Tag: work

OK, Universe!

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Ok, universe! You win!

The fact that BOTH of my shoes came untied as I was carrying an armload of things shows me that I can't control everything and that I need to stop trying to.

Alright! We get it!

I am powerless to unmake a mistake but I can make sure I don't repeat it. And I can take more time to correct myself before moving on.

Fine, universe! You were right all along!

My body is tired at night because I am fighting you all day long. I'll stop fighting and start going with the flow. I promise.

Ok, universe! It makes sense now!

I can only give when I have enough. I can't do more if I'm not taking care of myself.

Ok, universe. What's next?

Your Best

Bailey GunnLeave a comment

I'm a 150% kind of girl. I like to give my all. Whether I'm at work or just cooking pasta, I want to give every task everything thing I have.

But then Friday rolls around and things start to slip.

Well, I'm here to tell you that it's okay. If you're operating at 90% and that's all you have to give, that's okay.

Just do your Best. That's all anyone can ask of you. And it's okay sometimes to not be functioning at 100%. You're trying and that's what matters.

So, go out there and give it everything you've got!

(But that's all from me for now.)

Dance

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I found this wonderful quote by Wayne Dyer today:

When you dance, your purpose isn't to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way.

I like this quote because it touches upon something that we all take advantage of: life. We race through the work week to get to Friday and the weekend. We stare at the clock, waiting to go somewhere else with someone else. All we do is try to waste time when we should be…well, living.

So I'd encourage you to dance. It's the only way to stop time completely. To say, I will enjoy this moment for the sole purpose that I'm alive and I'll shall ask for nothing more. I will enjoy this beat and this rhythm until it ends. And I will not wait for the next beat — I'll just dance right on through.

And don't forget that dancing is just usually fun in the first place so it's a great way to enjoy yourself anyway.

So, make time to dance. Turn up the music. And forget about time for awhile, except for the time you spend on your feet.

Don’t Give Up

Bailey Gunn4 Comments

I was reminded today that you should never give up on what you want and what you love. Even when it feels like the entire universe is against it. Even if it doesn't work out right away. Even if it doesn't pay well (or anything at all).

Because doing what you love is why you get up in the morning and what makes you happy to go to bed at night. It simply makes life worth living.

And if you're not doing something you love everyday or working towards a goal, even just a small thing, then you're wasting your life. I can't say that enough. And I know, it's harsh, but it's true.

So, do me a favor and end everyday with something you love. (Hopefully you'll stay right here on this blog, but hey, you do you.)

I Fell

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Let me set the scene for you:

I’m walking to work in a major city…on a hot day with heels on. There are people right, left, and center. I’m not used to walking in heels, so I’m a little off balance to begin with. But then I am trying to get out of someone’s way so I speed up. My foot slips in my shoe, slicked with sweat, knocking me completely off balance until I fall onto my hands and knees. 

I’m frustrated and annoyed. Not because I apparently don’t know how to walk, or because I suddenly feel 5 years old again when I would fall and skin my knee. No. Because not one person asked me if I was okay. Not one. They all let me fall and pick myself back up with no assistance offered. 

Let me remind you, society, that you’re allowed to break the rat race script. If you see someone fall on your way to work, you can ask them if they’re okay. You don’t have to be afraid that I’ll murder your family if you talk to me. Just help me. Help someone in need. 

If we do that, we can make life a little more human. 

Self-Ish

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I’m sure I’ve written about this topic before (maybe even under the same name), but I think it bears repeating. 

It’s not okay to be selfish. But it’s very okay to be self-ish. Let me explain. 

Selfish means that you’re not in touch with the needs of others and that you put yourself before everyone else all of the time. 

Self-ish means you’re in touch with the needs of others and that you put yourself before others some of the time. And that’s really it — some of the time, you need to take care of yourself. So be self-ish. Just ish. Just a little. 

Take yours truly, for example. I’m what you call a workaholic. (I call it overachieving). But whatever you call it, it doesn’t change the fact that I feel guilty and ashamed when I take a lunch break. A break that is provided to everyone equally, but for some reason, is difficult for me to accept. 

Now, I’m not selfish. I certainly don’t take a longer lunch break than anyone else. But I’m self-ish when I take a lunch break. I’m  putting myself and my needs first some of the time when it’s needed. 

