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As I have embarked upon the HappyUP!!! project - with my life as the guinea pig, I have encountered some opposition in a few different forms.
"You are deluding yourself."
"You can't always be happy."
"I don't need that junk....I'm already happy."
It goes from the subtle - to not so subtle. Some of the opposition has been an obvious attack. Some of it has been masked by self-direction on the part of the assailant but it was probably hurled at me.
Take Nothing Personally - is one of the Four Agreements that I must always remind myself of. Another person's manifestation toward you is just an inner reflection of what they have going on.
I am the product of Western culture - I have worked in the sales environment for twenty years. I have been exposed to techniques, ways to close, an emphasis on "always being up" because that is what is attractive. It is what sells. There is nothing wrong with that. I constantly refer to William Shakespeare's, "we are all actors and the world is but a stage." So, when I am on stage, I am on stage. It has served me well in many respects
But, when does the play end - and real life begin? Or, taking Billy Shakes literally, does it ever end? Are we always on stage even when we are playing to an empty house?
Virginia Woolf said - "If you don't the truth about yourself, you cannot tell it about other people."
And, of course, we have Shakespeare chiming in again - "To thyself be true"
Emily Dickinson weighs in on the matter - "Truth is such a rare thing, it is delightful to tell it"
What is the truth about myself? - there are times when I feel as though I am outside the window looking in at other people. It does not appear that my circle of friends is as broad as others. Everyone is always glad to see me. It is always more fun to have me around than not yet I feel as though a pane of glass separates me from the world.
This bothered me for a long time - and, at times, it still does. It is during those times that I must remind myself that it is this pane of glass that allows me the freedom to behave as I have chosen to behave. I also must remind myself that I can break that glass anytime I really want to.
But, do I want to? - I think the overriding answer is, "no, I really don't."
I enjoy my time - to wander about....to examine window pots...to talk to the silence and see what it has to say in return. I must be forever cautious, however, of allowing that silence to become solitary confinement. Work helps fulfill that role for me. It keeps me relevant with a very large circle of acquaintances, friends, customers, and constituents.
Yet, on that stage - am I telling the truth about who I am?...or am I playing the role of a lead character in a very long running production? Shakespeare is confusing yet clarifying in his two thoughts, "to thy self be true" but "you are an actor and the whole world is a stage."
Artists and creatives - are known for their dark, moody side. I have one. There is no doubt about it. I don't allow others to see it, though. I don't allow myself to see it.
Why? - it is scary. If one can increase their level of happiness as I have over the last year by paying more attention to the daily things in life that makes one happy, it only makes sense that one can increase their level of darkness by paying more attention to the dark side of the psyche and life.
I don't want that - there doesn't seem to be any game in that. Yet, it does remain tempting to think that somewhere down there in the shadows lurks a treasure that is waiting to be discovered much like the sunken chest at the bottom of Davey Jones locker.
But, what if the murks are explored - and the pain and struggle to get there is endured and the treasured box is brought to shore where the light of day can illuminate the contents? The lock is opened. The hinged top creeks as it is pried open and all that is found inside is a note that says,
"Hey, thanks for finding me. Have a nice day"
One thing that I do know to be true - is that there are a myriad of things that give me moments to minutes to longer periods of happiness during each day. I like the feeling that I get as I takes the time to acknowledge their presence. It is a savoring before moving on to whatever the next bite of life I take or to the next role that I will be playing.
That is truth
(A special contribution to the weekly blog, SundayScribblings)
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world can never find you
-Masquerade, Phantom of the Opera
I enjoy a good play. I always have though I don't go as often as I should. I still remember going to see Phantom of the Opera in San Francisco. It was on it's last year of a run that must have spanned close to a decade. This was the only play that I have actually seen that was the big city production in the big city theater. Yes, I have seen a few that roll through Sacramento...the travelling show. Those are great but there is something different about a show in a long venue. The stars are long tenured. The production has grounding. Well, who am I to judge? I have only gone to the one but, instinctively, I think I get the whole "Broadway Theater" concept without having been.
