Love is…motivation and a verb!

I am still venting over a situation that happened later in the day yesterday.  I am no longer angry….but in a simple sense I am now left motivated. 🙂

Love is a Verb…this motivates me to continue to love when others cannot!

A friend to whom I considered a pretty close friend and I got into it.  Long story short, he hit a transition in his life and is acting out.  He is hurt and being reckless.  I have been trying to care enough to reach out.  I wanted to reach out to make sure he was OK.  He stopped talking to me.  I knew something was up.  SO, I see that he is magically in a relationship on the Book of Face.  I am sorry, but I had to do what I did.  If I was in a smacking distance, he would have gotten a smack for sure.

Last time, I saw this friend was in April.  It had been since college since the last time I saw him.  At least 5 years…or so.  To make a long story short, we both exchanged “I love you’s” and a kiss or so.  That always makes things more complicated.  We have known each other for almost 8 years and he pulled this card.  We didn’t talk about the kiss or exchange of words or anything until I brought it up yesterday in a moment of complete courage and honesty.  He knows I care enough….but right now, I stand for a truth he cannot yet face.  Hence why the label would be “overbearing” and the underlying emotion is a combo of anger, guilt, and “immediate physical gratification”.  

At this point, he is in a high level of uncertainty and hurt.  Dealing with coming back from deployment transition, a break-up over that deployment, missing his family as he is no where near them, and coming up on the crossroad of a career change.  That is a hell of a lot to process alone.  He is putting himself through this complete hell.  So like a good friend, I reach out and try to be loving.  That is just me being me being me.

For the first time in my life, since knowing Dr. Pepper, this is the first time it has gotten remotely hard to love on him.  The conversation yesterday made me initially angry.  I was so furious with him.  He knew I was mad too.  He claimed it was because I was passionate–I was overbearing.  That is not it at all.  I am a passionate person yes.  But I am coming across “overbearing” because I care too much when he doesn’t care at all.

Now, Saturday night into Sunday morning, I couldn’t sleep.  So, I wrote a letter.  I wrote an unsent letter to him.  July 7, 2013.  I wrote out the very things I wanted so badly to tell him explaining my actions and observations, yet time didn’t allow it.  The time was not right to send it.  So now, I sit here with a letter that does no good and a feud with a long time friend over what??   Me trying to make an attempt at being a better friend to him.  The same night as the letter, I heard in my heart that I am not praying enough.  I needed to really try to pray much more.  NOW I see why!!

I must confess I can feel Dr. Pepper in my heart.  I felt the restlessness prior to the letter and about 2 weeks leading up to this blow-up.  I feel confusion, tension, and most of all he is just uncertainty.  I let it it go.  I pray…then move on…

He said a lot of very funny things to me.  He said that when he said “I love you” it was only in the friend sort of way.  Um…then we kissed?  Friend’s don’t kiss or say I am glad this didn’t happen prior to this point either.  A mutual friend said his body language was not consistent with that comment.  Nonverbal language speak volumes.   And maybe it was awkward for him.

He really had the audacity to say “don’t be offended.  I don’t let people in”…After 8 years, how could I not be offended??  Then I asked him how he could be in a relationship if he “didn’t let people in”…that isn’t going to work unless the relationship is based around one thing and one thing hurt people know well (take it from someone who has been there) physical aspect only.  Carefree interaction.  Someone to hang out with and do things with. No honest commitment.  Simply IDEAL for someone who just doesn’t care.  It is horrible and in the end it just sucks even more.  

All you are doing is using each other to get by until your so miserable you can’t breathe and you either choose to move on or move to the next level.  I chose to move on in my situation.   It was masked by “I love you”  but, really it wasn’t that at all.  It was more infatuation than anything.  That is what I found out.  What a trick, thinking I actually cared about a person when all it did was leave me bruised and even more broken.  Learned a hell of a lot though about myself and what I didn’t want.

