Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Satisfaction Guaranteed.
Trust me when I say that this is not one gift you will want to return. However, I would HIGHLY ADVISE re-gifting. AFFIRMATION. You know, we ALL love to hear what we do well...but how many of us run through our days without the slightest acknowledgement of the services being provided to us? I was thinking about this today--it's SO EASY to laud a child for an act of service because it's noticeable--I mean, the first time Bradley ever picked up a toy, I swear the heavens opened up and rays of sunshine beat onto my face. Now, when he puts his clothes into his laundry basket or tosses his mangled, spaghetti-stained napkin into the garbage, I am grateful BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING I'M NOT DOING--what a gift! It's easy for me to notice the helpful things he can do because that is something he COULD NOT do before. But how many times do we fail to acknowledge a friend? a spouse? a family member? a co-worker? a secretary? ALL THE TIME--I mean, I do at least. At it's not out of being intentionally selfish...but in this life of "now's" and instant gratification, it's so easy to look past all the things people are doing for us. So, "STOP, COLLABORATE AND LISTEN:" take time to notice SOMEONE today...and thank them...for taking out the trash, allowing you to walk through the door first, and all the other LITTLE things. It will make the other person feel AFFIRMED, and it will make you feel good. All warm and fuzzy. Aww. That's sweet.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Yes, I still flirt with Insomnia
It's 3:22 in the morning, and I have NO GOOD REASON for being awake. I did take Excedrin (something) earlier, and it's a known fact that the SMALLEST doseage of Caffeine will take me to the ends of the Earth and Back. So, being that caffeine is one of the active ingredients...VOILE.
Anyway, in my state of awakeness, I have really reflected on PERSONAL IMPACT. What does that mean, you are wondering? It's a known fact that people want to be remembered for GOOD things, when they're dead and gone. There are a few people, who are strange and SAY that they don't care "how people remember them," but the majority of people want to be remembered as something remarkable. They want to be known as "the MOST giving, the MOST altruistic, the MOST kind, the MOST loving, the MOST HONEST, the BEST son, the BEST daughter, the BEST Mother, the BEST Father, the smartest...and so on." So, the question is, HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT HAPPENS?
1. Keep yourself in check. What are your priorities? Are other people and their needs BEFORE yours or are YOU numero UNO?
2. Do you have friends so YOU can talk or so THEY can be heard?
3. Are you reading? (and allow me to be brave and say EVERY day...try just 15 minutes a day).
4. Are you calling your friends and family members and MAKING the time to visit them. It's a well-known fact that "people don't care how much you know until you know how much you care." I know I've mentioned that before, but it's worth mentioning again.
5. Is the miscommunication about ARGUING to make your point or LISTENING to understand theirs?
6. Understanding BALANCE. Listen, I battle this DAILY. I live by the motto, "I can sleep when I'm dead"...hence the post at 3:30 in the morning. But while there has to be a ton of time for SAVING THE WORLD, there also has to be time set aside to RESCUE you.
Do all these things make you A LEGEND? No. But they give you peace of mind...and direction...and they keep you in touch with the people, WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT REMEMBER YOU WHEN YOU'RE GONE. Balance and is the KEY to enjoying life as opposed to just getting by. Nothing is more disconcerting than to ask someone how they're doing and hear, "Oh, I'm just getting by." WHAT A SAD WAY TO LIVE LIFE. Seriously...we live on a planet with BILLIONS of hugely diverse people...a planet where knowledge, power and fun can be progress cooperatively. So WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO JUST "GET BY??" Seize the MOMENT! Enjoy the DAY! Live every day down to last second! Breathe peace.
Anyway, in my state of awakeness, I have really reflected on PERSONAL IMPACT. What does that mean, you are wondering? It's a known fact that people want to be remembered for GOOD things, when they're dead and gone. There are a few people, who are strange and SAY that they don't care "how people remember them," but the majority of people want to be remembered as something remarkable. They want to be known as "the MOST giving, the MOST altruistic, the MOST kind, the MOST loving, the MOST HONEST, the BEST son, the BEST daughter, the BEST Mother, the BEST Father, the smartest...and so on." So, the question is, HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT HAPPENS?
1. Keep yourself in check. What are your priorities? Are other people and their needs BEFORE yours or are YOU numero UNO?
2. Do you have friends so YOU can talk or so THEY can be heard?
3. Are you reading? (and allow me to be brave and say EVERY day...try just 15 minutes a day).
4. Are you calling your friends and family members and MAKING the time to visit them. It's a well-known fact that "people don't care how much you know until you know how much you care." I know I've mentioned that before, but it's worth mentioning again.
