My family is sick of hearing about the Mayans and how this might be our very last year to make resolutions. But I am resolving to continue bothering you all about it for the next year. Just in case it comes true. Then my dying words can be, "Told you so." Which they probably will be regardless of how I go... but this one seems like an especially big argument to be on the right side of. I only hope I make it to the very end and don't get taken out early in some sort of flashflood or earthquake or rabid cat attack or whatever is supposed to be coming in these end of days.
I am also making more practical resolutions, in case this whole thing doesn't pan out and I go on living my mundane life. I know I told you in my last post I was going to stop prcrastinating, but that was not very serious. I am not really a big procrastinater, I never miss real things, just put them off until I get inspired to make changes in my life and then I am rather effective and can do ten thousand things in one day. Then my enthusiasm wanes and I go back to doing nothing more than lying on my couch watching Four Weddings and eating chocolate for breakfast. Side note - Four Weddings Canada comes out now?? After my wedding? I would have kicked ass at that show. My wedding would have definitely won, mostly for the open bar and my beautiful dress.
Maybe what I need is more focus in my life? I'll put it on the resolution list for 2013 (assuming we make it).
Here it goes for 2012.
1. Stop apologizing for things I am not sorry for. I say sorry for everything. EVERYTHING. Someone bumps into me. I apologize. Someone pushes me purposely, I would say, "I'm so sorry for being in your way." Someone steals money from me. My response? "I'm terribly sorry, but that belongs to me, may I have it back?" Someone comes into the mall where I work and we don't have something they want in stock. I apologize. Did they come looking for me to apologize? No of course not. Do I need to be sorry the store I work for doesn't carry what they want? Do I personally ship the items late? Do I decide on the stock that is carried? Or make deliveries? Do I ruin items leaving them with the choice of one crumpled item or having to find something else? No, No and NO. Do I apologize for all of these things that I am not at fault and, also, not sorry for? Yes. Every time. Does it weaken my apology? Cheapen it? Make it lose meaning? Of course it does. Would I tell every customer I love them? Would I say I love you to the person who cuts me off in line at the grocery store? To the driver who almost runs me and my puppy over? No, never. Therefore, when I am not sorry, I must stop saying it.
2. Be more assertive. Some people might think I am assertive enough. Or too assertive. But I feel like I defer to avoid a fight in situations where I should stand up for myself. For example, I have an ongoing battle with Sears right now because our hot water heater isn't working properly. It randomly goes from very very hot to freezing cold with no warning. My argument is that it isn't safe to be showering and not know when I am going to be blasted with water too hot to stand under. They said 120 degrees isn't too hot. I love hot showers, to the point where I come out the colour of a boiled lobster and my body is overheated and I need to drink gallons of water to counteract the dehydration. 120 degrees is too hot for me. I let them have the weekend off from calling and wasn't going to call yesterday either because they might be busy just coming off their holiday. Then I had a shower that not only was unpleasant, I could have received 3rd degree burns from it. So I called. Their new argument was the heater worked, just not the way I want it to. Just like Leon's, this is frustrating and stupid and they should be able to fix the problem easily and instead it is turning into a huge issue. Just like Leon's, I will probably lose, after hours of work on my part and millions of dollars in long distance bills. I believe I need to be more assertive in this situation and many others. It starts today (or rather yesterday).
3. Stay positive. You may have noticed at times I can be a little negative. In most cases my negativity is hilarious. No seriously. I love an awful experience because I am willing to laugh at myself about almost anything. The more mysterious the illness, the more horrifying my drive home, the closer I come to complete and utter failure, the funnier it is. Once, while waitressing, I walked into a closed glass door with a full tray of drinks. I was chased by a goose as a child. My godawful inability to find a job. The time my dog got scared by a bag of garbage and dragged me so I tripped and ended up stuck in a recycling bin. These things are hilariously funny. Very few bad days have no humour. But, I also find this horrible black hole of nothingness sometimes fills my brain. When I count how many jobs I've applied to without hearing back. When I think about the very few interviews I've had, and how they have also amounted to nothing. When I think about my life goals and dreams and realize none of them involve being unemployed and unsuccessful and closing in on thirty. These are the days and thoughts I am going to try and banish. The ones that make me feel depressed, that effect my health, my marriage and most importantly my sense of humour.
That's about all for now. I never like to come up with a huge list because I get overwhelmed and don't know where to start and it takes me until April to even attempt anything. But these I can start right now. This very day. Watch out world. No seriously, watch out. A meteor is probably on it's way right this very second to obliterate the planet. I'm ready for it 2012.