So what is the purpose in all of this?  To pray more and not worry about it.  Love is a verb remember!  Some get it and others do not.  We love them even more through prayer and that is all I have to say.  It no longer makes me angry as much as this situation motivates me to keep moving forward and pray harder for his tormented self.  Love is a choice.  It is better to choose to love through prayer and keep moving forward.

I suppose this was bound to happen eventually right?    🙂

ON a high note, I got closure with Nomad on Independence Day.  That was both rewarding and delightful. YAHOOOOOOO!  Clarity was finally achieved Captain!

❤
CatMan

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Love is Silent Listening

I have found that I am a heavy analyst and a processor.  I like to talk things out.  I like to play detective and try to determine what is the most probable fate for my situation at hand.  I think I probably watched too much CSI and NCIS as a child, but I continue to still analyze and thoughtfully ponder none the less.

http://whatwillmatter.com/2013/01/quotes-posters-a-caring-heart-that-listens-is-often-more-valued-than-an-intelligent-mind-that-talks-from-love-quotes-and-sayings-2/

Sometimes the most loving action someone can take toward someone who likes to “talk it out” is really take no verbal action at all.  Sometimes all I need to do is spit whatever it is in my mind out with a logical sound ear at my disposal and it is that silence of listening intently to make sense of the babble coming out that is the most loving action a person could give.  Once it is out in the open, much like a puzzle, pieces of the puzzle are able to be placed together one by one and solutions become clear.  There are other ways to draw clarity as well but this is my go-to usually.  If you desire to work on your listening skills, this was a good little article I found, http://stress.about.com/od/relationships/ht/howtolisten.htm.

Other ways to which I find helpful for processing would include journaling, coloring or painting, singing and randomly dancing around like a goose, going on a drive, spending time in silence, praying, or pondering whatever it is bothering me in my heart.  If I can talk it out with someone who is my most immediate relief in drawling clarity usually.  Another set of eyes on the matter is never really a bad idea I suppose as ultimately I am the one making the final decision on the matter at hand.

It is both a blessing and a burden to be an analytic type.  When it comes to situations though, I almost always have to have some sort of closure at hand before I can get them out of this mind of mine.  It is painful when I must hold something in my head and heart for too long before it finally goes.  Patience.  Prayer.  Life is so messy and intertwined sometimes.  I have grown in acceptance with knowing I cannot control or change certain situations and that actualization has helped in letting go and giving it back up in prayer.

I think why I like verbalizing what is going on is because then everything is out in the open. Free as a naked Jay bird!  Truth, honesty, lies, facts, love, hate, gossip, and emotions of all kinds come out and then once released–I can breathe.  The problem here is that by speaking what is in that dear little head of mine, it can be hurtful, overwhelming and more destructive than constructive.

To limit the amount of destruction, I have a few friends who have helped at one time or another just simply listening and giving me their heartfelt advice.  My parents have helped me significantly in this department too.  It can be hard as you want to be considerate of the time to which you ask a friend to help you process things.  They might be sleeping or working or doing something to which they aren’t able to listen right away.  God is always up and always there.  No curfew.  No sleep.  No limit to his time listening to you on account of something “popping up”.  I do my best to process and voice my concerns to God now-a-days.  That has seemingly been the one thing to which has helped me achieve peace.

When there is much overwhelming matters on my mind, I speak directly to God and tell Him all of my worries, stresses, situations, emotions–everything no matter what time it is.  That way nothing is said out of emotion and I can truly reflect.  No harm done to others and God can handle it.  Then, no one gets overwhelmed by my craziness and God already knows what is happening anyways.

Whether I talk it out with friends or God, I have come to the conclusion that love is silent listening.  Love is donating the time to helping a friend process and throw it all out there.  Love is giving support physical, mental, emotionally, spiritually and through prayers.

Just something to ponder….

❤ CatMan

Heinz 57

http://gma.yahoo.com/boy–7–raises-more-than–30-000-for-sick-friend-172958274.html

Love is helping a brother out…love is never leaving a friend hanging during a hard time.  AND love is most definitely doing what you can to support your friends. 🙂

“Only Prettier” according to Miranda Lambert…..

