Catching Up

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! I feel somewhat guilty, but not enough to lose sleep over. The fact is, I've been dealing with some heavy things lately that diverted my focus. Not saying it was for the best, just that's what happened. C'est la vie :)

I was spending less time writing, I quit going on my morning walks, and generally became a hermit for a time. And while I was *not* working on my blog, I beat myself up mentally, thinking I was procrastinating or being lazy or falling into depression.

And while I can't rule out that some of those things might have occurred, I can say for certain that it wasn't the entirety of my day.

I've spent more time focusing on me. I made some tough choices about the time I was spending on the things that mattered most. I cut some things out, but also put some things back in. Like caring for my flowers and my yard. Like redecorating my house and finally putting things away (instead of making piles). Reading a book I wanted to read, going to a movie I really wanted to see, and stopping at the store in the middle of the day for my favorite chocolate that I ended up eating slowly by myself. I took naps!

Every day was like a race to become slower, to do less. And as I practiced more, something strange happened.

I noticed how bright the sunlight was and how it made my plants stand up and reach out for its warmth. I purposely stopped to listen to the morning birds chirping their tune as the neighborhood started to wake up, and for the first time, hearing how cheerful and carefree their songs were.

I touched the dirt with my bare hands and felt how it could be both cool and warm at the same time;

I remembered a birthday I always forgot, made time to call my grandmother for actual advice, and was courteous in a way I never had been before.

I recalled what I had been doing the exact day a year before, and smiled, in spite of it;

And the time my children spent in front of me changed as well. I took it all in, not just how they came in and flung their backpacks on the couch or called excited about something that happened at school; but I paid attention to their voice, their face, the way they held their shoulders back (or didn't).

See, I have lived my life in fast forward. Always running, never stopping, taking care of someone or something. And when there wasn't anything in front of me, I conjured something up to focus on.

Maybe you have felt this way too, but there are points in our lives where we just have to stop and stand still for a moment. Because I've found that when we do - we find something we might not have been looking for, something that makes it all the more worthwhile.

Being Kind to Others

My last post dealt with speaking up with honesty, but today I'd like to focus on something somewhat related...kindness.

I've worked in and around the customer service field for over 10 years now. I've been on many sides. I've been the customer, the service worker, the provider, the vendor, and the manager. I've seen and heard many things, some not very nice.

Yet it always amazes me that when a customer service interaction goes south, one party is always to blame; the customer or the provider. Someone inevitably will say, "If so-and-so hadn't done this, then I wouldn't have done that." While it's true that there is a such thing as cause and effect, it's important to remember that our choices play a pivotal role in every interaction we have, and can inevitably make or break a situation.

Take fast food service for example. We all hate repeating back our orders multiple times, waiting at the drive through for too long, or (God forbid) realizing they got our order wrong after we've driven away. Typically, the type of employees in this job are teenagers or college students working part-time, or older individuals who want to make a little money on the side.

Here's a cute (funny) video about bad customer service:

While these examples are exaggerated, there is a common theme: lack of kindness. Whether it be the service worker or the dissatisfied customer, one of them is obviously lacking in the kindness area.

It goes a long way. It's the difference between raising your voice or blocking an argument before it starts. And unfortunately, it does not dictate that the person we are being kind to has to be kind to us.

I'd like to challenge you: Make a conscious choice to be kind to someone today (even better if they aren't reciprocating!) and share it with me, if you feel like it. :)

Blog Update

Hi guys!

Sorry for the delay in posting! I've had a lot going on, including school, kids, and work just to name a few ;)

I'll have a new blog post out tomorrow.Thanks for reading my stuffs.

Stay tuned!

Rachel