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| If this picture doesn't scream happliy married and glad to be starting a new year together..... well I just don't know what does then...... |
I am also making more practical resolutions, in case this whole thing doesn't pan out and I go on living my mundane life. I know I told you in my last post I was going to stop prcrastinating, but that was not very serious. I am not really a big procrastinater, I never miss real things, just put them off until I get inspired to make changes in my life and then I am rather effective and can do ten thousand things in one day. Then my enthusiasm wanes and I go back to doing nothing more than lying on my couch watching Four Weddings and eating chocolate for breakfast. Side note - Four Weddings Canada comes out now?? After my wedding? I would have kicked ass at that show. My wedding would have definitely won, mostly for the open bar and my beautiful dress.
Maybe what I need is more focus in my life? I'll put it on the resolution list for 2013 (assuming we make it).
Here it goes for 2012.
1. Stop apologizing for things I am not sorry for. I say sorry for everything. EVERYTHING. Someone bumps into me. I apologize. Someone pushes me purposely, I would say, "I'm so sorry for being in your way." Someone steals money from me. My response? "I'm terribly sorry, but that belongs to me, may I have it back?" Someone comes into the mall where I work and we don't have something they want in stock. I apologize. Did they come looking for me to apologize? No of course not. Do I need to be sorry the store I work for doesn't carry what they want? Do I personally ship the items late? Do I decide on the stock that is carried? Or make deliveries? Do I ruin items leaving them with the choice of one crumpled item or having to find something else? No, No and NO. Do I apologize for all of these things that I am not at fault and, also, not sorry for? Yes. Every time. Does it weaken my apology? Cheapen it? Make it lose meaning? Of course it does. Would I tell every customer I love them? Would I say I love you to the person who cuts me off in line at the grocery store? To the driver who almost runs me and my puppy over? No, never. Therefore, when I am not sorry, I must stop saying it.
2. Be more assertive. Some people might think I am assertive enough. Or too assertive. But I feel like I defer to avoid a fight in situations where I should stand up for myself. For example, I have an ongoing battle with Sears right now because our hot water heater isn't working properly. It randomly goes from very very hot to freezing cold with no warning. My argument is that it isn't safe to be showering and not know when I am going to be blasted with water too hot to stand under. They said 120 degrees isn't too hot. I love hot showers, to the point where I come out the colour of a boiled lobster and my body is overheated and I need to drink gallons of water to counteract the dehydration. 120 degrees is too hot for me. I let them have the weekend off from calling and wasn't going to call yesterday either because they might be busy just coming off their holiday. Then I had a shower that not only was unpleasant, I could have received 3rd degree burns from it. So I called. Their new argument was the heater worked, just not the way I want it to. Just like Leon's, this is frustrating and stupid and they should be able to fix the problem easily and instead it is turning into a huge issue. Just like Leon's, I will probably lose, after hours of work on my part and millions of dollars in long distance bills. I believe I need to be more assertive in this situation and many others. It starts today (or rather yesterday).
3. Stay positive. You may have noticed at times I can be a little negative. In most cases my negativity is hilarious. No seriously. I love an awful experience because I am willing to laugh at myself about almost anything. The more mysterious the illness, the more horrifying my drive home, the closer I come to complete and utter failure, the funnier it is. Once, while waitressing, I walked into a closed glass door with a full tray of drinks. I was chased by a goose as a child. My godawful inability to find a job. The time my dog got scared by a bag of garbage and dragged me so I tripped and ended up stuck in a recycling bin. These things are hilariously funny. Very few bad days have no humour. But, I also find this horrible black hole of nothingness sometimes fills my brain. When I count how many jobs I've applied to without hearing back. When I think about the very few interviews I've had, and how they have also amounted to nothing. When I think about my life goals and dreams and realize none of them involve being unemployed and unsuccessful and closing in on thirty. These are the days and thoughts I am going to try and banish. The ones that make me feel depressed, that effect my health, my marriage and most importantly my sense of humour.
That's about all for now. I never like to come up with a huge list because I get overwhelmed and don't know where to start and it takes me until April to even attempt anything. But these I can start right now. This very day. Watch out world. No seriously, watch out. A meteor is probably on it's way right this very second to obliterate the planet. I'm ready for it 2012.
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| Regis' resolution? To look more dapper. Hence the bowtie. Thanks Sam! |
I hear ya on the job front. That's my big goal this year. Butttt... we're awesome. The reason we don't have jobs yet is that no one can yet contain how awesome we are into one job. People tell me that eventually it will happen, I just gotta persevere. I say "bananas" but you gotta believe in something right.
ReplyDeleteI am excited for your housewarming party! :)
Karen, you are not the only one! Those 3 resolutions could also apply to me. But you, my dear, definitely deal with life with more humour than most. Be proud of that!
ReplyDeleteTony and I are coming to see you this weekend. I can't wait to see you. You are very missed!
Oh Karen ... I remember the glass door :)
ReplyDelete