So relationships are something that we can all agree on…if you are in the wrong one it can just be so toxic to the spirit, soul, and over all emotion/passion for life.  Why is it so hard to set all crap aside and just get to know someone for who they are?  Pride, selfishness, and over all doubt gets in the way of anything real being experienced.  Is it really necessary for a person to have so many issues that they can’t figure out who they are then attempt to love someone when they can’t love themselves first?  That is so backwards!

A lot of you might know that a year ago this last December (so like 14 months-ish?) I got out of a very toxic relationship with a man, Doubting T, who did exactly as described above: couldn’t selflessly love himself first and in return how could I ever EVER expect him to love me in a healthy manner?  Now don’t get me wrong, there were many red flags from the start.  I didn’t feel like I could share my whole self without being called self-righteous.   I felt like a part of me died….that’s because it did!  I was so blinded because I cared so very much for a man who just didn’t have it in him to love me the way I should be loved.  Toxic as Britney Spears might sing…

We have all been there.  I learned a lot about life because of that experience.  I learned to listen to my gut.  I learned to always be yourself, and those who love you for you will accept that.  If you can’t accept that then you will never fully appreciate them.  You can’t always listen to your heart because it has a check and balance system with your gut and in return that is something that will need to be discerned.  I can honestly say that I have finally have found my peace.

A few months back when he started dating a new girl, I still had a lot of hurt and loose ends.  I had a lot of anger still at that point that literally took me months to work through.  Miranda Lambert’s CD Revolver got me thru much of that.  I can say later this past summer I was in “Crazy Ex-GF” mode…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2VZZ-17DHw&feature=related.  No joke.  I didn’t think I was ever going to move past this stage.  BUT to my surprise I did.

I am tired of investing the time in someone who can’t even be a friend to me at this point.  I can’t hold it against him.  His new girl won’t let him be friends with me and even though he promised me we would never get to this point.  He broke that promise.  And that kind of hurt.  I am kind of a ‘word is your bond’ type girl…so you can imagine the type of emotion and hurt involved there.  I just yesterday forgave him for that.  I am completely at peace I must say.  I feel accepting of whatever  happens I cannot change that (Serenity Prayer).  I have peace in my heart and soul.  My spirit feels released from the clutches of the hurt and I feel like a bird released from a long 2 years of entanglement.  I feel like my personal self-development has only blossomed.

I have been blessed with great friends of both sexes that have helped cut down the ivy and vine work that had captured my spirit and soul and release the CatMan that everyone was used to seeing.  They helped release the part of me that had been smothered and for that I am eternally grateful!  Today was one of those days where a friend helped a sister out big time.  🙂

For months now I have had a printer that Doubting T gave me thinking that we might be able to utilize at work.  Well it didn’t end up working with our system…so we sent him a note and said “hey what do you want us to do with this?  do you want to pick this up?”  His response was indifference.  OK.  Fine.  So what did I do?  I loaded that thing in my little bug and called Laugh-a-lot and we ventured out to do one thing.

ANOTHER CatMan Original: This is my proof...evidence if you will...

Return the printer to its rightful owner.  LET ME TELL YOU….2 itty-bitties should not be lugging this piece of work in high-heels across a walk way that hadn’t been cleared.  We grunted, strained, and laughed mostly but we eventually got it in the door!  Never underestimate the will power of 2 very determined beautiful women!  20 minutes later, damage was done.  In my mind, I kept saying this was only a printer…only a printer…haha WITH LEAD ATTACHED TO IT!  hehe.

 

I had a wonderful day today.  I spent time with a friend who really matters and makes my life better just by being in it!   As Laugh-a-lot put it best, “…omg that was hilarious! You are the salsa to my burrito….and that really means a lot. Comes from the heart.”  🙂  She really gives a shit about me!  THAT’S HUGE!

As I reminded my dear friend Super Woman, “I actually give a shit about you” is a club is open and you have to find members and keep them near and dear to you.  🙂  Anyone interested in joining???