I still remember how moving this production was. This probably was 8 years ago now. I still remember being in the lobby afterward making my way to the exit. I was numb. What was it about the storyline that got to me? It was all summed up in the chorus to one of the many outstanding songs that came out of this musical. Perhaps it has something to do with the number of years that I have worked in the lending industry. I actually have gotten a look "behind the mask" of a lot of people over the years as I assisted them. Getting a loan is one place where it is difficult to hide who you are. The credit report tells the story.
Maybe it goes further than that. Was the play about hiding who you are from yourself? I have had the privilege of getting a lot of high level coaching in the position that I am in. Between that and my thinking nature, I have been led to some interesting "layers of the onion" that had been put on. The coats of protection that we have accumulated can be like a room that is repainted without ever being stripped. Yet, there are a couple of layers of paint that have hung on beneath that may have served us once but they no longer do. So, there can be a tendency to just "slap on another coat."
Can you identify the coats that have been layered on? If so, which ones are from the original construction? Can you get down to the "bare wood" and rebuild but, this time, with many years as an experienced painter? It takes some elbow grease to chip away to get there.
....or does the Masquerade just continue and the Secret Identity remain hidden forever?
HappyUP!!! - breakfast with my best friend and his family
Why it happened - I got off my fanny and went to breakfast
Why it made me happy - it's always great to get around that bunch. The three brother's and the mom and pops combination. It's just something that is part of living in this town that I have the privilege of being a part of
HappyUP!!! - the Apostolos Fund Dinner
Why it happened - my friend, Apostolos, sent me tickets
Why it made me happy - the cause is great. It also is like a multi-class reunion every year....without all the class reunion type pressures. It's just good to see people that still live in and around the surrounding areas that you grew up with.
HappyUP!!! - ran into an old friend during the day
Why it happened - I went and visited some Open Houses for work
Why it made me happy - this was one of my old escrow officers that I did a lot of work with years ago. I hadn't seen her in about 10 years. She is a real estate agent now and seems to be doing well in a market that has more than a few challenges. I ended up staying at the open house helping her....it was busy! I think she even sold the house which NEVER (almost never) happens that the house an agent hold open actually sells!
"The colonel" - also known as my dad, got the news today. The blockage in the lung is non-small cell (not brought on by smoking) and is terminal.
It doesn't come as a shock - anytime an 86 year old goes into the hospital with something, you know the clock is starting to tick a little bit faster.
Today - the clock was set. 10-12 months. Radiation will probably begin next week.
What's on the Nutster's mind tonight? - pain....a hope and prayer that the month's to come spare him of pain. That is really it.
As I left the hospital - I said, "is there anything that you need from home that I can bring you?"
"Yes," - he replied, "a cure for cancer."
I cracked up - because, if you read that line the way he said it, the timing was pretty funny.
HappyUP!!! - comment during interview
Why it happened - I interview people
Why it made me happy - the lending industry is going through some changing times. There are a lot of johnny-come-lately's who don't have a clue as to what the business is like when it gets rough. I was interviewing a gentleman who has been around awhile. He said, "there are a lot of loan officers who are out of business but don't know that they are out of business." Now, that may not seem funny to you but this isn't about what makes you happy. This one cracked me up!
HappyUP!!! - Natalie Gulbis on the leaderboard at the GINN
Why it happened - she had a couple of good rounds of golf
Why it made me happy - while not a huge Ladies Pro Golf Assoc (LPGA) fan, Natalie is from my city. She has been on the tour for a few years. She has done well but she hasn't won. She goes into the weekend with a chance to win. You have to root for the hometown girl!.....oh, yeah. One other thing.....she's hot!
HappyUP!!! - call from my boss telling me I nailed it
Why it happened - I grabbed a topic near and dear
Why it made me happy - I did a presentation on behalf of his entire region to the sales force on a call. It was exactly what he was looking for. He called me right after the call to tell me that so I know it wasn't a gratuitous stroke. It also makes me feel good that I am making a contribution.
