knew most of your faults, and even shared them, seemed too far away to understand the situation.  Nothing could be further from the truth as I have discovered.

Pride (in my situation) meant that I hid from the people I respected the most because I didn't want them to think less of me for asking for support. Ironically, they probably wouldn't even be my friends if we didn't already share a lot in common; imperfections and all of the good qualities too.  So, reaching out is part of the friendship. It took me a long time to understand friendship in its reciprocal form but I am so grateful that when I finally reached out, everyone was there like a safety net, reminding me that while I may be down, I wasn't out.

And the message I needed to learn is this:

First, admit that you need your friends because they care about you.

Second, listen to everything encouraging they say because they now they understand your situation.

Third, repeat steps 1 and 2 as often as needed.  True friends don't mind.

Thank you Paul, Suzanne, Rachael, Brittney, Lisa T, Lisa P, Monica, Brent, Kyle, Patrick, Alex, Billy, Marco, Jeff, McCrea, Elizabeth, Victor, Andrew, Brother, Mom, Dad and evereryone for being so "perfect" you when I needed you most.

Jury Duty: The most unusual way to be dismissed & slightly funny

I had to knock on wood when one of my colleagues was summoned for Jury Duty. It dawned on me that I had never been selected and deep down I knew my time was coming...Just a few months later a summons arrived and I made my way to the Dallas Courthouse along with over 1,000 other individuals. We were shown a film and learned that Dallas was one of the first to establish a "one day system" in which the jurors are selected in one day. There are about 300 individuals per trial but the first 32 in each room are the most important. A jury consists of 12 peers and both the District Attorny and the Defense Attorney are able to eliminate up to 10 people.  I was number 9.

We filled out questionnaires and the judge asked each row about different scenarios after reading the facts regarding the case.  I never considered that I would be hesitant to make a judgement regarding sentencing. This particular crime was 5 to Life and I felt not only responsible for the person who was the victim and their sense of justice but equally concerned for the alleged criminal and if I would be willing to accept a 5 (which could end up as time served and probation) OR up to 99 years in prison. That is a BIG range!  I realized that I did not know how to quantify criminal activity any more than the system but as they released us for lunch, I had to take solace in my belief that I am a fair person and was willing to serve as a juror.

My heart was heavy with responsibility as I stepped off of the elevator to return to the courtroom. One foot was planted on the ground and it took a moment to realize that fluid was filling my shoe. Before I could stabilize myself or even see the water on the floor, people were pushing past me and I soared like I was on a water ride, landing belly down.  The depth of the water added some cushion and my left arm naturally moved under my jaw ultimately protecting my head. 

I was soaked quite literally from head to toe but I was not in any immediate pain, just stunned and embarrassed.  With all of the commotion, I headed straight to the Ladies Room only to find that there were no paper towels. I was wearing an all black ensemble. The material hid but aslo held the disgusting waters.  There were medics already there because of the flooding and other falls  but I was told that I needed to report to court.  One of the Officers was kind enough to take me into another area and provide me with tons of paper towels.  Because I was wearing all black, I don't think they realized just how dripping wet I was.  One touch with a half a roll of paper and it was soaked!  He was kind enough to do his best to get me out of jury duty.  It was so cold already and I was shivering at this point but due to the fact that I was one of the first 32 jurors, both the DA and the Defense had to agree that I should be eliminated. The Judge had to put my situation on the record and I assured him that I was fine.....

But the final question after I had been relieved from jury duty was, "Are you certain you are OK Ms. Chapman?"  I responded with, "Yes, Your Honor, I am just glad I wasn't wearing white today...OOH LA LA!" 

Everyone laughed. That was on the Record!

