Gratitude

Happy Thursday, aka thankful Thursday.  Or there used to be a blogger that I followed that always shared a thankful Thursday post.  I attempted to do it for a while.  I believe I was better about it years ago.  Some habits do not stick.

Do you ever find yourself doing that?  Discarding habits that took twenty-one days to set up.  Finally settling into the routine only to find that after some time the habit did not stick?  For example, I had been trying to do hip openers every morning.  I had been experiencing some tight tendons and some disability sleeping due to hip pain.  All of the joys of getting older and experiencing the change.  I did a little research and found that I could incorporate a few hip stretches to help minimize the pain.  Yogi squat, frog and then rolling out my hip flexors.  Daily I would get up and begin with the yogi squat.  It definitely helps but then I shifted my focus to the daily walks.   With the fires popping up everywhere, I try to walk earlier in the day since the heat is not as bad.  Still, my eyes burn and my allergies have kicked up.  I might have to shift my focus again to avoid the outdoor heat.  

It is important to express gratitude for things in your life.  I am thankful for my shelter, my car, my community.  Even the multiple gigs that I am doing to supplement my income.  I wish there was a little more consistency at times.  However, because I am committed to my dream of being my own boss/business owner, I appreciate these side gigs.  There is flexibility and some overlap.  I run into former colleagues, customers and current colleagues.  I ran into one of the gals from the contract service on Saturday.  She brought me a plate of food since I was bartending, and she was helping with food prep.  It was so kind and made the others jealous.  I did share some of the food with one of my co-workers.  And I offered Diana a soda as a way to say thank you.  I think that is the organic way we all coexist in the service industry.  Caterers offer food to the bartenders.  Bartenders offer beverages.  It is the way the service.  

I continue to consider things that I can personally do to feel like I am making things better in my community.  Today, for example, instead of ignoring the kiosk with the guys with a petition, I listened to what they had to say. Typically, I rush past as I am in a hurry to achieve my next task.  Today, I signed the petition to help elect another board member to the city council.  We all need to do something to minimize the damage that is currently being done to us as citizens.  We are in this together and will get out of it together.

Finding joy is essential.  I want to reiterate that.  Finding joy, laughing, spending time with loved ones.  Have gratitude for the simplicity of smiling, of walking around a park, sipping a beverage.  

Have gratitude for yourself, your life, your community.  

Speaking up more & correcting bad habits

Today I walked into my landlord's bank.  I am required to deposit my rent at her bank instead of dropping a check off to her.  Keep in mind she lives in the unit above me and so that would be the preferred option.  In all of my years of renting from her, I have paid her directly only during my first month of renting and Covid.  Even during Covid, it was only a few months where she allowed us to pay her directly.

At any rate, I walk into her credit union and there are two tellers working.  Four people in line.  The parking lot was full and so I wasn't that surprised at the line.  Another teller jumped in to manage the line and I was patiently waiting.  I know Nora's account number and the requirements of the transaction.  Waiting in line was not a deterrent.

An older gentleman emerged from the back of the bank.  He passed by me to go to the bathroom.  I didn't think much of him.  I figured he had finished his business and wanted to use the bathroom before departing.  However, when my turn to approach the available teller, this man reappears and hijacks my spot.  He had another question for the teller.

I did not interrupt him.  I was surprised that he felt he could do that.  And perhaps, I relied on that he was elderly.  Honestly, I don't know why I didn't say anything to him.  In hindsight, I should have.  He could have waited in line like the rest of us were.  Behind me was an even older (elderly) guy who needed to sit down while he was waiting to check in.  This entitled man felt comfortable making himself a priority.  

The teller assisting him rolled her eyes when he approached but didn't say anything to prohibit it.  I made a comment to the gal that helped me and she apologized.  Still, no one said anything to this entitled man.  I want to stop deferring to people who feel entitled.  Start calling people out for their terrible behavior.  I need to unlearn this polite behavior.  If someone jumps the queue or is an asshole, I want to say something.  I am tired of enabling this crappy behavior.  

In addition, I am surprised at the amount of people who continue to talk while eating.  It is such a disgusting habit.  I do not want to watch you chew your food and talk at me.  I feel like it is occurring more frequently.  How have we, collectively, forgotten how to exist in society?  No one wants to watch people consume their food while talking.  It is deplorable.  

Do better.  That is all I am suggesting.  

I would not behave that way.  Why is it that some people feel it is okay to only focus on their needs and wants?  It was really irritating.  I feel like I have been taught to defer to elderly people or men.  The tellers were mostly female.  As irritated as they were with this guy, they didn't correct him either.  We must do better.

No more dimming your light or making yourself smaller to accommodate a mediocre person.