HappyUP!!! - seeing my dad
Why it happened - I went to the hospital and visited
Why it made me happy - we are spending some quality time. The downside is that he is far from at his best. The good side is that some of his defenses are down. The sharing is a little better. No, it is no HappyUP!!! that he has reached the stage in life where we will start looking at possible dates that the angels will come. There is grieving around that. There are also a few specs of sun that poke through. I am choosing to grab those whenever possible.
HappyUP!!! - helping an employee develop
Why it happened - he has a transaction going sideways through no fault of his own
Why it made me happy - he is in a stressful spot. While I don't wish it on my staff, he is in pain. I have been there. I can see that he is learning to think in this situation and grasping the underlying situation. Pain does this. I wish this didn't have to happen but our business is to problem solve. This employee is "getting it" and developing on how to do that on his own.......with a few sprinkles of guidance from the old guy.
HappyUP!!! - recovering from a major faux paus
Why it happened - I am quick on my feet
Why it made me happy - we did breakout sessions at our meeting. Each group had to come up with a solution or ideas. Then, someone had to present. We hadn't thought about that. Out of nowhere, I got the nod right at the time of delivery. We were talking about things that management can do around a better workplace. As I got up to our flipchart, I realized that we hadn't addressed recognition.
"We didn't list recognition," I matter of factly began, "because talk is cheap. We act. At this point, I have to recognize Victoria, our scribe, for the absolutely beautiful penmanship."
From across the room, someone blurts out, "...are you talking about Virginia?"
Yes, the room erupted. I had just met our charming scribe the day before and, quite honestly, I wasn't listening when she mentioned her name. It probably wouldn't have mattered because I didn't use her name after that so I would have forgotten it. I had asked my tablemate what her name was earlier in the meeting so, in the future, I could address her properly. He had said, "Victoria." He sucks at names too! Anyway, I was able to put some fancy footwork and increase the laughter with some self deprecation and all was good. It was funny!
It's Wednesday! - OK....I am posting this on Thursday so I am reading from my journal. It was an overnight business trip just loaded with HappyUP!!!'s. Now, we all know that there is no bed like home...but....
HappyUP!!! - Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa Bed
Why it happened - this is where we did our meeting
Why it made me happy - I don't know if I would want a daily diet (wait...it's a bed...I guess that would be nightly diet) of a bed this feathery and soft, but it was really nice. I don't think they make up beds much softer than this. I won't claim to have travelled the world because, well, I haven't. I have slept around a bit (in HOTELS...and I said "slept" so take your mind out of the gutter). I have been in some nice places. This just felt great on this particular night.
HappyUP!!! - Portofino's in Lafayette
Why it happened - our work group had to eat
Why it made me happy - where do I start? First, I ate at a great restaraunt.....and I didn't have to pay! That's always a HappyUP!!! when the company picks up the ticket. It wasn't even on my expense report. The waiter was outstanding for our party of about 26. The appetizers kept coming. The antipasto was indescribable. Yes, a Caeser Salad was involved. It wasn't the very best but it was still great. And then, the ribeye....oh...the ribeye. Done perfectly with a wrap of bacon. Should I even comment on the tiaramasu? I also got to eat alongside some people that I didn't know or know well. Their company was outstanding.
HappyUP!!! - the drive to the meeting
Why it happened - I went EARLY
Why it made me happy - when you leave Sacramento to go to the Bay Area, you can hit several persnickety
little snarls. I had none of that. I just got on the road and beat the traffic in all locations. Yes, it meant getting up at 4:15 in the morning. I just got to the meeting three hours early, did some e-mails, and didn't have traffic hassles. Traffic and me? I don't do road rage. I have no fears about traffic. I just find traffic to be a waste of time and a bit stressful....so I avoid it.
