Lenses, Lilacs and Luck

Today I worked at home until a doctors appointment at 9:30, then made it there a few minutes early. Doc had some blood drawn to try to figure out what is going on with my tummy.....have had nausea and stomach distress the past 12 days now.

Had some time after doc to run to the Kroger next door and pick up some readers, having left mine at home, and then swung through Dunkin Donuts for a cuppa my favorite coffee!

Had one meeting and then was able to fit a Yoga class in before my afternoon meetings (Joy!) it was a beautiful day and the lilacs at the entrance to where I work smell soooooo good right now......heady stuff.....and also a very big joy!

Around 3, my youngest called to tell me he'd been in a car accident on his way home from school.....:-(. No one was hurt fortunately, and the beetle only has a little scrape which blends in pretty well with the Magritte painting that is on it! Am VERY happy that the damage to all concerned was minimal(the LUCK mentioned in the title and we have insurance Co involved.

Only a quick post tonight, as the night grew late quickly after a late'ish dinner with Ben, kitchen clean up and a nice phone call with my Sis! Will sleep well tonight!

Day 2 of Choosing My Joy

Day got off to a normal start, took a call with Germany on my way to my first meeting which ended up being just an informal discussion between the 3 of us that showed up on one of the topics and I got some good book recos....one on people currently in their 20's who we work with called "The Defining Decade"

As that conversation was ending, Ben, my youngest called to ask if I could bring his history assignment to school that he thought was in his backpack. Normally I wouldn't have, but had some time due to meeting being cancelled and every assignment counts for him in that class right now....

The rain had stopped, so it was a good time for a drive!!

Long story short......2 hrs later(about 2X what it should have taken), I was back at work...after a trip to my house and my exes, then telling him what I did find....which all looked like they had been turned in and corrected...(turns out the assignment for the practice test included SELF correcting the test, and writing in the correct answers! Who knew). At any rate, that vital piece of information in hand, I was able to complete the task by going BACK to my house to get it! JOY! And on my way to school I stopped for a coffee at Bruegger's and (JOY!) this was their first day with coconut flavored coffee which I have been waiting for for 6 weeks!

Had a meeting in the afternoon which had potential to get emotional....and didn't(JOY) despite me giving some needed feedback to an individual in my group, who is prone to tears.

The penultimate joy was Ben cooking dinner for me (Chicken Scallopini!) so I could work a bit later since I had driven all over town for him earlier, and enjoying it together when I got home.

After he left for a meeting, I cleaned up the kitchen and did a 30 min interval workout and a 40 min Yoga class via an on-line exercise program I subscribe to....was great to discover a new Yoga teacher (each one is a little different) and to sweat a little....back on the path to fitness and health!

Overall, a great day!

Maximizing Joy

A number of years ago, I went to a week-long residential (read all day and all night) training where I work.....my dad had passed away the week before the training, so needless to say I was pretty distracted, grieving, making arrangements, dealing with family, etc....

For all the hours spent there, the one thing that stuck with me was a talk by one of our Sr. Leaders who had a history of running the happiest and most productive groups in the company. His secret? He had made a decision, that in his life, and in his career, he was going to do everything possible to maximize the area under his Joy v. Time curve. Apparently his attitude was infectious, and it yielded great results in his teams.

I have been having kind of a rough spot over the past month...April is indeed the cruelest of the dozen! Have been letting fears and moods and anxiety really color my world, and my interactions with others.....and it's not a pretty color.....so today begins my quest to find the joy in every day, no matter what gets thrown my way, or how I interpret others actions.....I will choose to refocus my attentions and energies toward that which builds me up, not that which might tear me down, and I will blog and journal about it.....in all the aspects that present themselves.......today......well, I found joy in making a new playlist of music I have been collecting for the man I love, and doing laundry and ironing, trying a new bread recipe.....and in clearing some space on my desk......sometimes it is the smallest rituals that bring the greatest peace.