 

A CatMan original: Here is my make shift card....until my other one makes it to my home. 🙂

Here’s where I am at currently:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoAIpQIsq5Q

 

My Catwalk down the Red Carpet….

So my beautiful friend Zahara (Earthquakes and Rattlesnakes) did something amazingly hilarious.  She apparently feels like I fit the category of most stylish blogger hehe.  This makes me laugh…considering I sit in my stylish rood sweatpants and my IU t-shirt….definitely don’t match at all…HOWEVER, I do have my pool boy by my side so that is always a plus!  He will be my exotic escort as I strut down the Red Carpet…I see the flashes now!  Click!  Click!  (Thank you!  Thank you, oh you are so kind…)

Image brought to you by: http://queenscouncilarts.org/you’re-invited-qcaf-awards-ceremony-1-27-11/

 

SO here are the rules:

 

Present seven things about yourself

Name about a half dozen bloggers you think deserve the award

Contact those people

Create a link back to the person who gave you the honor

 

AND HERE WE GO:

1.  I love the Dutch language, culture, etc.  Can’t really tell you why…but I just do!

 

Image by: http://ttonewsletter.mkcomputers.nl/stereotypes.html

 

 

2.  I have a passion for media, sports, and helping others.  Just trying to mesh them together  🙂

 

Image by: http://www.dthorsealliance.com/Olympics.html

 

 

3.  I am actually very short.  I am 4 foot 8 inches…enough said…

4.  I have been a cheerleader for 12 years which is half my age minus one…it’s all starting to make sense now huh?

 

Image by: http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/c-spirit/spec-rel/crimson-squad-0506.html

 

 

5.  I have the best mentors and friends in the universe…online and in real life.  That is just fact!  But my family will always be number 1.

6.  I am addicted to Bravo and The Food Network (um…but who isn’t???)

7.  I speak my mind and stand for Truth.  I let that govern my actions.  I am who I say I am  🙂

 

I would like to give my nominees:

The Edmonton Tourist:  ET is fabulous and is the Queen of traveling.  She logs her travels and lives life from place to place.  Her and the Muppets–they never have a dull moment!

Working Tech Mom:  Oh a working mom that is just trying to get thru while keeping everything in perspective.  What a dear friend!  I would encourage anyone to read her blog if you are seeking a balance and fresh look on your life.

Speaking from the Heart:  For anyone that is looking for some spiritual perspective or guidance, Laurie does an amazing job explaining aspects of spirituality on levels one can really relate with.  We all could use a little more relaxing and calmness here….

Adventures and Insights:  This gentleman is so great!  I love his simplicity toward life and just amazing heartfelt freshness.  He brings some culture, music, common sense and over all just “amazing insights” to the playing field!  You might be surprised what you find on his adventures…

 

Thought of the evening: “Idea’s are nothing without action and attention”

 

Image from: http://venturebeat.com/2010/09/27/how-to-determine-if-your-idea-is-worth-the-effort/

 

 

You can’t teach compassion!

You can’t have a light without a dark to stick it in.
– Arlo Guthrie

Today I start with this quote.  I say this because I am sick of being in a funk.  Bad days….good days…its life!  Life is all about what you make of it.  Part of this funk includes a harsh realization of who my friends really are and whom of which I can depend on…which surprisingly enough are a TON.

Friends make everything better.  If they are sincerely your friend, they will be there with you in heart, soul, love, and in your life!  When they exit, they really aren’t leaving for good but just taking a vacation.  So many times we get bogged down with the everyday grind that it’s difficult to see the light.  Friends get you to refocus yourself back on the light.  They can untangle the mess your in and help you get back on track.

Isn’t it amazing how well things work out when we keep things in perspective?  That bad day we had three weeks ago doesn’t seem all that bad now.  You survived!  It is inevitable that you are going to have more bad days to come…can you survive those too?  YES!  Yes you can.  Keep yourself in check and support those in their efforts.  Be a friend.

