A Hug Helps

I think I have a solution to a problem I have at my job.  I actually don't have a problem at my job.  What I have is an issue when I have to deal with very difficult people.  Thankfully these difficult people are not my co-workers.  The people who I sometimes have issues with are the rude, in-your-face, raising your voice to get attention, guests (in case you are reading this blog for the first time, I work at a front desk at a very nice hotel).  

Last Sunday, I was having a pleasant work day, until a woman came in who was just incredibly difficult.  She was doing all the things I listed above.  That's not all, after she checked-in, she continued to be difficult.  She was like a big bully... trying to get me to do things that she knows I wasn't allowed to do (and not leaving it be).  I was getting so irritated.  I was getting angry with her (on the inside of course; I couldn't let her know how I felt) because every time she opened her mouth, my anxiety level would just go up.  My anxiety was rising because each time she talked to me, my natural reaction was to firmly say, "If you come back and talk to me like that again, I personally will pick you up by the shirt collar and kick your 'you-know-what' out of here."  Okay, so you all know that didn't happen.  Instead, what I had to do (what I get paid to do) is to remain professional, calm, and do my job to the best of my ability.  I'm not kidding, though, I saw an imaginary sign on this woman's forehead that said, "When I was a kid, I was a big bully!"  As the night went on, I started to truly pity her and her family (yes, this bully woman has children, and they were very sweet).  I could not help but feel a twinge of sadness when I thought of her family.  What type of example was she setting for her children?  I'll tell you what it was: kick and scream to get anything you want.  Well, I can tell you that she did not get all she wanted from me (the demands were just too ludicrous).

Enough about this lady.  Here is what I learned.  As I am dealing with people like her, I am going to try and remember the people who are so nice.  My husband pointed out we don't remember the nice ones as much.  That is so true because the mean people leave such an imprint.  This weekend my husband and I had a great time at our friends house for dinner.  I was talking to my friend, and she was telling me a story about a person who works at a hotel she just visited, and how nice he was.  As I was talking to her, I remembered a very sweet older woman who I have seen from time to time these last few years.  She would make some reservations for her and her sister & husband.  Her sister's husband was very ill, and by staying at the hotel, it was nearby where he needed treatment, and it was relaxing for him to be by the ocean.  I would always try to help her out as much as I could.  The first few times she made reservations, I never saw her because she came in on my days off, but it was as if I made a friend over the phone.  One day, she came in, and said who she was, and I was so happy to meet her.  She said, "Can I give you a hug?"  I said, "Of course!  I love hugs!"  Then she called me an angel... Well.... I am no angel, but she was so incredibly sweet, and I wanted to help her.  Now, every time she comes in, I get a hug!  I have now decided that each time I have to deal with a guest who gives me anxiety and makes me not feel good, I will think of this woman and her hugs. :)  Even writing about it gets me a little choked up.  I hope to see her again soon, but under better circumstances (when her brother-in-law is not ill).  What I just realized is that she is my angel because when I have a difficult time with guests, I want to think of her and her kindness.

Happy Tuesday to you and yours...

George Strait is Right

I love where I live.  Anywhere I turn my head, I see something beautiful: the trees, the hills, the sky, the ocean.  I feel very blessed to be here.  I remember when I was a little girl, I hoped to live in a nice place by the ocean.  I never truly believed it would actually happen, and imagine my surprise when it did!  In all honesty, I remember moving to the ocean seven years ago, and then remembering that thought from when I was a little girl.  It felt so good to see a wish come true in my life.  When I was little, I would always make wishes on three things: an eyelash that fell on my cheek, a shooting star, and a wishbone from a chicken.  The funny thing is that when I was really little, I wished for the same thing every time... a pool.  And we got one!  I guess my track record for wishes coming true is better than I thought.

Getting back to what I was talking about earlier.  One thing I enjoy doing is going for rides in my car.  I will get a CD I feel like listening to, and drive either down the coast or in the hills.  No matter what, it always brings me peace.