5. Is the miscommunication about ARGUING to make your point or LISTENING to understand theirs?
6. Understanding BALANCE. Listen, I battle this DAILY. I live by the motto, "I can sleep when I'm dead"...hence the post at 3:30 in the morning. But while there has to be a ton of time for SAVING THE WORLD, there also has to be time set aside to RESCUE you.
Do all these things make you A LEGEND? No. But they give you peace of mind...and direction...and they keep you in touch with the people, WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT REMEMBER YOU WHEN YOU'RE GONE. Balance and is the KEY to enjoying life as opposed to just getting by. Nothing is more disconcerting than to ask someone how they're doing and hear, "Oh, I'm just getting by." WHAT A SAD WAY TO LIVE LIFE. Seriously...we live on a planet with BILLIONS of hugely diverse people...a planet where knowledge, power and fun can be progress cooperatively. So WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO JUST "GET BY??" Seize the MOMENT! Enjoy the DAY! Live every day down to last second! Breathe peace.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Nonsense
So, I sincerely debated titling this blog entry "because I said so..." NOT as some statement, but because I tend to lack continuity and in essense "sense" in my blogs. Lots of people have blogs with a purpose: there are cooking blogs, couple blogs, family blogs, career blogs, hairstyle blogs, blogs, blogs, blogs...me...meh...eh...not so much...I wouldn't say I was on the THEME PURPOSE TRAIN.
AND I have NOT been away because I have been lazy (for once)...if you don't already know the tragedy that struck my life about a month ago, I will take that circe and run with it, but if you do, then you know that I have been the target of some pretty negative...crap...this is NOT me whining about it...it is what it is...but after someone cruely commented on the contents of my blog, I thought, "why add insult to injury?" No one enjoys persecution--justified or not...from a friend or from an enemy...with knowledge or emotion...it's defeating...
Life, as I know it, has seen intense changes and yes, details will follow in the future. I will say that I don't even PREFER beef stew, but the crockpot is a miraculous invention, and I recently decided to embrace it. At any rate, I just tasted the said beef stew and allow me to simply say, YUM. The meat is falling apart...potatoes are the perfectly seasoned carb...carrots (bleck) are tiny enough to be in existence (you're welcome, Grandma), but they aren't noticeable (hooray!). I am delighted in my achievement...and I'm onto baking ZUCCHINI CRAB CAKES...don't let the painfully gross title derail you--they are fantastic.
Alright, my moment of nonsense has passed, and i feel totally satisfied with the things I've shared. Purpose and Good Blogs to follow...and happiness to ensue.
Later Gators.
AND I have NOT been away because I have been lazy (for once)...if you don't already know the tragedy that struck my life about a month ago, I will take that circe and run with it, but if you do, then you know that I have been the target of some pretty negative...crap...this is NOT me whining about it...it is what it is...but after someone cruely commented on the contents of my blog, I thought, "why add insult to injury?" No one enjoys persecution--justified or not...from a friend or from an enemy...with knowledge or emotion...it's defeating...
Life, as I know it, has seen intense changes and yes, details will follow in the future. I will say that I don't even PREFER beef stew, but the crockpot is a miraculous invention, and I recently decided to embrace it. At any rate, I just tasted the said beef stew and allow me to simply say, YUM. The meat is falling apart...potatoes are the perfectly seasoned carb...carrots (bleck) are tiny enough to be in existence (you're welcome, Grandma), but they aren't noticeable (hooray!). I am delighted in my achievement...and I'm onto baking ZUCCHINI CRAB CAKES...don't let the painfully gross title derail you--they are fantastic.
Alright, my moment of nonsense has passed, and i feel totally satisfied with the things I've shared. Purpose and Good Blogs to follow...and happiness to ensue.
Later Gators.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
BlogosaurusREX!
