lifewithoutmentors

Release

September 19, 2021

Last week I was on the top floor of my home doing some chores and realized that my cell phone was not with me. It was on the dining table on the second floor. I briefly considered that and realized I was going to be okay. Can you imagine! This was actually a thought and self-talk occurring about my cellphone. I decided that I would not walk down a flight of stairs to reunite with my cellphone. In fact, I would be okay if I was going to be apart from it for a little while.

And guess what! No emergencies happened where I needed to have my phone nearby. I did not miss out on any catastrophic events. In fact, I found it rather freeing, that RELEASE from everything my cellphone represented in my life, even though it was mostly good things.

It felt good to be able to function without that piece of electronic for a couple of hours. I opened a few windows and listened to the sounds outside as I cleaned. It felt good to be in the moment of life.

How about that Bentley

9/15/2021

I am not into cars, per se, or consider myself obsessed with or constantly in pursuit of material things. I’m content with the basics and do not need to have the latest model of anything. You will not find lots of shoes or clothes in my closet, but when I shop, I consider myself to have good taste and possessing good fashion sense.

That being said, recently, as I cruised home after completing a few errands, there was a dark colored SUV in front of me. Under the wing-like emblem, it said Bentley. That got my attention, as I noticed its simple unimpressive lines. I thought, well it looks like a lot of other vehicles without that name claim.

Be Ready!

September 12, 2021

Mom and I walked past the large group gathered, probably a few hundred, in the outdoor concert venue. Their wine glasses in their hands were filled with their favorite Merlot or perhaps they were trying a new Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon for the first time. They were all chatting, smiling, laughing, many seated on the soft grass, others standing at the few high tables scattered about, having a good time.

The band was playing soft music in the background, band members wearing sharp black suits. This was a familiar sight repeated every year at this time at our oceanfront, enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

A Whisper

September 8, 2021

Our day begins early every morning when Bustey vocalizes this cute sound informing me that it is time for me to rise and shine because he has potty needs.

Upon exiting our front door, we walk into the quiet and peaceful morning throughout our neighborhood. I love to enjoy the brief moment because under a minute, the beautiful tranquility is interrupted when my Bustey barks into the fresh morning air at nothing in particular! Maybe to let his friends, who might be getting their last moments of sleep, know that he is up and ready to begin the day. That is, after he drops a pint or so of liquid waste and perhaps a few ounces of dry waste, he will be ready, LOL! Ahh, my sweet little Bustey (currently around 43 pounds.)

My 2021 Summer Story

September 5, 2021

On July 10th, the title of my post was Every Summer has a Story. As this Summer draws to an end, I would like to invite you to consider the Summer Story you have lived. A review over chunks of time like Summer helps me to applaud all the amazing things happening around me. Everyone’s story is unique to their lives and no less spectacular than another’s. Sometimes our stories can even be best told through the photographs we snap. So, here goes my Summer Story this year…

Etiquette, ohh bah humbug!…

9/1/2021

Etiquette: the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life
Etiquette. 2018. In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved September 3, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etiquette

I’m not talking about extending the pinky finger when sipping on your drink, although mine automatically sticks out, though I’ve never been taught to do so.

What causes my brows to raise or ‘skwoosh,’ are the times I’m going through ordinary life activities and come face to face with situations that feel awkward and inappropriate. Then, I think to myself, why do people not know better, that I didn’t attend a special class to know some of the basic interactions. In fact, some of these things seem to be common sense and behaviors that promote much smoother transactions.

Caterpillar to a Butterfly

August 29, 2021

Life Cycle of a Butterfly by Easy Engineering, YouTube, September 19, 2020

As we walked along a nearby street in our neighborhood, the familiar face of a homeowner, Tara, whose assortment of flowering plants I have long admired, stopped me with a sort of urgent question, “Do you like butterflies?!!” I replied, “Yes!! Of course I do!!” She replied, “Come here and see them come out!”

If you earned it, OWN it

8/25/2021

Around 9:30am, we had already finished our walk in the park, our face, neck and every body part it seemed dripping bullets of perspiration while the four of us hurriedly tried to get into our air-conditioned car.

A co-worker of mine walked past, on her way to begin her own exercise. As we greeted each other, I proudly stated that, “My sister is a marathon runner, she’s training for a marathon!” My sister quickly added “Oh, it was only a 5K I ran before,” a little embarrassed that I had called her a marathon runner.

Afterwards I told my sister, “You’re a marathon runner okay; you ran a marathon before, right, and you’re about to run another, right, well, that makes you a marathon runner. You earned the right to that title, so claim it, label it, and OWN IT!”

(my sister, during her training)

Work Ethics?? Obsolete or not?

8/22/2021

Work what??? ethics, you know, work ethics?!!

Work ethic is a belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. It is a set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
Wikipedia

The work ethic traits are: appearance, attendance, attitude, character, communication, cooperation, organizational skills, productivity, respect and teamwork

Character 101

August 18, 2021

I remember walking by the card shop daily after school, and being drawn to the window display of one particular greeting card that was shiny and bright, colorful, large, as it promised to wish a special mom ‘Happy Mothers Day.’ I coveted it but did not have the money to take it home with me. One day I was inside the store with my father, and without him noticing I quickly swiped up the card, because you see I had to have it to give to my special mom for Mothers Day; I was certain that she would love it! I must have been about nine or ten years old and my character was taking shape. I refer to this as Character 101.