A challenge..

We all know, or have heard at some point in our lives, the Serenity prayer or some version of it:


"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference."


This evening I sat outside in the garden, thinking how incredibly calm and fulfilling life would be if we lived by that. I have read before about how a simple acceptance of things we cannot change can bring peace into uptight lives. 

But why do we find it so difficult?

There is always something to complain about - our jobs, our friends and family, the weather, 'the nights drawing in', the pile of ironing, bad drivers... I bet there are none of us immune to it.

Often when I am ranting, inwardly or outwardly about something, I realise the futility of it. And I don't often feel that much better afterwards either.

I challenge each and every one of us, next time we are about to open our mouths (or have thoughts which put more frown lines on our faces) and whine or rant about something, to remember the Serenity prayer and decide whether there is a better way of handling whatever it is winding us up...

Faye's Cat - a challenge

A while ago one of my friend's posted a photo of her cat on Facebook.  When I glanced at the thumbnail I thought it was two bridesmaids dancing at her wedding.   I told her about this and even printed off the photo, drew on on it, scanned it and sent it to her - but she couldn't see the two dancing bridesmaids.  

Can you?

I'm now thinking that Faye's Cat could become famous.. say, like Schrodinger's Cat?

Not the most relaxing day...

Mel, you would have been proud of me today.  I took Kristi my office elephant into a technical meeting today and he helped - it's good having something soft and comforting for your hands to play with while you think.  Neither the boss nor my other colleague batted an eyelid.

Apparently, research has discovered that 11am on a Tuesday is the most stressful time of the working week.  Well it certainly happened today, I got frustrated about a misunderstanding/lack of communication and my boss blew his pressure valve.  We ended up in another all-day technical meeting today, trying to sort out issues.  It's been a very stressful couple of months for him and I guess I just punctured the balloon. Ended up with me bawling my eyes out and having half an hour's time-out cup of tea and a chat with one of the girls, and the boss and I apologising to each other for being insensitive.   I can't really handle stress or conflict well at the moment. In fact I can't handle it at all.

So, that wasn't good, but within an hour it was done, dusted and out of the way and we got on with our discussions and work as normal.  No sulking in sight, that's for sure. 

Sometimes just when I think I'm getting more back to normal reactions to things, something comes along and slaps me in the face again.

I think Kristi will be coming to all my meetings in future.

"But what about if we did this....."

Well what a day, I was due for my morning's stint in the office so was glad I put a cover over the windscreen last night as we've had a couple of freezing, clear nights.  I did drive rather gingerly to work on the frozen roads.   We've had days of rain so when it unexpectedly froze two nights ago rather a lot of people apparently came a cropper on the newly iced over flooded areas.

I digress.  I remembered to stop at the postbox to send my latest missive to Mr H on the way and arrived at the office ok.  Over the last couple of days I have been having some underlying anxiety about some technical stuff to do with work, you know just one of those 'I'm not happy about this' feelings. Usually when that happens there is a good basis for it, and this morning I was prompted to start a discussion on the subject with my boss.  That discussion turned into my spending the entire morning sitting with him in his office while we played with numbers and tried to find a solution.  It wasn't solved by lunchtime so I was back there this afternoon and we did reach a conclusion, agreed it with everyone we had to and implemented it, after which I felt a whole lot happier.

This evening was supermarket shopping evening with my best friend G.  Although I don't need her to take me to the supermarket any more, we both rather enjoy going together; she then comes back here for a meal plus whatever scrumptious pudding she has chosen.  Tonight I actually cooked a recipe that I picked up at the supermarket last time - Chicken thighs in an orange, honey (home grown of course), olive oil, balsamic vinegar and soy sauce. The chicken was supposed to marinate for 30 minutes before roasting, but mine marinated for 24 hours, and it was delicious!

Tomorrow morning will be busy, but then I have my afternoon's holiday which I WILL take.  The trouble with working at home is that you don't leave it at the office and it's too easy to think 'oh I'll just check my e-mails', or 'I'll just do so-and-so before I stop'.   Well, I will switch my work computer off at 1pm and after lunch I'll take Django out for a walk either on the Forest or the clifftop depending on the weather, and then maybe read my book and drink tea.

Sounds good to me.