7/31/24

I really feel some people are placed in my life to teach me something. Some are excellent and I want to be more like them. Others are horrific and I wonder why I had to even cross paths with them. I have wonderful role models for friends, and others that are someone that I used to know.

Ions ago, I had a boss that was awful. Unfair, narcissistic, and a lot stirrer at best. At the time I wondered why such a person would be in a leadership position. I walked away from that position defeated. It took months to recover from.

 Years later I would discover that I didn’t like the way they spoke to me. I didn’t like their tone. I didn’t like the way they worded things. I didn’t like their negativity. I certainly didn’t like the way they had a knack for making me feel stupid.

It has led me to be more thoughtful about my interactions with people. I never want to make someone feel the way that person made me feel.

I had a coworker share some excellent feedback with me today. It had me reflect on how can I be more like her? It’s a special moment when you find someone and think “wow! This person makes me want to be better.” Those are the people I like surrounding myself with. People that help you grow.

Relationships are so important. I do feel like that is an area of opportunity that I can develop. It is a hard line to juggle with needing the solitude to recharge. Without the solitude, no one wins in my circle. It is nice to recognize to be able to try and be a better family member, friend, coworker, patient, advocate…etc.

The power of communication is so interesting. You can really hurt someone without intent, where as you can support them with some restructuring of words.

I used this tactic today and was proud of myself. I felt like I pulled it off well and it was received well (hopefully). I don’t know why I feel silly about feeling proud of my presentation. The feeling came within and made me happy and hope it makes a difference.

If it doesn’t make a difference, I have decided that I tried my best and am happy with how I have contributed. That feels good.

My friend Heather came over this afternoon. She took me to lunch for my birthday. It was delicious! We took the afternoon to catch up. We haven’t seen each other in a couple months.

She happily agreed to be the recipient of my fart blaster. Imagine that adult conversation happening. It went as expected.

“Hey Heather can I blast you with farts from my fart blaster?”

Heather’s response “Sure!”. What a great and trusting friend.

You can see the fart ring at the end of the fart blaster. My entire living room smelled like popcorn. Doesn’t everyone have farts that smell like popcorn?

Who wouldn’t drive an hour and a half for that? Heather is a great sport and this is why we are friends. We laugh at fart blasters.

My sister in law insisted that I bring it to our family get together this week. It has already been packed!

Tomorrow morning, Ethan and I will be at Steong Hospital for a good portion of the day getting annual heart testing done. I am hoping he is in a decent mood. Maybe I should bring my fart blaster and randomly blast people in the waiting room.