There are different levels of friendship but a friend is a friend none the less.  Keep an open and understanding heart to all those who are in your life and even to those who aren’t.  Did you know that you can be a friend to a complete stranger?  Amazing isn’t it?!  Stay positive for yourself first and foremost.  Stay positive and strong for those around you.  Be kind to everyone…not just those who you consider friends.  I love this quote by Plato, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”.  But, most of all have compassion toward all.

 

Aren't the hands of kindness so beautiful?

 

 

Everyone struggles with their life.  No one said life was going to be easy.  Doing the right thing, being there for someone even when it is inconvenient for you, loving someone even though they don’t love you back…these are all hard things to do but, if practiced often it helps keep things in perspective.  When practiced, you shift your whole outlook on humanity, yourself, others, your relationship with others…etc.

I cannot teach you to be positive.  I cannot teach you kindness.  I cannot teach you to be compassionate.  I can show you how to be positive, kind, and compassionate though!

 

Be an unexpected Angel...there's an element of surprise!

 

 

Reach out.  Be a friend to someone today.  They might really need someone’s kind words to help them thru their unheard battles.  They might just really need someone to listen or take interest in them.  Or maybe just a heartfelt encouraging note.  It doesn’t take much to be a friend.  It merely takes a simple act of love.  This is so fitting…http://www.actoflovefoundation.org/.

 

Expect nothing. Gain everything!

 

 

Derek the Dog…bark bark!

Yesterday, I came across a dog.  His name was Derek the Dog.  It was pretty comical seeing that I am so little and he is so not.  You see, when I met this dog, he was out on the prowl.  Looking for a kill.  He was just freshly on the market looking for a thrill…I thought otherwise though.

Upon talking to him further, I realized there was more to him then met the eye (that reference was for all of you Transformers fans out there!).  He might have seemed very hairy, mean, and over protective at times but, I must say he had a very soft side to him.  At first, I must divulge, I was frankly not impressed.

It all started when I went out to lunch.  I was by myself.  I sometimes like going out sitting and observing others at the risk of me looking like a creep…but you know what?  I figure things out quickly this way.  Well anyways…I came across a dog.  On the outside this dog was very attractive.  Dark hair, mysterious eyes…he was just abnormally big!  He kind of came off cold and mean too.  He was sniffing hind ends….looking for the next subtle victim of his “love spell”…usually when someone comes off tough, it’s a cover up for pain and suffering.

So I sat there.  Minding my business, when I noticed he was relieving himself on the fire hydrant next to me.  EWWW…..there had to be better places to relieve yourself!  I continued to look down and kept on eating.  Then, I looked up and he was asking if he could sit with me!  (First off, I don’t like to be messed with when I have “me” time!)  I looked at him head to toe with the stink eye….and decided it was OK for him to pop a squat.

Derek the Dog vs. The CatMan

Surprisingly we really hit it off.  He was a dog of few words…unlike those little yappy ones who are the “pretty boys” of the crew.  This one was different.  Despite his outward appearance, he was very sweet and kind on the inside.  You could definitely tell he had something on his mind.  I inquired further…”…do you have a girlfriend or companion?” (OK…note this is where it gets interesting!) “…I did have a girlfriend but, now we are no more…we fought a lot and it was not what I wanted.  I broke it off after 1 year, 2 days, 15 hours, and 17.5 minutes. (WHO COUNTS THAT?  Seriously?) “….well what happened?  Do you want to talk?”  Then the flood gates opened….

“We were “in love” for a year.  She was beautiful with her blue eyes.  She was a little petite thing (could be interchangeable for YAPPY if you asked me!!)…well we met on the street.  I was out and about trying to find the right one to have a life with…yes I was trying to find a girl to settle down with!  Is that hard to believe?  AND as soon as I set my paws on her I knew I had to have her!  Well for the most part it was great but then it wasn’t at times….and when we fought…we fought long and hard.  It was brutal.  But we always could make up….” (This is where he started blubbering like an idiot!  Although I can’t say that I didn’t feel sorry for him!)  “…this last time…we just couldn’t.  It didn’t feel like love anymore.  So I ended it.”