HappyUP!!! - hearing a voice from the past
Why it happened - I got a phone call
Why it made me happy - ever have someone call you that you haven't heard from in awhile. They don't even have to say their name. You hear the first few syllables out of their mouth and you quickly and intuitively think, "good to hear from them. I wonder how they are doing." This, of course, is the precursor to asking, "hey, how are you doing," and other conversation. It's a happy moment....that blast from the past.
HappyUP!!! - another friend called
Why it happened - they didn't get my text over the weekend until today
Why it made me happy - while I hadn't lost sleep over it, I did wonder if they had gotten my message over the weekend. It was good to hear they hadn't until today.
HappyUP!!! - gave a solid speech
Why it happened - it was my turn at Toastmasters
Why it made me happy - I didn't have a lot of time to prepare. Lots o stuff going on in the life of the Nutster these days with pops in the hospital. Yet, I took some recent information that I had received and turned it into a speech. It probably wasn't my best talk but it was solid. Sometimes your best is the best under the circumstances and not the all time best.
...at least it is to me - I have been reading, "Stumbling On Happiness," by Daniel Gilbert, Phd out of Harvard and an American Psychological Association Distinguished Scientific Award winner. The book is more about the strange way in which we think. As I read the book, it makes me think about the popular Freakonomics tome that was written not too long ago. Here is a brief excerpt :
"To my knowledge, no one has ever done a systematic study of people who've been left standing at the altar by a cold-footed fiance'. But I'm willing to bet a good bottle of wine that if you rounded up a healthy sample of almost-brides and nearly grooms and asked them whether they would describe the incident as "the worst thing that ever happened to me" or "the best thing that ever happened to me," more would endorse the latter description than the former. And I'll bet an entire case of that wine that if you found a sample of people who'd never been through this experience and asked them to predict which of all their possible future experiences they are most likely to lok back on as "the best thing that ever happened to me," not one of them
will list "getting jilted." Like so many things, getting jilted is more painful in prospect and more rosy in
retrospect. When we contemplate being hung out to dry this way, we naturally generate the most dreadful possible view of the experience; but once we've actually been heartbroken and humiliated in front of our family, friends, and florists, our brains begin shopping for a less dreadful view -and, as we have seen, the human brain is one smart shoppper. However, because our brains do their shopping unconciously, we tend not to realize they will do it at all, hence we blithely assume that the dreadful view we have when we look forward to the event is the dreadful view we'll have when we l back on it. In short, we do not realize that our views will change because we are normally unaware of the processes that change them."
Because we act today based - on how we think we will feel tomorrow, the above becomes an extremely interesting thought to consider. Chrisopher Reeve believed that becoming a quadrapalegic was the best thing that could have happened to him. How could that be? Was he merely making the best of an inevitable situation? Did he really feel this was true?....or does it even matter which is which? Where would you fall on that thought? If you think, "he was delusional," I would only have one thing to add....
...May I be blessed and graced - with that kind of ability to handle the difficulties that life hands me.
(NOTE: the above paragraph is a stated opinion by the author. Most of the book, including the reason he is lead to the conclusion on the above situation, is packed with results of studies that have been done based on how we think.....and subsequently act).
HappyUP!!! - a stress free commute
Why it happened - Monday is commute day...plus, I left early
Why it made me happy - I got to where I needed to be easily and early. I worked on e-mail before the meeting at my client's office so I got a head start.
HappyUP!!! - visit with Dad
Why it happened - dad is in the hospital
Why it made me happy - it's a bit of a haul to get over to the hospital. Dad appreciates the company even though he doesn't have a lot to say. That's good enough for me.
HappyUP!!! - cancelling a day of a business trip next week
Why it happened - decided I was too busy to squeeze in a play day in Orlando
Why it made me happy - are you kidding? It's like getting 24 hrs of life handed to me. Orlando sounds cool but, when you are going on businesss sans kids, it is no adult paradise. Sure, I could find something to do there......but I could take the day and find something more interesting than in "the town that Walt built."
