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Commitment to Realism
July 30, 2008 by NaysWay · Leave a Comment
I was recently reading an article about overcoming negativity in the workplace. One of the things the author mentioned avoiding was the types of people who are committed to pessimism. The defining characteristic of this type of person was this: “They always view the glass as half empty. They are chronic naysayers, and they are an occupational hazard…”.
I have frequent conversations with a friend of mine and, more times than not, she calls me a downer and says I am forever judging. A few times, I’d spoken with my mother (my moral compass) and my husband (the scary equivalent of me as a man) to ask what they thought about this label. While both agreed I can be very judgmental – something I was apparently born with if you ask my mother – they both disagreed with the downer portion of the comment. What about pessimistic, I asked? I am fully aware I am a glass-half-empty kind of gal. Both said they, too, had been called this very thing at some point in their lives, and couldn’t understand its meaning when the truth was they were not pessimistic. They were REAListic. And there was a difference I should examine to determine if I, too, fall into this category.
Telling someone the truth most commonly ends with that person calling you a killjoy, bubble buster, or downer. While I’m not saying this was the case with my friend, I do find it happens quite a bit with me. It is also common to find these same people, these truth-tellers or realists, have a very easy time dishing it. Can they take it? Well, now, you’re asking a bit much. I’ve had friends tell me they’d rather I walk around with some inappropriate booger on my face or brocolli floret wedged between my teeth before they’d tell me the truth. Because the truth, you see, is a face melting experience. And who wants to walk around with a puddle of face for telling the truth? Besides, face melting should be reserved for Rock n’ Roll, my friend.
You have to know your audience before making that type of commitment… or jumping out in front of that bus, whatever the case may be.
Nothing to fear?
July 28, 2008 by NaysWay · Leave a Comment
Several years ago, while formulating another blog and introducing myself to blog history, I thought it would be interesting to focus on my fears as I was disgusted with my life and the lack of advancement in self-improvement I’d made in my short years of living. I have always been one to believe time is short. Nothing lasts forever and you must make the most of the time you’re given for this reason. My hope was to spotlight the fear and, essentially, show myself just how stupid this fear was thereby releasing me of it’s stupidity grip.
Apparently, fear is universal. You are not born with fear, it is learned. Fear is not behavioral, but it can be subliminal or perverse. It’s your mind playing tricks on you. It’s small increments of dialogue, experiences and failures made into one paralyzing mind frak. After watching this video, brought to my attention by a forum partnered with The Michael Baisden Show, I realize fear is also instrumental.
While I try my best not to take anything at face value, these allegations mirror all too closely with my beliefs and teachings within The Bible. I am not here to advocate or preach. I leave both to the professionals and those called to do so. But I am a strong motivator of educating oneself. It parallels too closely to be false, and blows my mind that I may see it in my lifetime.
You be the judge.
Culturally Influenced
July 25, 2008 by NaysWay · Leave a Comment
I’m coming a little light today as we’re still in the throes of a move. The family is all but consumed by boxes of all sizes – some packed, some still in their collapsed form – while still weathering yet another break-in to our car, in our driveway, by neighborhood thugs (this move can NOT happen fast enough). To say we are both stressed, depressed and extremely angry and fearful for our lives at this point would be an understatement.
So who needs a laugh? I do!
While I’m sure the inventors of break dancing had no idea their mixed brand of popping and locking would make its way into homes nationwide within a matter of years, I’m also sure they had no clue it would become a cultural phenomenon. I always find it interesting, the culture many speculated would pass as quickly as it had come is now inbred into Americana. And who better to imitate and improve the dance than those who are the best at electronics and technology? They are nicknamed “The Human Robots”. I couldn’t imagine why:
Who needs So You Think You Can Dance? And the reactions from the judges? Hilarious. Check fifteen seconds in. That one is my favorite.
A Little Patience
July 23, 2008 by NaysWay · Leave a Comment
I use WordPress as my blogging vehicle. Recently, word spread that version 2.6 was available (upgrade from version 2.5.1). I asked my hosting company when they would have the upgrade available so I wouldn’t have to go through the headache of installing the upgrade myself. Not yet, they said, but you can try it through your own FTP. I pick and choose where I display my characteristic of patience. Technology is one of those areas this characteristic is lacking. So, with my lack of web writing experience, I dove in. A site crash and countless 404 pages later, I was nearly reduced to tears, begging my host provider to please, please, please, puh-LEEZE restore my site by the sheer act of a miracle. Needless to say, as I type this now on a fully functioning site, I am very pleased with my hosting provider. They are awesome and rock my socks off. Also needless to say? We will forego the WP upgrade until the stars and moons have aligned, and the world is in perfect peace, Amen. I’m sure, whatever the upgrade, it was not enough to make much of a difference to the look of what I have going on here. And it certainly isn’t enough to cost me all of my data. Moral of the story: be ye patient, oh dumb inexperienced one. Oh, yeah, and back up your crap!
Meanwhile, please turn your ears to the melodic sounds of newcomer Jazmine Sullivan, won’t you? She is a cross between Lauryn Hill and Lalah Hathaway. I’m loving her and want to at least be able to say I knew about her before she got really, really big. Because, people. This girl?…
I don’t think I wanna house hunt anymore.
I don’t know how people successfully write daily blog posts and still have more than one thing go on in their personal lives. I have been so painfully unsuccessful in this endeavor these past few weeks, I have no choice but to admire them because it ain’t happenin’ over in these parts.
With the house hunting, the inevitable move, thoughts about the inevitable move, reworking a budget, thinking about the budget, moving a decimal here and there, thinking about the budget again, cursing circumstances, thanking circumstances for the hidden blessing, and the kicking, screaming and gnashing of teeth both my husband and I have been reduced to, our toilet bowl has seen more action than its entire purchased life while perched in our bathroom. Looking for your guts? Your nerves? Your brains? Mm-hmm. Guaranteed that toilet bowl has the answers of that which you seek.
Between the two of us, we have had little time for much else than this house and the upcoming move. And before the walls came down around us, BFam surprised me and bought John Mayer’s concert DVD and CD, “Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles“. I’ve watched the DVD once, and have the CD in constant rotation on my iPod. BFam has watched and listened to both more times than I probably care to know. But it’s kept our sanity, or what sliver is left, rocking out to these bluesy grooves. It’s also served as a balm for my internal wounds as he JUST RECENTLY CAME TO CLEVELAND, LIKE, YESTERDAY and we couldn’t go. Considering the circumstances, the house was more important. But I could easily change my mind about that at any moment because JOHN FRICKIN’ MAYER, people. Don’t get me started.
I have had a hard time taking this song out of repeat rotation:
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Never heard it before? I KNOW!!! But how awesome is that song?! So awesome, that’s how.
This just in: My office mate said John Mayer is overrated. See, now I have to go to jail before I can even move into the house. Not fair.
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