Stressful

I like arts and crafts.  I really do.  And whenever I'm asked to help with arts and crafts related activities for my kids and the groups that they are in, I'm there.  It's an opportunity to spend some extra time with my kids and see who some of their friends are. 

This week, I was asked to join my youngest daughter's Tuesday night group to do cross stitching. I made it clear to the leader that I've never cross stitched before.  Well, neither have these 12 young kids.  So how hard could it be?  

The leader had her own mom (cross-stitcher extraordinaire) do the lesson, the leader was there, and there was me and this other mom.  This other mom is one that I really like.  We seem to get along well and we laugh...a lot.  

Not this week though.  OMG.  This other mom had never tried this art form either and I'm telling you, neither one of us liked it.  It is a frustrating art form!  Hey good on those that are great at it and can do it.  I'll just chalk it up to I've tried it and I don't like it. 

But imagine helping kids who have less manual dexterity than me!  Recipe for disaster.    This mom and I were trying our best but it obviously wasn't good enough.  

But the beautiful part about young kidlets is that you can offer up a perspective and everything is ok.  This one kid I was helping...sweet as could be.  We were following this cross stitch pattern but she somehow goofed up.  I tried helping and then it REALLY got mucked up.  This little girl kept saying she didn't like it because it didn't look good.  Let's just say it wasn't even close to the pattern.  

So, I told her that it was a special flower that she made.  Nope, not good enough.  She must have thought I was on crack.  BUT, the minute I said it was special AND because it looked like a heart flower, well....I was considered awesome!  But of course it's a heart flower and all was good in the world of this little girl. 

Seriously.  That was one hour of my life that was more stressful than any work day I've ever had...ever.  

Change

Like death and taxes, change is a certainty.   Though, as humans, we don't always welcome change.  But change can be a good thing...or it can become a good thing based on perspective.  

I, like the rest of staff, were notified that our office was moving to Downtown Vancouver.   Let's just say, it was a good thing I wasn't in the office that day and was actually working at home.  Those that had to listen to my wrath, sorry.  But I was pretty upset because it was a big enough change that will adversely affect my work life balance and I wasn't happy about it.  Granted, this was my first world problem of the day.  

After I had my day of processing, ranting and raving and goodness knows what else, I settled down and came up with a plan for myself.  Yes, I could have continued to sulk and feel sorry for myself and just be plain miserable and be miserable to those around me....but no.  I refuse to live that way.  

The people I feel most sorry for are those that are lower paid in the organization who will really feel the brunt of having to pay for parking (if they choose that route), or those that have a more delicate work life balance than me, and those that have no other work arrangements that will work for them.   

Granted, I have my ideas in mind, but whether or not the ideas are accepted are a whole other ball game.  And at that time, whatever is decided, I can reassess once again.   But at least I can at least think that I have other options at this time.  

I know the changes will keep coming in work, family and life.  And that's just the way it is.  I have choices in every situation.  I can accept the change and continue to be mad and then bring that toxicity to those around me, or I can accept that the situation itself won't change, but I can make other choices which gives me control of the situation and helps me deal better with the change.  Don't get me wrong, I'll probably still yap about this until the move, but I know this isn't the worst that could ever happen to me.  

And ironically, I had to tell myself to be careful what you wish for.  The building and floor we are going to is a place I used to work at and I loved it!  But I was in a different situation and living much closer.  My position ended so I went to another office.  And I remember at that time saying to myself, "gosh, it would be nice to work at this office again."  Guess the universe was listening and I got my wish.  

Ok universe, listen to this...I really want to win the lotto...REALLY want to win it.  I'm ready for it.  =) 

Stroller

It's been a while since I've had to use a stroller for my kids.   It's a good thing.  But by the nature of me having kids, other moms gravitate towards you, especially for advice.  This is true for all parents.  And we LOVE giving advice!  LOL


So, last piece of advice someone asked me was about strollers.  I had two of them.  One for just one kid.  Then when I had 2...I needed a double one.  However, I couldn't remember the name brand so I had to put in a number of words into google.  Craziness.  Yes, something like, blue stroller with 4 large wheels.   But eventually, I did find the right stroller.


But before I did, I saw a "new" type of stroller called an origami stroller.  I'm a total origami buff so I had to check this out!   Well, I didn't check it out for too long because I remembered that I needed to provide info about my stroller to my friend.  But wow.  There are definitely options out there.  What a great time to be a baby!

Inspiration

I love the movie Soul Surfer.  I don't think it got huge ratings but it does have a huge following.  It's about Bethany Hamilton, a young up and coming surfer who went surfing one day, only to lose one of her arms to a shark.  From there, her struggle and triumph in competing in surfing once again. 

She lost her arm years ago and she just turned the young age of 22.   Watching the movie and keeping up with her in terms of her newsletters, etc., has been great and really inspiring!  I love it!!!  Someone who had lost so much and who could just go in a slump and be miserable didn't accept that as a possibility.  Instead, changed her life and found her purpose.  

I love it!  I can't help but be supportive of her!!!  Granted, I'm not a woman of faith and she is..though I listen to JC in the house which must mean something.   And I love that she didn't choose the path of misery.  It's too easy to blame your "crappy" situation on something and leave it that.  Yeah, I blame the shark and I can't even imagine having to go through what she went through.  But she really chose something positive to do with her life and deserves all the good things in her life. 

Gosh, we really need more people like this in the world.  Sure would make it a better place.  

Bands

I'm all for using resistance bands....in an exercise class setting.  I find resistance bands while working out at home boring.  And I tend to cheat.  Boo on me.  But they are excellent in terms of resistance training.


Though I have to be careful of who I buy them for.  One time, I bought a set for someone because I thought I overheard them wanting a set.  Only when I gave it to them, they thought I was trying to tell them they were fat.  


Another time, a person I gave it to seemed to like the idea, but they didn't really have the mobility to use them.  So they ended up getting frustrated.  


So note to self, no exercise equipment for gifts for friends.  

Retail

Retail sales and inventory has gotten so much more sophisticated since I was in that type of role.  The POS software has changed so much.  I'm not sure if I could keep up.  Mind you, it does look quite user friendly depending on which kind you choose.  


But boy, what a different world from when I used to do retail.  Yeah, I had those old credit card machines to work with and sometimes tills that had the calculator like portion for the numbers.  


Good times, good times.  

Parties

Parties come in all forms.  But bottom line, it's about getting together with some great friends and most likely having some good chow!!!  One type of party I like that I've only done once is the   tailgating kind.  YEAH.  Whole bunch of strangers joined in because they had their food there and we had our feed there...so we shared and had an even bigger party!   Yep, desserts, sandwiches, ribs, burgers...basically everything yummy. 

Pure craziness I say.  To be honest, I'm not entirely too clear on what the party was for.  But the party was definitely fun!

Now, if the weather was better and I had some team to cheer for, I'd be all over another tail gate party.