Words for Today: Harmony, Meditation and Nature

This was a stressful day for me so I searched for healing words that come to mind. Today's were:  Harmony, Meditation and Nature:

Harmony came forth as a result of a business conflict that has been troubling me. I took action to reach out to a colleague that would help make sense of the situation and we have a meeting with our manufacturers tomorrow. It was important to look past the surface of my own problem through communicating with another who has the power to facilitate the meeting. I can make a more informed decision tomorrow and continue to do my best work today. In the past, I would simmer in misunderstanding and get discouraged. 

Meditation on my set of problems was crucial in identifying how to prioritize my plan of action. Meditation, as part of the bigger picture is extremely important every day for me so I don't get overwhelmed by everything on my plate.  Answers to my problems usually come to me in the shower after a good night's rest because I spent a few minutes trying to plan my day living with intent. It can be so easy to slip into a pattern of worry without this simple exercise.

Nature.   Finding some time to be outdoors every day is critical but we often deny ourselves that pleasure. Even pet-owners in this heat don't want to spend too much time out in the burning Texas sun. Walking our dogs is more of a task than a pleasure but it can potentially be both. I just had to remind myself of that fact after seeing my pets bask on the sunlit balcony. 

Considering that I work from home, maybe I don't have to look wantonly at the pool at the end of the day but can occassionally go out there for a few minutesto refresh, meditate, and find a little bit of harmony. (At least I don't have to pick up puppy pooh :-)

What would you do if you knew you could not fail? Thoughts about my childhood

This question has presented itself many times in my life and it always makes me dream and think about the possibilities. There is something intrinsically valuable in embracing one's inner child. Does anyone recall being able to challenge conventional wisdom simply through imagination?

I do. I remember doing rediculously dangerous things like jumping off our second story patio completely convinced that I would be able to fly, or diving into the deep end of the pool before I learned how to swim. I am extremely grateful that my parents were always available to rescue and educate me about my potentially life-threatening decisions. I was the kind of child that would leave the house in the middle of the night and wander into the street.  I was just curious enough to wait until everyone was asleep and go on my adventure.  After the second time Mom had to put deadbolts at the very top so I couldn't even reach it with a chair.

The truth of the matter is that I don't ever recall being afraid. Punishment for not listening was a consequence but that didn't seem to curb my desire to figure things out for myself.  Yet,  somewhere along the way; like a thief in the night, an insidious moment occurred and I traded in my curiosities for Fears:

Fear of being rejected. Fear of being alone. Fear of failure. Fear of Everything...

Why? Because I wanted to please others. My self-worth and value changed because I learned that if I didn't seek approval and receive it, I would be an outcast.  We unnaturally transition from being praised to trying to make the grade.

For example: My first grade teacher decided that I couldn't read although her attempt at holding me back for another year of torture resulted in an extremely interesting result.  The testing proved that I was already above a 6th grade comprehension and reading level as I maxed out thier testing materials.  That news left me quite elated..In my mind I imagined that I might be smarter than her by the time I reached High School.  I digress but her humiliation and degradation of me was endless in our classroom and I think it served to shape my personality a great deal..

For the longest time, I couldn't really figure out why I was so desperate for success and approval and whatever else makes us appreciated as "grown-ups". Now, I completely get the meaning behind the term "rat race". Why did it take so long to realize that there was never a place for me on the wheel that goes nowhere?  All of the years I spent trying to blend in were not necessarily wasted because I gained valuable insight.  It  is kind of like belonging to the cult without drinking the k00l-aid. 

And this leads me to my final point: Every sip from the cup of conventional ideals, if I don't  personally believe in them, could result in concocting my own personal "Death Juice". In some ways, the process has already begun but I had an epiphany:

We are humans and collectively able to do anything we set our minds and ambitions to. We have the ability to re-brand ourselves. We are not fixed like a tree and can move about at will so that begs the question, what would you do if  you knew you could not fail? NOW is the time to re-discover our fearless youths and tame the other restless lions that once held us captive.

 Endure. Be Strong yet Humble and ALWAYS Trust Your Intuition!

Greet your new future as I have mine! (More about that in a future post).

For My Dad

My Father brings me honor

and reminds me of my grace.