At this point, I gave the dog a kind look and hug.  Man that’s got to be rough.  I definitely don’t know what that is like…psh….because I am CatMan of course…but, I did know others who had situations like it.  I guess my only piece of advice I could think of was to tell him to stay away, far-far away from those yappy dogs!  He has to follow his heart, and if the match is no longer right then he must do what’s right for him.  It seems that he has done the right thing.  It is hard, but these friends of mine that went thru this told me that the support of good friends gets you thru!

So I decided to set all biases aside and be a friend.  Grrr….you know how hard it is to support a dog like that??   Sigh…as a friend now, I will love and support him…so therefore I suck it up.

“People who love each other fully and truly are the happiest people in the world. They may have little, they may have nothing, but they are happy people. Everything depends on how we love one another.” -Mother Teresa

Last night, she said….

Friday was a girls night. Fun and much needed.  We had a dance party in the bar…this celebration continued thru the weekend…etc.

Saturday’s a rugby day!  NOT.  I wish…that would have been cool…But, I had a delightful day of football instead.  🙂   I went to one of the biggest games from my Alma Mater, Indiana University, which is called The Old Oaken Bucket Game. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Oaken_Bucket.  ACTUALLY, I cannot just simply say that I had a fantastic “-day” because literally since Thursday I have really been enjoying myself.  This weekend was full of mischief, old friends, and lots of laughter!

Well back to Saturday, the game was a good game…even better company!  We totally had a blast.  I got back around 7pm and then met a few other friends out and about.  This is where more humor happened to find me.  I was very early so I was the first of my friends to arrive at this dive bar across town.  I went in scoped out the table situation and realized there was not an open seat in the house.  Then, I made friends with a table of guys that were sitting at a booth where I was standing.  5 minutes later  Mr. T shows up so, I just said my good byes to the kind gentleman and went from there.  He then handed me a card for a “Chip ‘n Dales” event!  AHHH THIS MAN WAS A STRIPPER!  I took the cards and scurried back to my friends.  Then later into the night, a friend of a friend was introduced.  Guess what?  He was a stripper too!!?!??!  Two in one night!  How lucky could a girl be???  UH NOT!

Also some other funny things happened…I got thrown over a guy’s shoulder and spun around, I had to climb over a booth table and ended up being “eye” level with everyone…I also ended up meeting a guy that had EVERY single opposite team liking as I did.  THAT was interesting.  From rival high schools to NFL, MLB teams….etc.  It was crazy funny.  I must say we were pretty cordial.  I found a bunch of Sweet and Low and sugar packets in my purse, walked into the Men’s Restroom, and then almost got asked out by this huge black man.  Literally, this could ONLY happen to a CatMan.  No….for real though!  It was such a great random, fun night.

 

OPA! Just felt like saying that for some reason...

 

 

Sunday, went to church with the family then to breakfast.  We continued to laugh our way thru it.  My brother as cruel as this sounds announced at the table that he had gone hunting the day before and shot a duck in the wing.  Unfortunately, he had to wring the duck’s neck (that’s the cruel sad part) but that they had some delightful duck meat to share.  We are hunter’s and gatherer’s over here!  Either way, it was funny how he told us.  Then the Colt’s lost….that was an incredibly horrible game….sigh.

Monday is a Monday.  Today I am listening to “The Muse” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsp3_a-PMTw and working on a bunch of hodge podge items.  I feel like I am being torn in several different directions…although I cannot say I am overwhelmed.  This is good.  My aunt is in from out of town so I think that we are going to go for lunch tomorrow.  What an excellent part of my week!

My last thought for you all today is this, if you appreciate your family and friends, please tell them often.  You never know what kind of day they are having or if they will be around to see tomorrow.  🙂

Keep smiling, keep loving and keep sharing ideas with the world my loves!

CatMan

 

Party Animals!

