Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012

Not sure if I mentioned before how I have a jar of fortune cookie sayings that have impacted me.  I keep this jar on my desk where I frequently look at the sayings contained within.  A matching jar sits across my office.  In that jar are the fortunes that I’ve blogged about.  Reading through my fortunes today, I figured it was time to add another to the jar of ones blogged about. 

This fortune was simple.   It said: You find beauty in ordinary things.  Do not lose this ability.  When I originally got the fortune, I was struck with wondering how many folks are capable of this or…amongst those who are capable, how many take the time to do so. 

We live in a hustle-bustle world where the name of the game, for many, is to keep up with the Jones.  Everywhere one looks, we’re inundated with images that try to pressure us into buying more, expanding, being unsatisfied with the things we have that work perfectly well, instead being told they’re expendable and we’d be happier if only we had something bigger/better.

I come from a long line of individuals who took the time to see beauty in simple things.  By doing so, they, myself included, were able to rejuvenate old forgotten items that others had thrown away or wanted to sell for a discounted price. 

I’m currently at a point in my life where I’m massively de-cluttering.  Shedding tons of items acquired over my lifetime.  Some might think this would make me sad.  It doesn’t.  Instead, it makes it easier for me to focus on the beauty contained in the simpler things life offers.  How less is more.  How applying a little glue, elbow grease or whatever to make something that’s old new again brings me immense pleasure.  But most of all, I’m rediscovering the sheer joy of being able to see the majority of tabletop surfaces, empty wall space and large expanses of floor uncluttered by a lifetime of “stuff.”  Guess you could say I’m in a massive spring-cleaning mode where my aim is to focus on the beauty contained in ordinary things.    

Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012

Maintaining reasonable expectations and acknowledging when folks make an effort are both great mentalities to remember when interacting with others.  Though this seems straightforward enough to be common sense, I’ve noticed how many forget these simple standards.

Let’s start with maintaining reasonable expectations.  Oh, the woes that could be avoided or downgraded if only this practice was followed more regularly!  Think about it.  If you have something you want/need done in a specific manner, then why not share with the class rather than expecting them to be mind readers?  It only take moments extra to convey what you want/need done and how, whereas it takes an inordinate amount of time, effort and energy to get upset when things don’t run smoothly and you’re left to scramble at the eleventh hour.

Next, acknowledging the effort folks make to get things done or to please us, in my humble opinion, requires nothing less than absolute recognition of their efforts.  What better way to keep a smooth-running process going than to take the time to give thanks where thanks are due?  To pause and smile at those who make an extra effort?  Go the extra mile?  Extend themselves in ways they aren’t required just to make things better for us.  And even if they are required to do those things, why not show some human compassion and thank them for their efforts?

So oft, people get caught up in the hectic hustle and bustle of life’s whirlwind to the point of forgetting how simplistic it is to simplify certain aspects of our lives.  Maintaining reasonable expectations and acknowledging when folks make an effort are both great means by which we can make more sense of that whirlwind and spin in more accordance with what would best serve us.  Our needs.  Wants.  Desires.  But most of all, by exacting these mentalities and putting them into practice, we show that we’re in control of not only ourselves but also of exacting a better outcome.