Continuing with the project Alysa (@inspiredRD) started – the #365Thanks Project – (in case you missed it and want to jump on in and join in the fun)
You can read back on Week 1 and Week 2 if you need a triple dose of Gratitude 🙂
This week’s recap –
Jan 13 – I’m thankful I finally had enough time to upgrade my iphone to the newest operating system… which subsequently ended the random re-boots…Â coincidence? Â I think not. Â Guess there really is a reason for updates, ya’ think?
Jan 14- I’m thankful for the support of Leah and Mamavation who helped me to get into a pair of 16 jeans!  Single digits aren’t THAT far off!
Jan 15 – I’m thankful I found these AMAZING tiles on sale that would later frame my bathroom mirror!
Jan 16- I’m thankful for Martin Luther King Day which always remind us where were… not that long ago…
Jan 17- I’m thankful for the opportunity to “Interview” (and by interview I mean babble on and on with) the Mamavation Mom Applicants. Â Seriously an AMAZING Group of women!
Jan 18- I’m blessed by spending time with new and old friends who make me laugh and smile. 🙂
and today – Jan 19th – I’m thankful that I’m a part of a fantastic group – Austin Bloggers  – where occassionally I get to meet some pretty incredible women.  Like today’s lunch…but that will be another post.
And here’s where (again, continuing what I started a few weeks ago) I tend to get all “Deep Thoughts” on my post. (Anyone else flashback to Jack Handy? Just me… oh. Â Ok. Â Carry on then)
This week, as I mentioned above, I got to talk on the phone with 10 AMAZING women (ok, techincally, it was this week and part of last week but whatever – you get the idea) and I was totally amazed at how different and yet the same we all are. Â I found myself listening to their stories of where they’ve been and where they are and my heart went out to each and every one of them. Â But then I got to thinking… (and you know how scary THAT can be)
I’ve been known to appreciate people watching. Â You know how like you are hanging out at the mall or coffee shop or park and you see people and mentally, you “create” their story…? Â Ok, maybe that’s just me again… bear with me while I ramble…
You see a young woman sitting across from a young guy. Â He’s leaning back in his chair sipping a dark beverage… she’s leaning towards him trying to catch his gaze playing with the straw in her frappa-whatever… she’s clearly interested in him… you want to shake her and say Girlfriend – he’s just not that into you. Â Move on. Â Don’t grovel for his affection. Â He’ll want you when you leave. {insert mother’s advice here}
Yeah… I do that a lot. Â Make up stories about who people are and where they are going. Â Usually based on Body Language and little else. Â But when I was talking on the phone with these 10 women, I didn’t have any visual cues to go off of. Â I only had their voice…their words. Â and I realized how even though I generally pride myself on being a good listener, in person I may be putting too much stock in the physical cues around me. Â Judging people without even realizing it. Â Not exactly something to be proud of… but by being aware, it makes it easier to change.
Now that the light bulb has turned on, I notice it a lot more often. Â The good news is that knowing this, I can shift gears and refocus on what my conversation partner is really saying a lot faster than before. Â Unless of course it’s my boss. Â Then my eyes just glaze over.** Â That could totally be a Deep though by Jack Handy…
**Totally kidding. Â I hear and listen to every gem my boss utters because it is important to me.
Quite possibly one of my favorites 🙂 Thanks Alyssa 🙂
“If you drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let ’em go. Because man, they’re gone.” –Jack Handy