Saturday, October 29, 2011

Who Really wants to be back in High School?


In the last few months, I have struggled understanding certain situations.  One as a “full on” participant and one or two others more as an observer. 

I don't understand how cliques get formed. Is it because there is something in common, is it because there are leaders and followers, or is it because one needs to fight or struggle against something?  And can that something be a person?  I have tried hard to understand why people were motivated to do the things they do. (Myself included)  What makes someone make a choice, especially a choice that seems so “outside” the rest of the clique?

For example, it's hard to be somebody who cares deeply about something and not at some point become the person who stops the growth or potential for growth.  You do the same thing for many years in a row, you tend to think that your way is the best way and, in some cases, your way is the only way.  That's when you need to walk away, yet so many of us cannot.  In most of these cases, the clique is not working against you personally – it is trying to help you see that you're the obstacle to growth.

Conversely, when you're in the clique, you become part of a “Mob” mentality and that can be overwhelming for people outside the group.  Whispers, gossip, sitting under together are all part of the picture.  You think people don’t notice, but oh…they do. 

As an adult, it's almost like being back in high school again.  

And really, who the hell wants that?

In order to grow, you need to be more aware of the things you are doing that can be perceived as being part of a clique.  And perhaps stop.  You also need to be more aware of when to let go - when you're no longer the solution - when you need to step away.

There so much growth potential there and yet we all struggle so much against it.  

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Musings on a Birthday

Well, it's the day after my birthday and I can't believe that another year has gone by. Every year I wonder what my birthday will bring and this year was no exception.

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved my birthday. I look forward the phone calls, the gifts, the cake, the party and all the other hoopla that goes along with your birthday.  Some years my birthday fell short -  I have to admit -  I mean who doesn't have that real sucky birthday.

Let's reminisce. I was around 11 years old. I was wearing a pretty purple dress, I was very excited about my birthday party and my mother chose that day to let me know that we were moving to New Jersey. While I have come to really love New Jersey, at the time all I knew was that my parents were getting divorced.

Happy birthday!

Jump ahead to my 31st birthday. Both of my parents had just passed away, and I was sitting in the bathroom at ADP with my best friend taking a pregnancy test. My birthday present that year was my best ever, my darling son Max.  So in five minutes, or however long those tests take,  I went from a sad birthday to a happy one.

One of the great things about a birthday is looking forward to the phone calls from everybody.  I have calls that I've kept from my sister, my brother, and now my grandchildren singing happy birthday.  I wish I had had the technology to keep the calls from my mother or my father wishing me a happy birthday. How wonderful it would be to hear my father wish me a happy birthday today!

Today, those phone calls are replaced by Facebook wall postings and e-cards.  In some ways that's better, because for someone who loves birthdays like me you get so many more acknowledgments of your special day.  In other ways, I still look forward to the special phone calls and those special cards - things you can hold on to.

I have been lucky enough to spend my birthday in Paris with my husband, celebrate a milestone birthday with friends and family, and have quiet birthdays. All birthdays are special - even the sucky ones!




Monday, October 17, 2011

It's Arrived - The Swap Goodies!

How was excited was I to come home from a weekend of visiting my grandkids to see this great package from my Swapoween partner - incognitus scriptor   and I was so very eager to rip it open and see all the goodies!





And it was all wrapped up (as you can see below) and it was like torture to open each item.  But then I realized it gave me time to "ohh" and "ahh" over each and every thing!











  and here is how it all looks all pretty back in the box - but unwrapped!  One funny thing is that I sent her cupcake wrappers and decorations and she sent me cupcake mix - strange but true.

I plan to be decorating for Halloween indoors for the first time this year, thanks to all of the cute items I received - Thank you so very much!

And a thank you to our hostesses - My So Called Chaos and The Goddess Life (which you can check out for yourself  -
  (http://www.mysocalledchaos.com and http://artemishi.blogspot.com))

Happy Halloween everyone!


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Thursday, October 6, 2011

If Only.....


Many of us feel that this is the only thing we wanted Facebook to do!

Thanks, Somecards.com.