Today - for the first time, we go living in the past for a HappyUP!!! No, it isn't because nothing good happened today. Come on...it was Easter! If God sending His Son to Earth to show the way and then allow him to be crucified to show us the way isn't a HappyUP!!!, what is? That's a no brainer.
HappyUP!!! - my "roadie" on Wed night
Why it happened - he offered, I accepted
Why it made me happy - this little guy asked me at home church if he could carry my guitar out to my truck. As you can tell, the guitar is about as big as he is. He just wanted to do something to serve. No expectation that I could figure out. There is a lot more to this but I will keep it to myself. Why did I just post this today? I just downloaded my pictures. I had forgotten all about this. When I saw the picture, it actually made me happier thinking about the gesture than when I received the offer.
HappyUP!!! - the masters and Zack Johnson
Why it happened - he stared down Tiger Woods
Why it made me happy - Zack is a lot like I was in my younger, competitive golf days....a chipper and a putter. He doesn't hit it long like the rest of the guys but he keeps it straight, stays out of trouble, and then scrambles to make up for what he lacks elsewhere. Also, while Tiger Woods is incredible, you could see how much this means to this guy and his family. His background is quite a compelling tale....driving the mini-tours, staying at the motels, playing in front of small crowds, etc. It's the minor leagues except you don't travel with a team. It is a mental game with a lot of easy detours. I really liked this guy today and how he kept it together in one of the most pressure packed situations possible.
HappyUP!!! - Jim Nance
Why it happened - I caught the Golf Central piece on Nance and how long he has been covering sports
Why it made me happy - Nance is so good that you don't even think about the flavor that he adds. He is not looking for the limelight. He is soft spoken....but very well spoken. He said, "I'd give up covering 20 Super Bowls to do one Masters Tournament." I believe him. The Masters - it was exciting and a good spend of time this weekend.
HappyUP!!! - a trip to the VA Hospital
Why it happened - dad has been stricken
Why it made me happy - OK...I would rather not have to have made this trip. As I got there, however, I took some time to appreciate the surroundings. As we approach April 15, tax day in America, it was nice to see that my tax dollars are being spent on something worthwhile...our veterans. Yes, a lot of the Vets are crotchety in the hospital. They may not feel the level of care is all it can be. Let's face it, though. No one is at their best when they are hurting. So, for a few moments before having to see dad prone in a hospital bed, it was time for some appreciation.
HappyUP!!! - dad had an "accident" right when I got there
Why it happened - hey, you get to be 88. You lose control of some bodily functions when you are ill...heck, that can happen when you are healthy and much younger.
Why it made me happy - the nurse was right in.....uh....let's see....how do I say this because you have to understand the part of the process for the story to be funny....but I don't want to be gross. OK...let's be adult for a second. I was standing outside the curtain. The nurse was in mid-wipe. I then hear my ailing father ask, "is this the height of your medical career?" I don't know who was busting up more....me or the nurse. You have to make the best out of the most unpleasant situations!
HappyUP!!! - the Masters
Why it Happened - it happens every year at this time...and you can count on me to be watching
Why it made me happy - it is one of the ultimate tests of golf. This year, Augusta National is set up to make the best in the world do nothing but make mistakes. Whoever screws up the least, wins. It makes for very interesting viewing. I love golf. I love athletics at their ultimate. This is the combination of the two.
I just noticed - there are still a couple of people on the internet that have not found NuttersNotes
Because the last of the stragglers will probably be stopping by today - it is prime time for a little refresher course in what this HappyUP!!! thing is all about.
For an older explanation and the rationale - you need to nothing more than click here
...and you really should do that - because I can't devote this entire post to remedial students. I have to take care of the people following along.
If you are a follower - there has never been a better time to step up and lead. Your family needs you to do it. The world needs you to do it. I need you to do it. YOU need you to do it.
You may be happy - which makes you an excellent candidate for the project. The daily excercise is so easy that even the Nutster has been able to do it for over 60 documentable days....right here in front of your own eyes.