He offers his support

in any troubles I might face.

When I tell him

"Happy Father's Day",

he gives ME the credit!

His humility I embrace as

I could not ask for a better Dad.

In my humble opinion

He is the World's Greatest Man.

Kytari Chapman

Be Inspired Every Day: How to Change Who You Are

The Blogger from Be Inspired Every Day  posted "How to Change Who You Are on May 4th. I also subscribe to the email and I have enjoyed receiving positive and insighful messages that I can incorporate into my daily life.  Rather than reposting it here, I encourage you to visit the site for other encouraging messages that may be helpful to you.

New Office Policies

Up coming policy changes and 
NEW OFFICE POLICY 

Dress Code: 
1) You are advised to come to work dressed according to your salary. 

2) If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we will assume you are doing well financially 
and therefore do not need a raise. 

3) If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and 
therefore you do not need a raise. 

4) If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise. 

Sick Days: 
We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work. 


Personal Days: 
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturdays & Sundays. 
Bereavement Leave: 
This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, 
relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend the funeral arrangements in your place. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early. 


Bathroom Breaks: 
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. 
There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and a picture will be taken. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the 'Chronic Offenders' 
category. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sectioned under the company's mental health policy. 


Lunch Break: 

* Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy. 

* Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure. 

* Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast. 

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here 
to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, 
all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, 
allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere. 

The Management 


Pass this on to all who are employed! 

King Tut & Cupcakes

Two of the most heartwarming events in my life were the days that my neices were born.  I was unable to be there for the birth of Zoe, who just turned nine but was the first family member, with the exception of the parents, to hold Kaitlin (almost 8) ...which is one of my fondest memories.  Another is holding the chubbiest, cutist little cherub Zoe during Passover. Her beautiful hazel eyes staring up at me as I rocked her gently and stroked her hair. 

 I value every moment I get to spend with them.  They do grow up so quickly. One day you are trying to keep one from crying if the one pushes the elevator button before the other and the next, you are telling them stories about how they used to cry about not being able to push buttons. They laughed about that story as if it seemed rediculous BECAUSE they are SO Grown-Up Now.  How Ironic!

Recently, Aunt Kytari (ME), has had a lot more time to spend with the Girls. I have had convertables for 12 years but even if there was one with a halfway decent back seat, it didn't translate into safety enough for me; So, I sold my CLK for an S Class with the navigation and Sirius Radio with Disney.  I wanted to be able to drive them around more than I wanted to have a Barbie Car.  Getting a sedan has fulfilled my intentions as it makes it easier to for my brother to leave the kids with me.

I always try to have something fun and educational to do. Last month we went to the Dallas World Aquarium as it is losing city funding and may close.  This weekend we went to the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. Chances are, this won't be available to them locally until they are my age.  It was so much fun as they moved from each display and listened to the commentary on the audio device...I have been to this exhibit several times as a member  but was able to experience it with a sense of freshness as a result of their fascination.  Surprisingly, they were practically hyperventilating when they saw the Radio Disney vehicles parked outside.  That is a "kid thing" I don't quite understand but it was the highlight of their evening when I took their picture next to the van and something they really wanted to tell grandma about this morning.

The other excitement of the weekend was making cupcakes. Or should I call them "Tutcakes". I cooked, iced, cooled, and they made the magic of decorating them. No cupcake party would be complete without glittery princess icing and all of the different types of sprinkles available on the free-market.

My brother showed up earlier than expected and we all iced and ate cupcakes together. My neices didn't want to leave and to be honest, I didn't want them to go either. It is nice to be loved. 

Today I used the mixer that my great-grandmother used which could be 50+ years old and I remembered all of the times that I used to  be small and watch my grandma and my mom decorate cakes and coookies as I waited anxiously for that moment when I could lick the beaters.  All of those memories rushed into my heart and I became the women that I love most in this world as I shared the woman I am and want my neices to become.