So be self-ish sometimes, and you’ll find no reason to be selfish. 

Pass

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“It’s gonna pass like a kidney stone, but it’ll pass!”

All time passes. That’s the one thing we can count on. That when you’re having fun, time will have flown. And when you’re not, it’ll be all you can do just to kill time. But it trudges forward. Every second. Every minute. Every hour. Every week.  Every month. Every year. 

And that seems pretty foreboding. Sand in an hourglass kind of foreboding. 

But notice I didn’t say every day. Because you can decide what happens in a single day. And hopefully, you’ll choose to recognize that your suffering is passing too and not just the good times. Because that’s the thing about time; it heals. It may rub salt in the wound first and leave a scar but it does heal. 

I just hope you like how you spend your time. You will never get more of it, but you’ll learn to do more with less. 

An Ode to Adulthood 

Bailey Gunn3 Comments

Being an adult, I’ve noticed that I don’t have time for the things I used to do when I was younger. Coloring and writing poetry, to name a few. Sliding on slides and swinging on swings, to name a few more. 

So, I thought maybe it’s time I did those things again. But as an adult. Especially poetry. 

Let’s try it. 

An Ode to Adulthood

Wait. 

Why am I so tired?

I barely did anything tod–

But I did write 3 emails

And received 10 more

That I’m now anxious about answering. 

And I did get up

For a drink, for a walk, for a deep breath 

For a return to normalcy. 

And I did clean my desk

Because I was tired of looking at 

Clutter. And then 

I made a list of all the things I had to do

After I get home from work.

And I am tired

Of being an adult. 

Out of the Deep End 

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When I was in fourth grade, we took a swimming test. We were asked to swim freestyle from one side of the pool to the other. We were judged on our form and ability. We were then divided based on our skill level. (Yeah, I don’t get it either.)
As was always the case with my die or fail attitude, I wanted to be the best with all of the kids. I wanted to be in the most skilled group, no matter what. And after my second or third day in the pool, I got my wish. I went to the deep end with the other best kids. And what were they doing in that group? Treading water. That’s it. You couldn’t swim like the other groups. You just had to tread water. And I could feel myself going under and being unable to keep up. 

So, I asked to be knocked down a level. I asked to be placed lower than my ability. And they allowed me to be in another group. My teacher would ask me everyday if I wanted to try again in the deep end, but I refused. I liked where I was. It was easier. 

And I think that’s so important, even now. I wasn’t admitting defeat. I was recognizing the skills that I had and that I just wasn’t strong enough. I had to build up to it. It didn’t mean I wasn’t capable. It just meant that I was able to recognize when I was ready.

And you can too. Just don’t let other people define your limits OR your success. Only you can do that. 

Be Curious! 

Bailey GunnLeave a comment

I had a HUGE revelation today. 

I’m all about pursuing your passions. All for it. 

Except when it comes to quitting your day job. 

I know, I know. Big risk, big reward. But there’s something keeping you back from starting all over and pursuing your passion isn’t there? (Yes, Bailey. It’s my crippling student debt.) Okay, fair. 

But ask yourself — is your passion something you LIKE to do? Or are you truly interested and curious about it?

Because that’s what keeps me back from writing full time. One, because I love my blog and I don’t want to hate it because I have to rely on it to give me money. But two, and more importantly, I’m not curious about writing. I don’t want to learn about it. I just want to do it. It comes natural to me. And like most writers, I’m an egotist and I think I’ve learned everything I possibly can about writing. I’ll learn as I go. 

But what am I truly curious about? Science. I am interested in science. I love listening to podcasts about any kind of science, but mostly anatomy. I get truly excited about listening to how the human body works. I hung on every word of a woman who described how she became allergic to meat. And it’s only taken me until recently to realize that I have a passion for science, but I have a love for writing. 

The difference is that I can keep one as my mistress, and the other one keeps me up at night. (I’ll let you decide which is which.)

But the point is that when I stopped to think about it, I realized I could love what I do and still not be passionate about it. Just because I love writing doesn’t mean that I need to exorcise my soul to produce it. Sometimes, quitting your day job still doesn’t mean you are fulfilled.