Month: September 2022

Charge it to the Game

Do you theme your years?  I know.  What do I mean?

Well, I like to have song of the year or a theme that I can use during the year.  So, with the help of a friend, we came up with two songs for me to use and a theme.

Songs:      Let it Go from Frozen

Shake it Off from Taylor Swift

Theme:  Charge it to the Game

One would think after two years of Covid that people would be able to return to some type of normal.  I want to tell you now that there is no normal anymore.  I don’t care what the politicians say.  Covid, inflation, the Great Resignation or whatever, things have not and will not ever return to where they were before Covid.  Too much has happened.

So, why the theme and songs.  The Great Resignation has cause a severe employment deficit where I work in addition to those that are of retirement age.  Now, this was warned several years ago because baby boomers are now of retiring age.  They held the majority of the jobs.  Because of this deficit, all the non-instructional staff are being asked to assist with duties that they normally would not be involved with.

I was at first hesitant.  But, then you think about the person you are refusing to assist.  Is it really about the job?  or helping them?  I decided it was about helping that other co-worker than standing my ground.  Does that mean I am whimp?  Maybe I am in some people’s eyes.

It has been amazing at just how mean other people can be.  I have never been yelled at so much in my life as this last year.  The worst part, is that I am unable to provide answers to these people’s issues.  Here comes the theme part:

So, I “Charge it to the Game”.  Meaning that life is game and I have to learn to deal with it.  At some point, there has to be a swing to the other way with regards to people being mean and the employment situation.

When I am feeling agitated, I try to remind myself to Let it Go or Shake it Off.  It depends on the musical mood I am in.  This is the only way I (and others) are going to be able to get through this year.

May the New Year coming up bring New Joys to all of us who are struggling.

Staying Motived – sometimes it’s hard

I had a very productive summer.  I was able to finish my morning coffee while it was hot, have time to read my Bible, crochet for bit, play with Daisy and then do several research projects for a friend of mine.  I called this morning routine my positive energy time.  It really helped me stay positive since the Saharan dust kept me inside most of the summer.

Now that I have returned to work, finding this positive energy time is hard.  Very hard.  So, I have decided to focus on a simple knitting project than the crochet blanket.  I still read my Bible in the morning.  I have adjusted my quiet time to when I get home (sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t).

I have positive affirmation cards at work that I pick one from each morning.  Then I make the next four people who come in do the same thing.  Everyone gets a kick out of it and are always amazed that the affirmation is meant just for them.  The cards then go back in the deck for another day.  I also play happiness vibes or focus music (spa music) from YouTube.  Many of these are 3 to 11 hours long.  Here is one of my favorites https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a268H4ax44U&list=PL8ONXJWAdtO3Y7X2x8JvPLKNTDG8tAE0S&index=1&t=2517s

As for the cup of coffee, it is still drank hot at home, just not leisurely.  Daisy finds a way to fit in play time with me after dinner.

Staying positive has become harder.  Work has been stressful and negative.  More negative than usual.  But, I remind myself that this is temporary.

One thing that I do on the way to work now is focus on seeing a tree.  It is a really tall tree next to railroad tracks that I pass every day.  I am always at the stop light across from it.  I look and thank God for it.  It has stood the all the winds and storms, yet stands tall and sways gently in the wind.   I ask God what I need to learn from this tree.  I immediately remind myself to stay positive and consistent like the tree.  I thank God for it again.

The idea is that to be flexible.  Adjust your positive energy time fit into the day.  I have had to break my 2 hour positive morning energy time to various breaks during the day and evening.

Some days, it just doesn’t happen.  I can definitely tell.  My mindset is not where it should be.  Even just knitting for 5 minutes helps reset my brain back to where I am feeling more positive.

God is the ultimate positive energizer.  Take the time to connect with Him.  He is always available.   His Word is available for free online, Kindle and various podcasts, and other websites.  Psalms is always calming.  Better yet, look at God’s creations around you.  Really take a minute and look at a flower, tree or lizard more closely.  What is God trying to tell you through that observation.  You might just find a smile on your face.

May God fill you with a positive mindset.