Guess whose back...

Ok so, I know I’ve been missing in action for a long while now.  In my defense (because yes, I must defend myself 😊 ), 2020 was a whirlwind of a year.  Even beyond the pandemic, I had several things that occurred then began to pile up.

• I started a new job in which my goal was to stand up a department and processes to support a sales channel shift.
• I started a 9-month long leadership project that required a great deal of time outside of my normal job.  Wonderful experience but it required a great deal of evening and weekend work.   In the end, the team, our sponsors and our ExComm team were incredibly pleased with our work.  In fact, our ideas were implemented into the strategy and goals for that group; now that’s success!
• Once the pandemic hit, my husband and I had to figure out the best way for both of us to be comfortable and productive.  I was used to working from home, but he did not work from home often. Trust me, two people that have days jam-packed with meetings is not something you do in a shared office.  😊  But, we figured it out and have created great spaces for both of us.
• The social unrest brought about several conversations with colleagues and teammates that are not typically commonplace.  While I could go several places and have many thoughts on this topic, I will say only this, “It is my hope that at some point we could all simply approach and respond to one another on a human level.  On a level that says, this person is a human just like me."
• It took the contractor EIGHT MONTHS to complete our kitchen.  At after all of that, the work was still subpar.  I would not recommend them to anyone and they got great details on the workmanship.  Do I love my kitchen?  Yes, you should have seen what it looked like before. 😀 I am happy that my kitchen looks 30 times better than it did, but the work and process could have been a lot better. 
• While we were able to get a great deal of things done around the house, not being able to travel like we normally do put a great strain on our ability to destress and focus on our family and friends.  For those that don’t know, travel is basically how we remain sane in the Morris household.
• I got selected for multiple leaderships seminars and workshops, which was great.  I was happy to meet and network with people from various industries and backgrounds.  That too took a toll on my stress levels.  All-in-all, I made great connections and learned some things

So, I’m going to stop there.  I think that gets us caught up through 2020 and I can get through 2021 in my subsequent posts.  The overall message here is that 2020 was an interesting year that brought about a lot of change for us all some good and some not so good.  I fell short on some things like many people did, so now I just need to refocus on some things.  I will say this though…if you are still here today and can read this message with no issues, COUNT THAT AS A BLESSING!!!

Quote of the day!
“Appreciate what you have before it turns into what you had.”
-A variation of a quote by Ziad K. Abdelnour

Just thinking...

So, it probably is not the best idea to write a post when your emotions are everywhere but we’re here anyway.   What I want to talk about today is giving.  What are your thoughts?  For me, I thought giving was about doing things for others with no return. Meaning that you do not only do so because you can but because someone or something came to you with the need.

Maybe my thoughts are too simplistic, but I don’t feel that you can opt to “give” something then come back at a later date or time then hold that over someone’s head.  If you give to someone and expect something in return, you should define that upfront and let them make their choices from there. You can’t have these things in your head and never express or share your expectations; that is unfair to everyone involved in the exchange.

Just thinking out loud...via the internet.  Thoughts/comments?

Ahhhhh the memories…

When I saw the word scent, my mind immediately went to a small house sitting on the pacific ocean on the Oahu island.  Scent is a powerful thing; it sparks forgotten memories and emotions.  It’s amazing how that works. So many great memories with scents.  I think of the elephant ears that the seaway festival when I was in my hometown; my husband’s cologne when he kisses me goodbye when he’s headed to work; nephew Desmond’s hair when we used to babysit him; our old house. 

Such a truly awesome sense.

Quote of the Day

“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived”

-Helen Keller

Books and Me

Books as a part of my life.  As far back as I can remember, I’ve always love to read books.  My mom tells stories about how I used to sit in the library for hours then bring at least ten books home every month.  What’s the fascination?  It’s the stories, the characters, the plots.  When I was younger, it was probably more of an escape for me, a place for my dreams.  I even wrote short stories of my own.  Now, I think it still serves as an escape or a place of my own.  It’s where I can go to clear my head of everyday stresses.

I won’t say that I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I am usually not up to speed on current shows.  I tend to watch streaming television in spurts.  When I find a show that I like (typically funny), I must watch it until its done. What I found is that I watch TV like I read books.  It must be something that doesn’t consume my mind and heart, basically nothing too heavy.  Not to say that I don’t read heavy books at all; I just sprinkle in more light ones than heavy.

The issue is simply that I feel deeply and can carry those emotions and stories for a while.  This, in itself, can be very draining.  Life comes with many stresses naturally and relieving this stress is key to a healthy mind, body and soul.  Books allow me the opportunity to release and manage life anxieties.

Quote of the Day

“She reads books as one would breathe air to fill up and live.”

-Ann Dillard

What did you learn today?

Being a person focused on helping others, I find myself in many situations where I have the chance to teach and/or learn.  These opportunities present themselves often and in the smallest forms and are so often missed.  Traditional thought approaches teaching and learning as something that happens mainly in a classroom or at home, even in earlier stages in life.  But learning is an ever-evolving aspect of life. 

Case in point, I am learning a new role at work; it involves new business partners, new focus, a new team, new customers and new skills.  Everyday, I am exposed to something new.  But, what I’ve also learned (through the help of a couple of colleagues) is that I am in a position to teach a few new managers.  Things that they are experiencing or up against, I’ve managed through and was successful.  So, rather than simply telling them that I understand and move on to what’s most important to me, I try to offer not an answer but an ear, support, perspective and insight.  Not only am I teaching them how to be better managers, I am teaching them (while also learning) to become a stronger more valuable team player.  The more perspective we have, the better we are at dealing with and resolving a broad spectrum of issues. 