This weekend was full of mischief and fun.  In leu of Thanksgiving, my friends had a get-together.  It ended up being a great feast.  We all got our best dishes together, drinks of choice, and all while wearing our “business casual”.  It was amazing.  This time the men were in the kitchen while the girls were sitting down relaxing.  It was great.

I was really proud of the boys for all they did to put this celebration on….it was quite the deal!  We all arrived between 4 and the time to which we were scheduled to eat (7pm).  From there, everything escalated!

Dinner was great.  Who am I kidding?  Dinner was great!  After dinner we all played games and danced and drank the night away.  I just wanted to say, for the record, that I behaved myself…but, my lovely friends well….can’t say they did the same.  There were games where I got to wear a Referee jersey and break up the fights.  I also got to sit and laugh at their stupidity.  I even had one friend tell me that if he thought eventually we–meaning he and I–would get together.  Ha I just laughed!  They are regular party animals.

I do love to laugh and my boys always know how to make me laugh until the tears roll….  The night continued to go on as the boys begun to blare the music (Journey mind you!) and proceeded to dance on tables.  What dorks?!  They looked like drunk sailors stumbling on the coffee tables…It was something out of a bad 80’s movie! They danced, sang and drank until about 3am in the morning.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq5HBSlgI00 The party was still going on loud and proud until I left.

One thing about these boys is that I can only handle them in little doses.  They are fabulous in little spurts.  They can be sweet but then, after a whole night of harassment….it is enough for another 10 years.  They can cook, they can drink and boy they can be weirdos but when it comes down to it they have good hearts and good intentions (most of the time).  The mean well.

Let me ask you all something…what is the most ridiculous thing your friends have done?   It seems like my dears are always doing something crazy but, that is what keeps me laughing and life moving on!  🙂

Keep your head up and keep on pressing forward whether you’re a party animal or not! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmrOB_q3tjo&feature=branded

Back to reality, OP!, there goes gravity…

Back in the office after a really great week in Orlando.  I am back to reality.   Stacks of papers and projects line my desk and work area.  It is funny how being gone for 4 days will do this to a person when she comes back:

See what I mean???

Last night, I realized that I am a connector person.  I have a way of affecting people just from being around them, and I realized to that this is all the more reason I need to be more positive.  This week was about discovery.  Self discovery, self exploration, and business.  It was through the trade show interactions, airport random conversations, and most of all getting to know the people I was surrounded with that I realized I live for connecting with people.  🙂  It really makes my soul burst!  I also came to the conclusion that I cast a lot of judgements.  I need to not do that.

I was reminded to sit in observation mode.  Who am I to tell others how to conduct and live their lives?  Who am I to say that the outfit so-and-so is wearing doesn’t match and definitely doesn’t flatter their body type?  I am not the one to say that.  I need to be in observation and discernment mode.  What I can tell you is this:  By looking at how a person acts, dresses, and carries themselves you can learn a lot about them as a customer, client or just a passer-by.  Everything they do whether they recognize it or not, has an indicator about them.  Someone who smiles all the time, are they genuinely happy?  OR, are they a great actor?  Sometimes the phrase, “you can see it in her eyes” holds so true.  You can tell a lot from looking someone directly square in the eyes.  Try it and watch for a reaction!  Do they turn away or do they look right back?  🙂  Peer into their soul!  Find out what makes them tick and just take it all into account.  Why are they so happy? or sad? or just looking like they could use a hug?

Observation mode is one of the most interesting positions to be in most of the time.  You sit, non judgmental and just watch.  It’s actually more enjoyable than a movie!  This is why I love traveling!  What a great eclectic culture of people in such a concentrated area!  It is just so fabulous to me and brings me great joy.

"don't judge us!" hehe

You can learn a ton about a person just from observing them.  It is not being creepy….well…….

(Not like this!) 😉

It is just literally a better way to reach out to others when you are a little more informed.  🙂  You may find that you enjoy people more when you stop looking for their flaws and just go with it!

The CatMan