Monday, July 25, 2016

What Your Remarks Really Tell

The older I get, the more I realize the things we say are so much more a reflection of us than they ever could be about whom we are speaking. Is it possible to really speak honestly about someone you do not know? Yeah, you can speak about something they did, or did not do and how you feel about that - at least what you think you know about it, but to call them names, to attack their families, well, that really just says more about you... From one who has been told her whole life she talks too much, there is an absolute need to say less and observe more.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Did I Really Say That?

"There is no destination. Your entire life is a journey of starts, wins, losses, stops, joys, sorrows, laughter, loves, and experience. If you are waiting to get "there," you're missing the ride." It turns out I said this to someone in 2009 who sent me a message that it was the most memorable quote of their life. WOW! Great way to start a Friday.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Does Size Matter With Success?

I've been busy this year working with clients to be ready to buy and sell. Finally, we have reached the point that my buyers are qualified and we opened escrow on Wednesday. My sellers are getting close, too, they are finalizing repairs and the new carpet goes in on 8/9 and then we can list! I also have another family who got the promotion they were waiting for so they are meeting with their loan officer again to get their pre qualification so we can start shopping. My last two quarters of this year should be off the hook.

I came across this quote from 2010, it's something I said during a challenging time. I'm sharing it because I love that my girl friend Juli shared an equally important perspective and not only do I want it in my life journal forever, I'm thinking you will all agree that she is spot on!

"I don't think the important parts of life happen when you succeed. I believe they come when you falter, or fall off the wagon and manage to get back up and stay the course. Getting back on track and seeing something through is far more rewarding than doing something that was too easy to begin with."

Here's how the comments went:

 Kathy Partak July 11 at 8:30am · Auburn · "I don't think the important parts of life happen when you succeed. I believe they come when you falter, or fall off the wagon and manage to get back up and stay the course. Getting back on track and seeing something through is far more rewarding than doing something that was too easy to begin with." - Kathy Partak, 2010

Cathleen: WELL SAID. I AGREE 100% Have a great day. 😀

Steve: Absolutely and I agree with this

Lori: YES YES YES!!!! I'm living that RIGHT NOW!!!!

Juli: But it's so much more fun when success comes easily!

Renee: That seems to only happen for a select few.

Kathy: I agree, but I don't think I remember easy successes the same way I do the ones that challenge me.

Juli: We all have success each day -- some large and some small. I think it's important to recognize them, even when they're small, and acknowledge a job well done. For example, last night I was exhausted and decided to clean up the kitchen instead of continuing on a physically demanding project. I got the kitchen cleaned and floor swept. It was a small success but it was good to recognize that I did it instead of just going to bed. I realize you're probably talking more about big successes like job promotions, successful relationships, reaching goals, etc. but don't forget about the little ones that take place every day. It's good to recognize things that may net seem like a "success" and pat yourself on the back. We all have those. Renee, you did a couple of amazing things last week by making a critical meeting happen AND helping your sister. Most people would have just blown off one of them but you successfully did both and did them well.

Kathy, oh my goodness, I see little success happen DAILY with you. Just because they seem to be easy, you should still take the time to recognize them. I know they aren't as memorable as the ones that are hard, but they're still wonderful and amazing. And they add up!

Kathy: You’re the best! I love you and I agree with you 100%!!!!

Juli: Thanks Kathy. Now I have to get back on the physically demanding large project. When I complete that, I will consider it a huge and memorable success! 

Kathy: Renee and Juli, can I put this in my blog? I want to copy these comments and they will read with your full names, is that okay? Oh wait, I can take your last names off.

Renee: Juli thank you for that reminder.You are absolutely correct! It is so easy to get caught up in the bigger issues, that we tend to forget that we have smaller successes on a regular basis. I agree with Kathy, you are the BEST! Yes, Kathy you can include my name and comments in your blog. There is a great lesson in this thread. :)

Juli: I was thinking more about this. In reality, isn't it the small successes that make up the big ones? Kids -- you don't just end up successfully raising a kid. It's the daily, weekly and monthly successes that make it happen. Projects -- it's successfully figuring out one element at a time and completing various pieces of it that make you get to "call it" a success. Jobs -- Each phone call, each email, each communication, each project adds up to a successful career. We can call our relationships "successful" but the success consists of so many individual pieces put together. Without the little successes, we'd never get to the big ones. So maybe we should pay more attention to the little ones? Okay, I'm done now. :-)

Kathy: I agree completely. What's funny is that I am so much more interested in the ordinary but when something really challenges me and I rise to occasion, I feel so much more successful than when I just go through the motions of the small stuff. Maybe it's an illusion or maybe they are equally important. Don't you agree, the little successes, though may not be as memorable, are as or more important to acknowledge than the big ones that require lots of energy and work? I do and I love that many of my friends are like minded and remind me to tune in and be present. In fact, if you know me, you know I love ordinary, I love the moments we laugh cooking in the kitchen, the time Dave snaps a photo of me sleeping on the couch with Spencer, or when we all eat something different because nobody wants to cook and we settle in to watch tv together.

Happy Monday! It's 7/11 and that means free Slurpees at 7-11. I am going to take Mason with me to run some errands, grab some lunch out and get a free Slurpee. Make today great and pay attention to the small successes, revel in them and treat yourself to a Slurpee.