Below, you will see lyrics from a song I love.  It is not new.  George Strait sings it, and I think it is truly one of my favorites.  I hope you enjoy reading it.  It is called, "I Saw God Today".

Just walked down the street to the coffee shop
Had to take a break
I'd been by her side for 18 hours straight
Saw a flower growin' in the middle of the sidewalk
Pushin' up through the concrete
Like it was planted right there for me to see
The flashin' lights
The honkin' horns
All seemed to fade away
In the shadow of that hospital at 5:08
I saw God today

I've been to church
I've read the book
I know he's here
But I don't look
Near as often as I should
Yeah, I know I should
His fingerprints are everywhere
I just slowed down to stop and stare
Opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today

Saw a couple walkin' by they were holdin' hands
Man she had that glow
Yeah I couldn't help but notice she was startin' to show it
Stood there for a minute taking in the sky
Lost in that sunset
Splash of amber melted in the shades of red

I've been to church
I've read the book
I know he's here
But I don't look
Near as often as I should
Yeah, I know I should
His fingerprints are everywhere
I just slowed down to stop and stare
Opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today

Got my face pressed up against the nursery glass
She's sleepin' like a rock
My name on her wrist
Wearin' tiny pink socks
She's got my nose, she's got her mama's eyes
My brand new baby girl
She's a miracle
I saw God today

Happy Tuesday to you and yours...

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

Good morning everyone.

A week ago today, I had an experience which I will always remember.  I got to go see my childhood home.  With  great and many thanks to my aunt for arranging it, I got to not only go back to the house, but I got to walk inside and outside.  

Leading to the day, I was so excited and a little nervous.  I lived in this home from when I was born until I was six years old.  My memories of this place are very vivid and wonderful.  I can remember what rooms looked like, where furniture was placed, what the yard looked like, and how I felt.  Whenever I think back, I am filled with fond memories and good feelings.  My aunt was driving, and as we turned down the street, the butterflies in my stomach became so much bigger!  I saw all the homes on the street, and remembered our neighbors and riding our bikes.  As we entered the driveway, it hit me, "I'm here... I'm finally here."  The owner of the home gave us a tour and talked about the upgrades they did and the ones that were completed before she moved in.  The very first thing I did was go to a special place where our family had poured cement, and I saw my sisters and my name.  I saw this three other times.  Anytime my family poured cement for a sidewalk or something, the name of the children who were born were written in, along with the date.  My name is only on one, but it was so sweet to see the others, the first with only my oldest sister's name; the other two with both of my sisters names.  It was like we were looking at a time line on the ground.  

My favorite part was walking on the deck and overlooking the beautiful view.  This house (for the past few weeks, I have lovingly been calling it my house), is on a dead end of a very nice street.  Since we were at the end, our view from the deck was beautiful field, rolling hills, and oak trees.  From this point, I could also look down upon the yard.  It was as if the memories of my childhood were playing in my mind... like an old home video.  

It was time to go.  I had taken many pictures, and felt very satisfied.  My aunt took a few pictures of me, and one is of me on the deck with the view behind me, and the second one is in front of the house where my sisters and I took pictures on our first days of school and on Halloweens (when we were all dressed up).  I am so glad I was able to share this special day with my aunt.

I came back home that night.  I felt terrific.  I kept on thinking how lucky I was to be able to have that experience.  How many people have the opportunity that I did?  I'm sure not enough.  I got home, downloaded my pictures, and as I saw them... even more memories (one's I have not thought about in a long time), came back for a much needed visit in my mind.  It dawned on me that when I think back on my childhood, I have so many wonderful memories.  I am truly blessed.  I just cried like a baby that night.  "Cried like a baby" you may think?  Yes... I did.  They were not sad tears, or tears of longing or disappointment.  They were very happy tears.  Happy to have had the childhood I did.  Happy to have the life I live.  Happy to know where I came from.  Happy to be where I am.