KOM-UN-I-KATE! communicate. say what you mean and mean what you say. Perception IS more important than reality, but come on, Kids...cut the world a break! Don't always ASSuME someone knows what you're saying...how you feel...or "what you mean..." because 9 times out of 10, they don't! and we ALL communicate differently...so what keeps you from looking like a monster and being able to deliver your thoughts clearly? 2 shots of bacardi and a nap...KIDDING!! No, seriously...try to actually UNDERSTAND what the other person is saying by noticing their BODY LANGUAGE, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, TONE AND INFLECTION. Most of what is communicated is unspoken...with that said...make sure your ATTITUDE is appropriate for the response...yes, this does sound like psycho mumbo-jumbo...but it's not...for example, if someone says to me, "Tammy, I think you could try it this way" (and their eyebrows are furrowed, their cheeks are red and their hands are on their hips), rest assured they're a little peeved at me...so it would NOT be an apporpriate time for me to say, "Well, what I was TRYING to do was..." they don't really CARE what i was trying to do...there is already a problem and they just want a solution. in the words of the deep south...GIT ER DONE!
a few disclaimers:
one: the title is not reflective of the blog...i was going to talk about something else...but well, i changed my mind...but i loved the title...so i kept it!
two: yes, sometimes i capitalize sentences and sometimes i don't...sue me.
three: I DO know that my grammar above was incorrect...when talking about a single person, you say HE or SHE...as opposed to "their or them"...but well, i couldn't decide if i wanted the other person to be a boy or girl...and i didn't feel like typing he/she every time...AND i know you can start with he or she and they default to just a He OR a she...but i didn't want to do that either....voile!
i hope this was somewhat helpful...of course, this IS the diary of a madwoman. :)
a few disclaimers:
one: the title is not reflective of the blog...i was going to talk about something else...but well, i changed my mind...but i loved the title...so i kept it!
two: yes, sometimes i capitalize sentences and sometimes i don't...sue me.
three: I DO know that my grammar above was incorrect...when talking about a single person, you say HE or SHE...as opposed to "their or them"...but well, i couldn't decide if i wanted the other person to be a boy or girl...and i didn't feel like typing he/she every time...AND i know you can start with he or she and they default to just a He OR a she...but i didn't want to do that either....voile!
i hope this was somewhat helpful...of course, this IS the diary of a madwoman. :)
Monday, June 23, 2008
TAKE A BREATH!
So, there are two sides to this coin...first, if I had a penny for every time someone said, "TAKE A BREATH, TAMMY!," I would be independently wealthy and well on my way to some tropical island. In case you've stumbled upon this wildly popular blog and have never had the incredible experience of talking to me, you don't know how fast OR how MUCH I talk! And when I say INCREDIBLE experience, I do mean INCREDIBLE...not INCREDIBLE like "deeply fabulous," but incredible like...WHOA. I have this excitement level that can only be satisfied by MASS AMOUNTS OF TALKING AT RIDICULOUS SPEEDS...and I DO tell myself "to slooooow down...and let the other person..." but darn it if my excitement doesn't get the best of me.
WHAT A CURSE.
Recently, a VERY dear person, whom I ADMIRE told me that "I never let him talk." He proceeded to tell me that I LECTURE and THEN ask him if he'd like to say a few words. WHAT?!! &*@$% no way! SO...WHAT DID I DO? duh...I QUICKLY began my LECTURE in DEFENSE of his ludacris statement!! ...oops...so maybe there was some validity to his statement. AND THAT WAS NOT GOOD.
SO, THIS IS MY MISSION...AND YOU SHOULD ALSO EMBRACE IT IF YOU'RE A FELLOW NON-PAUSER.
Pause...before you speak...
Pause...while you speak...
Pause...when you don't want to...
because, YOU my dear (and ME) are NOT the MYSTERY...the person you're talking TO is...let him or her SPEAK. You can't be engaging if all they hear is "blah, blah, blah..."
YES, YES...You ARE deeply fabulous...but let them tell you how fabulous they are first.
Signing Off,
Fellow Ex-Non-Pauser.
WHAT A CURSE.
Recently, a VERY dear person, whom I ADMIRE told me that "I never let him talk." He proceeded to tell me that I LECTURE and THEN ask him if he'd like to say a few words. WHAT?!! &*@$% no way! SO...WHAT DID I DO? duh...I QUICKLY began my LECTURE in DEFENSE of his ludacris statement!! ...oops...so maybe there was some validity to his statement. AND THAT WAS NOT GOOD.
SO, THIS IS MY MISSION...AND YOU SHOULD ALSO EMBRACE IT IF YOU'RE A FELLOW NON-PAUSER.
Pause...before you speak...
Pause...while you speak...
Pause...when you don't want to...
because, YOU my dear (and ME) are NOT the MYSTERY...the person you're talking TO is...let him or her SPEAK. You can't be engaging if all they hear is "blah, blah, blah..."
YES, YES...You ARE deeply fabulous...but let them tell you how fabulous they are first.
Signing Off,
Fellow Ex-Non-Pauser.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Happy Early Birthday!! (It's almost the birthday of my one month blog sabatacle!!)
