I love MATH!

I am reminded that I love math this week. There is only one right answer, and there's a formula to use to find it. It's not subjective to the perspective of the person grading the math test. 2+2 = 4 and when x = 1, 4x + 8= 12...and then there are all the other geometry theorems and calculus logrithims (sp?) to give us even more challenges...yet, there is only one right answer.

You ever forewarn someone of something and ask them to pay careful attention to something, and then when the very thing you warn them, they disregard...and then it somehow negatively impacts you, how do you feel? Mad, angry, confused, frustrated.

Frustration that it could've been avoided.

Business minus Follow-Up = Failing Customer Service
Business plus Follow-Up = Happy Clients and Referrals

Again, I love math.

I have been a loner much of my life. I don't really like people interfering with 'my' success. When I was a realtor, I went crazy since my commission check was dependent on the pest control, the roofing co., a lender, an escrow officer, and the seller's. All these people made up a team for the escrow to close and everyone to get paid. If someone didn't do their job, my car payment was late! I hated that part, my success of closings dependent on others. My paycheck dependent on others.

Frustrated those years of commission-only real estate work.
Frustrated because I truly cannot control others.

I can control how I let my emotions affect me. And if you know me, I am a very emotional person. Although, I'm not usually one to get mad. Call me names, don't like me, my kids...whatever, it's your loss. But, become the roadblock of me reaching a goal???? My blood pressure goes up just thinking about it.

I see an opportunity to do subtraction here. Or better yet, extraction. I need to extract that controlling perfectionism that drives my mind to exhaustion.

My husband. My wonderful husband, told me of the story of FedEx (check for validity). The story goes something about the guy who started it. He turned in a paper in his class on a great business idea...The idea was of FedEx, the ability to OVERNIGHT. The teacher said it would never work. The guy ditches school and opens up FedEx! FedEx is a verb in our language....just like Google. We tell people, 'I'll fedex it to you'....not 'I will overnight ship it to you'.

People can help you. And sometimes people can get in the way.

Me? I'm a 'rules follower'. I love rules. That's why I love math. Interesting enough, I love to write to. But I have learned that I don't like rules for my writing....only for math. Yet, I am met with a rule to 'follow the rules of formatting'....so I will.

What's more important, it comes down to me following my self-prescribed rule:

Always do your best, knowing that I nearly can do anything.

Because, with God, all things are possible.

So with that...I will put my nose back into the books...and add up the hours I will sit and type, and retype, and create, and recreate.

Hey, we only get one shot at this life...and when I am 80ish....I want to look back at my marriage, my boys, my career, and ministry and be able to say with satisfaction:

 

I truly did my very best!!!

Coping with STRESS!

What do you do when you are stressed out? Do you get yourself even more worked up about 'being worked up'? Do you go for a walk? Do you grab a drink? Do you go for a drive? (Hopefully not after you've had a drink.)

I'm a 'deep breather'. And I have taken many deep breaths this week.

I am a person that can't keep many secrets, by the way. I'm also a person who shares what is bugging me. I cannot keep things bottled up. Why? Why do that to myself? If something is a burden, or I don't agree with something, why just leave it all captive to hurt my gut? I agree that we have to 'be sensitive'...however, being silent and just 'hiding how I really feel' is more stressful for me.

P.S. I hate stress.

In the midst of some decision-making, worrying about what others would think, the financial implications, and wondering if 'it would work'....I got a headache this week. Not the kind that a couple of Tylenol would take care of....not the kind that anything would take care of...but time.

So in the middle of all the emotions running a little high...I'm dealing with a splitting...really, a splitting headache. Hmmm. No wonder I was moody & grumpy yesterday. And in the middle of it all, feeling even more frustrated with a few things that were in my opinion, so petty compared to life & eternity.

At the end of the day, I looked in the mirror and I saw myself...a human.

I think sometimes that many of us/you forget that we are all human. One of my goals in life is to be real, transaparent, and honest. I cannot be fake. I cannot pretend that I am fine with things that are not okay with me. Do you relate?

One of the things I am always intrigued with is the facade that we can hide behind with texting and social media. We can post things that are always positive, portraying a picture that everything is wonderful ALL OF THE TIME. The days that I post I am having a wonderful day...I really am having a wonderful day. The days I have nothing good to say...are days that are rough and tough.

And I think it's safe to say...we all have them. Not one person on this planet has it all together all the time, is perfect, or doesn't need improvement. I'm relieved in this fact, are you?

So next time you feel like you're losing it,

you were unreasonable,

you failed,

you made a mistake,

you need to change...

take heart in knowing...YOU'RE NOT ALONE!!!

I'll be the first to admit that I'm there with you.

For me personally, in those moments of feeling overwhelmed...I take some deep breaths. I breathe deeply until I feel some new life & renewed energy. There's something powerful about getting oxygen to that brain of mine. It can sort things out a lot better. My breaths are usually followed by prayer. Because I know that without the Christ, I can do nothing. So grateful that 'the Lord is my Helper'. Do you need a helper? Let me know & I'll introduce you to Him.

I NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THIS DAILY!!!

Me being a 'high-energy' person...makes sense that I tend to be a HIGH STRESS person...But I'll keep taking deep breaths. You continue to go for long drives, long walks or whatever else helps you cope.

I'm going to embark on some research on stress. My hypothesis is: IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE BODY...AND IT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH ILLNESS. What do you think?