People, communities, cultures, countries grow by being exposed to more.  How did you contribute today?

Quote of the Day

“The best part of teaching is that it matters.  The hardest part of teaching is that every moment matters every day”

-Todd Whitaker

Consider this...

We are in very unusual and uncertain times and have had to adjust in many ways.  For most, it’s been tough.  I’m not saying that it’s been a piece of cake for us but we still have each other, shelter, food, and our health.  Our families are doing well and have the same.  But for some, it’s been tougher.

My best friend’s mom is experiencing some challenges with her health and my friend can’t be with her (about 200 miles away).  She is getting information second-hand, is over-stressing and has no outlet.  Another friend lost her grandmother last Thursday.  She lives about 400 miles from her family.  She can’t go home, she can’t be with her mother, they can’t even have a funeral right now.  These situations truly bite.  I can’t imagine how hard this time is for either of them right now.  My heart goes out to both them and their families.

It’s easy to focus on ourselves and what we want; complain about the inconvenience.  That energy is wasteful.  Don’t forget about those who are experiencing this time differently.   Use that energy to be gracious, be helpful, be supportive, reach out, love on your family.  Be aware, be selfless.  We’ll never know if and when we may be facing something worse, enjoy what you do have now.

Quote of the Day

“Sometimes life turns out hard, Isabel.  Sometimes it just bites right through you.  And sometimes, just when you think its done its worst, it comes back and takes another chunk.”

-M. L. Stedman

Planning...who me? (Day 10- Orchestrate)

So, I guess my husband was right… I do spend a lot of my time orchestrating my life.  From personal, professional and volunteer relationships, I spend a great deal of time ensuring that the needs of others are met.  Need to check-up on someone, I have a plan or reminder for that.  Need some guidelines for a meet and greet?  I have some talking points.  Need to get the parents some essential items?  I’m your girl and Amazon’s my best friend.  😊  Team feeling unheard? Hey, I’m here, let me help. 

It’s important to me to connect, to help and to resolve; these things motivate me.  So, I guess I do spend a lot of time in ‘coordination’ mode… now, if only I could execute. 

Quote of the Day

“Your first and foremost job as a leader is to take charge of your own energy then to help orchestrate the energy of those around you.”

-Peter Druckers

Catching up with Day 9

Had some challenges but let’s see if I can catch up….  So, day 9 was ‘Pairs’.  When you think of pairs, you tend think of things meant to fit perfectly together.  But, is that always the case?  I think of Jamie and I when we first started. I wasn’t exactly his type nor was he mine, but we fit.  Perfectly in our own space, we fit.  My best friend and I are opposites in so many ways but similar in those that matter, we fit.

I guess the main point is that pairs are not always simply the other side of one dimension; sometimes, they simply coexist in a favorable environment.  Pairs don’t have to be perfect, they simply have to work well together. 

Quote of the Day

“Great striking partnerships come in pairs.”

-Nigel Spackman

This One Was Tough

Curve….This one is a hard one.  Nothing came to me with this one; my husband even tried to help me.  Still, I had nothing.  So, I started to think of things with curves, me (I’m a curvy girl), my life (sometimes things veer left), roads, smiles.  In thinking of these things, it made me remember coming around roads in California and Blue Ridge and coming up on some beautiful scenery, Facetime with my friend and her two-year old’s wonderful smile, the different curves that landed me with my husband. 

What I decided is that curves add an essence of beauty to everything they touch.  Find the beauty in your curves.

Quote of the Day

“Curve…The loveliest distance between two points.”

-Mae West

Where’d All that Dust Come From?

The year before last, we had the carpet replaced in the several rooms in our house.  The guy that lead the work had a great deal of experience for the company and was a very pleasant guy to talk to.  After they pulled up the old carpet, there was a great deal of “dust” that had formed below the carpeting and padding.  The guy explained that most of that “dust” was actually residual carpet freshener that simply collected below the carpet for years on end causing the buildup of “dust” that we saw.   He further explained that using the types of fresheners actually cause your carpet to wear quicker and appear dirtier.  Why this story?

I chose this story because, for me, it solidified this thought that you should always understand different surfaces and how to keep them healthy; understand how applying different additives to them impact their overall strength, agility, appearance, and response. 

I chose this story to show how this same knowledge could have easily been my heart, my body, my brain, any of my relationships.

I chose this story because sometimes emotions are too complex.

I chose this story because sometimes we simply need a different perspective.

Quote of the Day

“…There’s always more going on just below the surface”

-Rob Bell

The Joy of Hand Puppets

Do you guys remember those turkeys we used to draw using our hands?  Ha!  Those were the best turkeys I’ve ever drawn in life.  It’s funny that that’s the first thing that came to mind with I saw the word, hands.

Guess what the second was? Shadow Hand Puppets.  Early on in our relationship, Jamie and I used to stay up late listening to music like three or four times a week.  Every time we did this, at some point during the night, we ended up making those shadow puppets with our hands.  You know the dogs, fish, horses, deer and the like.  It was the silliest thing, but we did it repeatedly, we had shadow puppets skits and even fights between the animals.  I remember we used to laugh so hard thinking we are the goofiest people playing with shadow puppets in the middle of the night.

Anyway, it was a simpler time but we always found a way to laugh.

Quote of the Day

“We can’t profess love without talking through hand puppet.”  😇

-David Sedaris