The Princess of Particulars is...PARTICULARLY slack! Yes, yes, I admit it...my discipline for blogging has been...meh, eh, bleck! I have been busy, busy, busy...and yet...nothing spectacular can be said! What is the problem?? A word to the wise: DON'T GET IN A RUT...spoken by the unwise and from the mouth of babes!! How do you do this?? THAT IS THE QUEST, FRIENDS. (Where are my Monty Python links?!) Be excited about something. Be motivated by that something. Don't give up on the pursuit. It's sooooo easy...in fact TOOOOO EASY to forget the goal...and then get stuck in the RUT OF LIFE: go to bed, wake up, eat, shower, go to work (or school for you lucky few), end your day with dinner, be a domestic goddess (oh, maybe that's just me), get ready for bed...RINSE AND REPEAT.
DON'T DO IT. RESIST THE URGE. Be legendary. Go forth, sassy jedi's. Live long and prosper. :)
DON'T DO IT. RESIST THE URGE. Be legendary. Go forth, sassy jedi's. Live long and prosper. :)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Diary of a MadWoman
Insomnia is my BFF.
It's 2:15 AM, and yes, I DO have to be at work tomorrow...and I have NO reason for being awake...
So, I have been updating my Myspace Page. SO, WHAT OF IT? Anyway, it has been a long time coming...and anyway, I arrived at the "HEROES" section, and I realized that I didn't have any! I mean, yes, JESUS. But while He is a hero, that's not what the section is asking...I think that as a group, we feel like Jesus is "the right answer"--I mean, we all know that he's the ALPHA and OMEGA...Savior...Abba...Father...so, it stands to reason that He's also a HERO...but when I started thinking of LIVING HEREOS, i realized that i didn't have any! i mean, i know COOL people...i have people that i RESPECT...i have people i ADMIRE...but no real HERO...and then i felt BAD...and i thought i was DOING SOMETHING WRONG? i mean, i spend time with GOOD, GROWING people...so, i should have one of these said Heroes...right? what makes a person a hero? helping a sick child? rescuing a cat from a tree? a large financial contribution? seriously? EMAIL ME (tammyalthaus@yahoo.com) if you think you know the answer.
Ha...and so someone asked me WHY to blog. I have no idea. I'm sure there's a REASON that a person first STARTED to blog...forum, communication, ideas...but now it's just another..."thing." i blog just because i have a lot of emotions. I AM WOMAN. estrogen is my soul mate. who knows if it's a gift or a curse...but it's mine...all mine... :)
ok, i'm going to go do 100 crunches, give myself a facial, floss my teeth (ugh. eww. i should delete that...but i'm not going to)...drink some water...and hopefully fall into a deep slumber.
Sleep Tight...and if the bed bugs bite...then WASH YOUR SHEETS, Linus. :)
It's 2:15 AM, and yes, I DO have to be at work tomorrow...and I have NO reason for being awake...
So, I have been updating my Myspace Page. SO, WHAT OF IT? Anyway, it has been a long time coming...and anyway, I arrived at the "HEROES" section, and I realized that I didn't have any! I mean, yes, JESUS. But while He is a hero, that's not what the section is asking...I think that as a group, we feel like Jesus is "the right answer"--I mean, we all know that he's the ALPHA and OMEGA...Savior...Abba...Father...so, it stands to reason that He's also a HERO...but when I started thinking of LIVING HEREOS, i realized that i didn't have any! i mean, i know COOL people...i have people that i RESPECT...i have people i ADMIRE...but no real HERO...and then i felt BAD...and i thought i was DOING SOMETHING WRONG? i mean, i spend time with GOOD, GROWING people...so, i should have one of these said Heroes...right? what makes a person a hero? helping a sick child? rescuing a cat from a tree? a large financial contribution? seriously? EMAIL ME (tammyalthaus@yahoo.com) if you think you know the answer.
Ha...and so someone asked me WHY to blog. I have no idea. I'm sure there's a REASON that a person first STARTED to blog...forum, communication, ideas...but now it's just another..."thing." i blog just because i have a lot of emotions. I AM WOMAN. estrogen is my soul mate. who knows if it's a gift or a curse...but it's mine...all mine... :)
ok, i'm going to go do 100 crunches, give myself a facial, floss my teeth (ugh. eww. i should delete that...but i'm not going to)...drink some water...and hopefully fall into a deep slumber.
Sleep Tight...and if the bed bugs bite...then WASH YOUR SHEETS, Linus. :)
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