What goes around comes around...

I want to stay positive. I really do. I want to keep my language focused on growth and forward progress. I want to be mindful of the word choices I make. But I really HATE when people talk about karma. I mean, it’s a nice thought. I understand wanting to believe that bad people will have bad things come back to them at some point. And that good people will have rewards in this life or the next. But how do the people that comment on karma so often rectify good people who have bad things happen. Or average people who mess up, yet still seem to have “good luck” everywhere they turn. And who really gets to decide if someone deserves “karma?” I know that I’ve wished negative on people for stuff that I realize is selfish. Do I want to give another person the right to judge what kind of “karma” comes my way? Because I can promise that if someone deemed me worthy of bad “karma,” I could find reasons to try and convince them otherwise.  So if for now on we could all not worry so much about what is going to come of the people around us and just live to make ourselves feel ok in our own skin, I’d appreciate it. Or at least keep the “karma” off your facebook page.  

Shall we dance?

During my internship I did a short training on the different types of communication. I found it interesting to show students examples of acting passive look like, or how aggressive type people often end up causing their friends to show more passive traits. I guess that goes along with “too many cooks in the kitchen” thought that you only need one ring leader, or else things end up messy. As I continue to get farther and farther into a job which has a focus on being the leader of your own needs and path, I have begun to be more cognizant of the lesser discussed, but much more prevalent type; the passive aggressive individual.

I find it to be interesting how adults seem to be so confused about this. If I’m frustrated about something, especially when I have found myself being frustrated by many things, I may choose to discuss the issue with my peers or immediate supervisor prior to addressing it with the person I am frustrated with. I find this to help me weed out the issues worth addressing. It’s also human nature, or at least my human nature, to be uncomfortable to confront people about things I think they are doing wrong. I don’t want my friends or coworkers to get too comfortable with the idea of telling me about everything I do wrong, and I would like to not be known as the one always nagging at others. I know that some things are out of the control of anybody, which makes me feel that addressing it is only going to create a bigger rift in the relationship. But, and let’s be clear on this, when something is significant enough, I WILL address it with the appropriate persons as best as I can.

Let’s avoid emails back and forth. Let’s use names and real examples in meetings. Let’s not have separate meetings before the big meeting and then avoid the topic all together. Let’s grow up and not dance around the issues. How are we to set an example to the ones coming up behind us if we can’t find appropriate ways of addressing real life issues? It might actually force us to choose our battles, and alas, become more aware of our true flaws which need correcting.

Bucket List

I like to give my kids homework when I know I'll be seeing them again in a week or so. One of my favorite assignments is for them to come back with 3-5 things they would put on their "bucket list;" what do they want to do before they die. Every time I ask one of them to do it, I try and think of a few more to add to mine. One day I'd like to be up to 100. And then I'd like to have them all crossed off and complete.

a working list...
1. Learn to drive a stick shift.
2. Visit all 50 states... and Puerto Rico.
3. Get as many stamps in my pass port as possible. At least 20
4. Skydive.
5. Buy a house.
6. Donate a large amount of money to a good cause
7. See a Broadway show.
8. Fall in love.
9. Be famous in some (good) way.
10. Have my own dog.