Tag: work

Sick and Tired

Bailey Gunn2 Comments

Sorry about the ghost post last night. I️ was feeling mildly ill, like a cold was coming on, and I️ couldn’t keep my eyes open. So instead of posting, I️ went to bed.

Because I️ was sick and tired. And not just of the oncoming cold – I️ was sick and tired of the routine. Get up, go to work, come home, eat my feelings, sleep off the day. Bad habits on a hamster wheel.

And it’s exactly because I️ was sick and tired that I️ decided to make a change. Especially with my eating routine. I️ actually didn’t eat anything I️ was allergic to this week. Which is crazy, because I’m allergic to most things at this point.

But I️ just think it’s funny that when you’re at your wit’s end, when you’re fed up, when you’re sick and tired, that’s when you’re at the best point to make a change. To do something about your situation. To be a better person.

So if you’re sick and tired, don’t give up. Just get up and make a change.

When Do I Give Up?

Bailey Gunn1 Comment

As some of you may know, I didn’t post last week.

I didn’t feel like it, to be honest. And even now, I’m wondering why I try. It’s so much easier not to.

But I also think about all the wonderful people who read my blog and who comment on it.

And if there’s one person out there that wants to read my blog, then I’ll write it. (Even though it’s my mom.)

So friendly reminder: it can be hard sometimes. You’re tired. You’re sad. You’re ready for something new.

You ask: when do I give up on this? When do I stop trying? When can I be done?

And I will say: tomorrow. When you’re a little less tired and sad. And you finally realize that you don’t want to give up.

And you don’t.

Because it’s easy to give up. Too easy. It’s so much harder to continue to show up day after day. But that’s why it’s worth it, in the end.

It’s like looking at the night sky and seeing constellations instead of individual stars.

Don’t give up just yet.

A Kind Word

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I was the recipient of a kind word today. Out of the blue, unasked for, but very necessary.

And you know what? It completely turned my day around. It was incredibly powerful, the effect it had on me. It really did change my whole attitude, and I’m so grateful to the person who gave it to me.

So I’m passing it on to you.

Listen, today might not have been your best day, but it certainly wasn’t your worst. You can do this! I know you can! And if you ever forget, just ask me! If you have to give up today, then try again tomorrow. And keep trying. Because you’re smart, and funny, and kind and this is your life. You need to take charge of it. So get out there, and shine on.

Now pass it on!

Time to Be

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If there’s an adage that I agree wholeheartedly with, it’s this one:

Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Because, indeed, nobody has time for that. Or anything. We’re always rushing to be some place and then not really being present while we’re there. We eat dinner in front of the tv to laugh tracks, we go to events just to instagram them, we count down the hours until the working day has ended.

But do you know what everyone actually has time for? To be grateful. To stop what you’re doing and look around and just take in where you are. You may notice that the sun is shining (or not), or the birds are chirping (or not), and everything is going right (or not). But be grateful for all of it. If you’re having a bad day, be grateful that most things have gone right for you, and that this day will pass. If you’re alive, you get to start over.

If you look hard enough, there’s always something to be grateful for. So stop what

you’re doing and be on the look out for it.

What are you most grateful for?

Let It Be

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So, I guess it’s song lyric week on baileydailey. But here we go …

If you’ve been a long-time baileydailey reader, you know that I commute on the train. And I see people doing everything:

Listening to music/podcasts, putting on make up, perusing magazines, reading books, talking to their neighbors, playing games on their phones, typing up reports, writing posts on social media, shopping online.

But do you know what I don’t see? At all? Anyone doing nothing at all. Just being. Just being human beings.

Actually, I see it so infrequently that people get weirded out if I’m not doing something. If I’m just sitting, looking out the window, people don’t sit next to me. Like I might just strike up a conversation, goodness forbid. Like I’m a leper for not staring at my phone. Like a normal human being should.

So, here’s your friendly reminder to just be. Be a human. And don’t worry about doing something every moment of every day. You have my permission to just be alive.

Get What You Need

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I forgot my breakfast and my lunch at home today.

I also forgot my wallet so buying food was out of the question.

And instead of heaving a deep sigh and cursing my forgetfulness, I thought, “the universe is abundant. It will share its wealth with me.” And then I sprouted wings and flew directly into the sun.

Of course I didn’t do that! What, am I some sort of deity who is immune to self-blame? I was livid with myself. A full day of work ahead of me and I couldn’t even remember to pack a few crackers? What’s wrong with me?

But I was really blessed by the universe. Maybe it’s all the millennials that work with me, but there’s always free food at my office. And I was provided with enough sustenance to make it through the day just on free food alone.

And I can’t speak for you, but sometimes you get what you want. And other, more rarer times, you get what you need. And I know, I know, it’s corny and on such a small scale that it’s almost silly. But I got what I needed on a day that nothing seemed to be going right. And I couldn’t be more grateful for that.

What are you grateful for today?

The Greatest Irony

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If you’re like me, there are just some days you feel like a cosmic joke. Take this, for example: I was a double major in English/Communications. During my college career, I did nothing but write and talk and explain and yup, you guessed it, communicate.

But there’s this great irony to me. Because I don’t like to talk. About myself, about the weather, about anything. I love a good conversation, as long as I can be the listening piece.

So, I have this weird dilemma that I’ve studied and practiced and worked on communicating with other people, but I never really got good at it. (At least to my own ears.)

Ordering off a menu makes me sweat into a puddle. Getting a phone call I wasn’t expecting is pure torture. Small talk makes me cringe all over.

But I think that’s a good lesson. Even if something is very hard for you, it doesn’t mean that you can’t do it. It just takes extra practice, extra concentration. And one day, it’ll come naturally.

So, let’s practice. How are you?

Time

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Don’t you think it’s weird how we measure time? How we kill time? How we make it fly?

Don’t worry; I won’t break out into 525,600 minutes. (Unless you want me to.)

But I just think it’s strange that when I’m bored a single minute seems like an hour. But when I’m engaged, time is an object.

So, here are some other ways to tell time (and how slow or fast time goes):

Put on old clothes. (Fast)

Go out with one of your best friends. (Fast)

Take a shower. (Slow)

Being at work on a Friday. (Slow)

The point is that however we measure time, we have to be grateful for every minute. Because one day, we’ll wish for more time, slow or fast.

Risky

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Every time you get inside a car, you risk your life.

Now you do everything you can to avoid an accident. You spend time driving with a learners permit. You learn from an experienced driver. You take a test. You don't eat, drink, or put your contact lenses in while driving (I say it because I've seen it.)

But there's still a risk. A risk that someone out there isn't being as safe as you are. Actually, there's a very good chance they're not being as safe.

What can you do? You can drive. Because the amount of desire you have to get to another place is bigger than how costly the risk is.

And this is when fear does not have power. It's when you want/need something so bad that you're brain overrides (pun intended) the fear. In spite of the risk, you're going to do it.

Try to approach your life like driving: it's risky, but worth it.

Even When You Can’t, You Can

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Exercising is hard.

Your brain says, "what are you doing to me? My body is out of breath, my muscles are sore, and you just keep…going? Are you trying to kill us?"

And you would love to just stop. Because why torture yourself like this?

But you don't. You take another step. And another and another. And suddenly, you're at the finish line. Even when you thought you couldn't, you still can.

Repeat as necessary with any obstacle in your path or your life.

The brain is a difficult muscle. It's difficult to convince, but if you don't stop, you may just find that you'll succeed. As log as you ignore that little voice that says "not right now" or "I can't."

Even when you think you didn't have any more to give, you do. Wring out every last drop, and you'll do amazing things.