All I am coaching you for is - to do 7 days....and then stretch it until it becomes a daily habit. The net effect is that YOU create your good news. Tired of the newspapers and the fabricated stories that are beaten into the ground? Don't take more in....DO something about it. Here is a great example:
The HappyUP!!! - a fish with lips
Why it happened - I was carrying my camera when I went to dinner. I commented on the aquarium to the owner of the eating establishment. "Did you see the big fish....the one with lips?"
Why it made me happy - do you remember the old game when someone asked something really obvious? Today, we just go "duh." In a more creative time, we would say, "Is the Pope Cathholic?" or "Does a bear poop in the woods?" for a positive answer. If the answer was an obvious "No," we would say, "does a fish have lips?"
Well, as it turns out, I guess a fish does have lips!!!
....and that makes me happy - that's all there is to it! It's so easy, even the Nutster can do it! I took a moment, not all day obsessing, and recognized that little situation made me happy. The more times you realize what makes you happy, the happier you are going to be.
It's easy to single out all of the things - than make you mad, sad, frustrated, etc and attach all kinds of emotion to them. Why do you need to do that? The answer: you don't NEED to do it...you CHOOSE to do it. And, just like you made the choice to focus on the crappy, you can make a new choice to focus on the Happy.
Yes, it is a formalized version - of "count your blessings." Is there a better time to start than right now?
If you are a fellow blogger - you can even work it into a daily posting amongst the other wonderful things you are posting. It's a wonderful accountability to yourself. I can't tell you the number of times I have gone up to bed, laid down, and said, "oops...I have the HappyUP!!!s. I just forgot to post them."...and back to the computer I went.
....and it has been worth every trip! - I have been hearing a comment from people lately that I have never heard before. "Nutster, you are so positive....I really like that." Hmmmmmm........I think I am going to continue.
HappyUP!!! - the Masters Golf tournament
Why it happened - I took an early afternoon
Why it made me happy - I was supposed to be off today but had to put some time in the office. At 2, I split and caught my favorite sporting event of the year.......with an entire weekend of Masters golf to look forward to.
HappyUP!!! - Good Friday
Why it happened - Jesus sacrificed for all of us
Why it made me happy - this gets a bit personal for the entire world and my purpose here. This is a seperate post but, though I don't serve him like I should, I know that there is a higher power that forgives me for my trespasses.HappyUP!!! - an interesting discovery at work
Why it happened - I did some analysis
Why it made me happy - I found something that I am guessing no one in our company has analyzed. It backs up something that I am passionate about. Will it do any good? I can only try to make a difference. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.
JollyJottings
-a great phone call
-a super breakfast
-an interesting discovery
-SundayScribblings
-Masters
Studies have shown - that a consumer will drive all the way across town to save $50 on a $100 radio.
Yet, they won't make the same trip - or even a shorter one, to save $50 on a $50,000 car.
When is fifty bucks not fifty bucks? - I guess it's not the same when you are buying things of different value. Wow!...news to me!
When it is sitting in my bank account - I don't know where the half a hundred came from. I'm just glad it's there.
My conclusion - my old radio is fine and my car keeps getting me where I need to go. I'll just take the shopping time and drive over to work and make an additional $50. I come out $100 ahead.
( A guest contribution to the blog, SundayScribblings . This week's topic: "In the News" )
I was channel surfing last night and happened upon the FoxNews show, Hanniday and Combs. It was evident to me in seconds as to why the news is of little interest to me anymore.
They had ultra conservative Republican Ann Coulter on the show. The show's hosts and the network's show before them, Keith Oberlin, were as Democrat, liberal, and anti-Bush as you can be. I detest labels. The problem with labels is that a label is an assumption. If you want to lead an unenlightened life, make a lot of assumptions. The labels that I just used describing the adversaries on the show probably aren't totally accurate. If one, like myself, that has such intolerance for labels is moved to draw a conclusion so quickly, you can only guess how blatant the stances of these warring factions were.
