Character Building Experiences

We all face experiences that test our temperament, our spirit, and our moral fiber. They provoke us to choose between what we feel we should do and what we would do, if not for the expectations of others. Or, they stop us in our tracks because they are sudden and abrupt or we are required to face them before we have the experience or emotional intelligence to address.   

I've come to refer to these as character-building experiences and frankly, most days I can do without them.

Whether it's difficult coworkers, trouble-makers, and gossip-mongers; disagreeing with a boss' decision, picking up the slack for others, and being torn between supporting others vs. holding them accountable ; or incidents of harassment, discrimination, and bullying -  we all have own personal experiences where we were challenged to make the most of a difficult situation.

When you look back on your own experiences, and you will, know that you are doing so with the wisdom of experience and age. Don't judge. Look back with the grace and compassion for who you were in the moment before hindsight. 

What we do flows out of who we are. Being precedes doing. How we respond comes as a result of all the choices we have made throughout our lives. Our choices become our actions. Our actions become our habits. Our habits become our character. 

Here's to a quiet rest of the week ahead.

Yes, I am Judging You

If it looks like I have been judging you, it's because I have. 

If it wasn't me evaluating how you chose to respond on a group email and coming up with a snarky response I'll never deliver or predicting the negative impacts of your personal motivations on your professional reputation I'll never share, I drank my Caribou Cinnamon Spice tea and opined how nice it would be if "they" were even half as competent as "us."

Me judging you with a smile was well-needed stress relief for this over-tired, under-nourished, detail-burdened girl. The end of year hustle, too few daylight hours, and the myriad of germs that accompany bitter cold winter weather have a way of taking the best of us down. 

Judging you was fun but it was also a signal to myself that it's time to cut myself a break and to rest and recover before things get real and take a turn for the worse.  So, in between taking down the holiday decorations and looking ahead to a new year, I am recharging my psyche by celebrating accomplishments and connecting with a friend I've been missing. A few nights of double digit sleep, a couple of hundred rounds down range, and time with the family always does wonders for me.

Judging a person doesn't define who they are, it defines who you are. Now, go out and do something you feel good about. Make it good. I'm watching you.