Happy Tuesday to you and yours...

A Story About a Girl...

There was a little girl who was about twelve years old.  She called her grandma one of her best friends... her buddy.  This little girl and her grandma were indeed quite close, and there were many lessons that the grandma had taught her little granddaughter.  One day, Grandma told Granddaughter a story that inspired her.  It starts out with Grandma washing the dishes.  Above the sink was a windowsill where Grandma would always stack her rings while she washed.  On this day, after the dishes were clean, Grandma forgot to put her rings back on (they were her engagement ring and wedding band).  She went about her day, then suddenly realized her finger was missing her precious rings!  She rushed to the windowsill.... nothing... no rings to be found.  She worried, then retraced her steps for the whole day.  She found nothing.  She went back to the windowsill, again and again... nothing.  At this point, she decided to pray.  She knelt down, prayed with full faith in her heart, and asked to receive help in finding her rings.  She felt prompted to look on the windowsill again, and there they were.  Her rings were stacked perfectly on the windowsill.  Her prayer had been answered.

Granddaughter loved hearing about the experience, and others which her grandmother gladly shared.  Granddaughter had little experiences in her life that were similar, but not to the degree of finding something as precious Grandma's rings.  Granddaughter found: homework assignments, etc.  These were things which were important at the time of an adolescent, but probably not in the grand scheme of things.

Granddaughter grew up and moved away.  She had one experience which she never forgotten, and didn't realize the importance of it until even more time had passed.  Granddaughter was having a difficult time in her personal life and felt like there was no one... no one... to turn to.  She felt sad, lonely, and was sure that no one would want to hear her story.  She couldn't even muster the courage to call a friend or family member.  It was an evening when she was working, and she had an hour for her lunch break.  She drove around, found a place to stop, put her head on the steering wheel, and cried.  She cried, and cried, and cried, and whispered... "I feel so alone, I feel so alone, I feel so alone..."  Without even realizing it, she was praying.  She started to get even more upset because she knew she had to go back to work soon, and she couldn't calm down.  The tears just kept coming harder and harder, and the prayer stayed the same... almost like a whisper.  Then, she felt a wave of comfort inside of her.  Her tears stopped, and she felt complete peace.  For a moment, the sudden shift in emotion almost scared her, but she knew it was going to be alright.  She knew that this shift which took place was not her... it was an answer to her prayer.  She felt such peace that even if she heard the saddest news, she couldn't cry anymore.  She dried her eyes, and drove back to work.  The wave of emotion that came over her was the most comforting feeling she had ever felt.  She felt very thankful.

If you have not gathered already, the girl in this story is me.  I felt like sharing this because it goes well with something I heard today.  I heard a talk which was given recently by a leader in my church (his name is President Dieter F. Uchtdorf), and he mentioned that in the eyes of God, we are all important.  Even if there are times when we may feel: small, insignificant, not special, not important..... that those feelings are not shared with God.  God know us and loves us.  I felt that this idea was true because of the above story I told, and other similar experiences which have happened to me.  I feel grateful for these thoughts and this understanding.  It has brought even more peace and comfort to my life.

I wish I could share these stories with my grandmother.  The thing is that I could, but her memory is not what it used to be.  What I am realizing right now is that I should share these things with her.  She always loved to talk about these things.  Just because she may forget about it a few seconds after the conversation is done, doesn't mean we can't have one of our fun talks again. 

I must be honest.  I was hesitant to write about this topic in my blog because of the subject matter.  I am a firm believer in God and Jesus Christ, but I am also worried of how I make others feel.  It is very important to me to be respectful of others.  I hope that what I wrote today is something that people who read it can understand that I am just writing from my heart, and I mean nothing but good intentions and feelings. 

Thanks for reading and letting me get this off of my chest.  I feel so good right now.

Happy Tuesday to you and yours...