These two sides were not having a debate. They were having an argument. I have no room in my life for going out and looking for people arguing. You stumble across enough of those. Though their points may be erudite, these people of above average intelligence both appeared idiotic due to their method of presentation. I have little room in my life to seek out stupidity and hang around those that demean themselves intentionally by engaging in rhetoric like this. The blatancy of what was being sold was clearly evident to me. I figured this out in the flash of just one quick channel surf during a commercial from the show that I was watching.
People are trying to sell their argument. They pass it off as news. The terms liberal and conservative have only been learned by me in the last few years of my life. I went almost a half of a century of pulling this off. I never took a class in this. I never read a book about it. Sure, the topic has come up in things that I have encountered. My definition of these opposing tribes has been shaped mostly by observing the two sides going at it on the small screen.
Am I more intelligent for learning this? Am I a better person for picking up this knowledge? Does having this knowledge make me happier and better equipped to help the world as I watch these types of pseudo-news programs? No. It has merely trained me to make labels....the very item that is one of the most damaging things you can do to another human being.
If shows like these are so obvious, how much more discrete are the "real" news shows and newspapers in adding their view of the incidents that happen all over the world? Perhaps my age has outweighed my indifference in my attempt to avoid judging and stereotyping others. If you are exposed to the media long enough, you can't help but be drawn in.
Our local paper, the Sacramento Bee, ran a headline news story the other day. This was front page with a font that was only slightly smaller than the biggest one that they would ever run. It was rivaling "Pearl Harbor Attacked" in it's size. Did a famous person die? Did a major news event happen? I will let you be the judge. The headline was something along these lines: "Subprime Lending Crisis May Cripple Area Home Values"
First, when did something that may happen that I can do nothing about become a news item...let alone a front page story? The article went on to trash the home lending industry. When you got done, you would think that the entire industry takes advantage of people. You would be led to believe it is the cause of your home values declining due to people being granted credit that were not able to make their monthly obligations which results in foreclosure. The truth is that some of these people did get credit. The fact is that, because this happened, home prices rose as well. Investors saw the fervor and jumped in. Values rose much more quickly due to the increased demand that this type of lending brought on. The bubble burst and now values are returning to the place where they should have been had the phenomenon not happened. I am not advocating one side or the other. Homeownership became available to many people that it would have otherwise not been presented to. Those people are still in their homes today. They are benefitting from being able to excercise their right of homeownership. The minority are the ones facing foreclosure.
I am in the lending industry. This is one area where I see what happened. I have more access to fact than the media does because I was on the front lines. I lived through it. The distortions that are being played out around this topic have led me to adopt the final conclusion that most of us know. The media has come to exist to sell the media. What other topics does it grossly distort? Am I really unintelligent if I don't have an opinion on whether Nancy Pelosi should be in Syria? If someone does think that about me, it is probably just their need to label me so they can feel more intelligent about themselves. I don't need to play this game. It is a lot of talk without anyone doing anything about it.
In The News. If it is a fact, I am interested. If it is a distortion, I would rather read a fairy tale. I am too weary to try to maintain and upkeep the filters that are required to tell the difference. The media is no different than alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes. It seems enjoyable while you do it but the addiction that is formed by the engagement is too dangerous for my health to partake in. I have better things to do.
HappyUP!!! - Helping a buddy out
Why it happened - weird timing
Why it makes me happy - because I think it is the right thing. It doesn't make all the sense in the world to do. It probably could use a little more analysis. On the other hand, when something like this is laid in front of you, you jump on it and you make it happen as best you can. (I know this one doesn't make a lot of sense to you as a reader....but, keep in mind, some things require a little privacy)
HappyUP!!! - lunch
Why it happened - my friends and business associates invited me
Why it made me happy - one of the guys is on my nicest guys in the world list. His partner is a nice guy too. Who wouldn't want to go to lunch with a couple of really nice guys
HappyUP!!! - praise from an employee
Why it happened - he took my suggestion
Why it makes me happy - sometimes you try to help your employees. You know it is the right thing for them. At the same time, you get the feeling you are their mother, "junior, pick up your room!" In this case, doing some preparation gave him some confidence to go after some business today. I hope he gets it. The odds seem a little against him.....I have a feeling he is going to get it. If he does, if that doesn't make my HappyUP!!! list tomorrow, tomorrow will have been an outstanding day.
