Underselling

So many people exaggerate - intentionally or unintentionally.  Many of us are taught from toddler-hood to be polite and respectful.  In following our lifelong teachings, we sometimes overplay just how comparatively good something is to normal, average or everyday.  It's rarer that we are undersold on the attributes of an item or experience.  Though they were afraid they had oversold Crystal Bridges Art Museum, my wonderful parents, despite their best attempts at a fair, but incredibly positive review, had actually undersold this phenomenal venue.  

Though I knew I would love it, I was blown away, because it was far better than I'd imagined.

Exaggeration may be good for egos - ours and others, but underselling (when a sale is made) has the opportunity to create remarkable experiences and memories.

It's Not Just the Words

Consider the difference in each of these differently ordered phrases:

• Good Morning, God!
• Good God, it's morning...
• Good Morning, it's God.
• Good, it's morning, God.
• It's a good morning God!
• Morning God!  It is good!

It's not only the words we use, but how we combine them, our emphasis, intent and meaning.  Praise, disbelief, acceptance, moving forward, expectation and thanks are among the sentiments that can be expressed as we say these same words differently.

When it's important, we need to remember to make certain that the words we've used have been received as intended, rather than any number of other very different ways. 

Intentional v. Unintentional

Things don't always happen as we'd hope.  Often it is unintentional neglect, oversight or ignorance of the situation that causes angst or hurt feelings.  When appropriately addressed, we can forgive and move on.  However, many damaged relationships occur because we think (or know) that the slights were intentional. 

Regardless of our assessment of how intentional or unintentional the action or inaction may be, we owe it to ourselves to assess the importance of the real or perceived unmet expectation. 

Valued relationships deserve fair assessments, the benefit of the doubt and second chances.

We all make many unintentional, and often unconscious, mistakes. 

Often, we need to accept heartfelt apologies intentionally and excuse unintentional slights as anomalies.

Congratulations!

I've received so many lovely acknowledgements for my recent promotion.  It's always meaningful to the recipient when others take the time and effort to recognize our special moments or milestones.  It's easy to get caught up in all the tasks that we're juggling, but it only takes a couple of minutes to pen a congratulatory email message.  Because we're all so busy, many paths are littered with well-intended, but unsent affirming notes.  Taking positive action to recognize others helps strengthen relationships.  I've never regretted sending an encouraging note.  The only notes I've ever regretted are those that I didn't take time to pen and send.

Stupid Loves Company

I try so hard to do the right things all the time. Thus, it negatively rocks my world when I do something incredibly stupid. I am my own harshest critic, so I continually replay everything that I know that I could have done better.

My conversation with my Service Advisor at my car dealership began: "I've done the world's stupidest thing". As I revealed that I had inadvertently removed my new state safety inspection sticker rather than my old state license sticker, I felt 100% less stupid when he admitted that he, too (an expert who deals with cars every day) had done the same thing when dealing with a customer's car.

We never want to think, or worse yet, realize that we are incredibly stupid. When others, whom we respect, have made the same error, we might accept the fact that though we wish we'd been more intentional, at least we are not the stupidest person on the planet.

When someone else admits that they've also done what we consider to be incredibly stupid, we are able to accept that we are among well-meaning human company.  Stuff happens.

I'll now be more intentional with annual matters.

Blinkers

Blinkers are important, standard automotive safety equipment. Unfortunately they are optionally used.  In driving, business and life it helps to let those around us know the direction we are headed.  Others can help, collaborate or get out of the way. 

Don't you wish more people used blinkers?

Crazy, Best...

It's clear why Jeff Bridges won the Oscar for Crazy Heart.  Regardless of our intentions, our best self sometimes only reveals itself in between crises. Only God and we know how committed we are to doing what is expected and required.

Most Hated Chores

Today I wish I had a research project to define the household chores that we like least.  I thought I'd find many top 10 lists, and didn't.  My informal searches yielded these 18 chores (in random order) that most people rate among their least favorites:

• Cooking
• Vacuuming
• Dusting
• Window
• Kitchen Appliances and Counters
• Mopping
• Dishes
• Garbage
• Toilets, sinks, showers, tubs
• Laundry
• Mowing and Maintaining Lawn
• Washing Car
• Making the Bed
• Household paperwork/shredding/recycling
• Shopping for groceries/supplies
• Ironing
• Pet chores
• Baseboards

We all have household chores. Which are the chores that give you the greatest satisfaction or the ones that you dislike most? 

Which are essential? For me, making the bed sets a positive tone for the day.  It acknowledges a night's rest and sets the stage for a well organized day ahead.  Regardless of the chores I have done and undone at the end of the day, I know that the day began with best intentions.