Today was just an amazing day. Nothing gargantuan. Just a continual parade of blessings. Just incredible. It's really tough to pick just three HappyUP!!!'s.....what a tough problem to have, right?
HappyUP!!! - admin solution
Why it happened - something else didn't
Why it made me happy - my admin is going out on maternity leave....soon. I had another opportunity, an excellent one, come up as a replacement. It was right in front of me.
HappyUP!!! - a client called
Why it happened - he needed something
Why it made me happy - by the time I called him back, one of my staff had already handled his need....and it was more business for us. And, I did nothing! Need I explain more? Happy...Happy...Happy
HappyUP!!! - music at home church
Why it happened - I offered to play so we could all sing
Why it made me happy - music doesn't always work at our home church so we have gotten out of the habit. Because we are in Easter week, I decided that a little worship would be good so I made the offering. We all were better off for doing a little singing and praising
Just a stellar day.
JollyJottings
Lunch meeting
Got accounting issue settled
Home church
Music at home church
Chocolate Chip cookies
Hearing China stories
Builder called me....problem was fixed
Coaching an employee
Coffee conversation
2nd Coffee conversation
HappyUP!!! - I woke up late
Why it happened - I didn't get up when I woke up the first time
Why it made me happy - though rushed, I still made it to my meeting on time. If I fell back to sleep, I really needed the sleep
HappyUP!!! - meeting with my co-worker friends at dinner
Why it happened - they made the invite
Why it made me happy - we had fun conversation, heated conversation, called each other on stuff, etc. I also found out things going on in the rest of the world that I didn't know about. Plus, Mikuni had a new roll, the Regina. Delicious.
HappyUP!!! - made some headway on a compensation issue
Why it happened - I got an e-mail giving me the opportunity
Why it made me happy - I actually may be able to settle something for one of my direct reports. I knew all along that I would be able to...I just had to have faith it would take some time. Still, I was between the rock and the hard place. I didn't let that position tear me up as it might have in the past, however.
HappyUP!!! - Beating the alarm clock
Why it happened - who knows....I woke up at 4:45 am
Why it made me happy - it put me ahead right out of the sheets. You will find that this is a consistent HappyUP!!! for me. For one, I don't like noise waking me up. For two, it gives me a few extra minutes to look forward to the day. Today, it
allowed me to to send out a couple of personal e-mails that I wouldn't have been allowed to. It also made me think, "wouldn't it be great to see the sunrise?" Rather than drive right to the office, I took a detour and took the shot to the left. Today, I am an artist. I call this, "Hopeful Anticipation."
HappyUP!!! - No traffic
Why it happened - I ran early
Why it made me happy - I found out that this is a great time to go to my standing Monday morning meeting. I have a cellular modem in the laptop for work. I got to my meeting way early and just did my normal work there.......free of any traffic stress. This could become my Monday morning routine easily
HappyUP!!! - recognized for good work
Why it happened - my boss heard about what I did Friday. He was nice enough to point it out on a call with my peers
Why it made me happy - I turned in a good piece of work on a new initiative on Friday. I wanted to make my boss proud of this new project that he is unleashing. My teammates did good work too. I combined a little extra preparation, a positive attitude, and years of Toastmasters training to bring my segment alive.
JollyJottings
-email exchange with a coworker negatively impacted by some recent changes
-got some good work off of my desk in quick time
-a late evening face to face with an employee a couple of steps down
-meeting two employees, one new and one that has been with my organization for awhile, for the first time
-a great e-mail from my bosses boss
OH....and one more thing...........the anticipation was worth it.........it came through again....just like it always does
