At my job I am over our office expansion in Wichita Falls. I usually travel to that campus about one time each week. To help break up the drive (it is about 2 hours), I sometimes go to Bowie (a little more than half way) the night before. One those occasions, I spend the night with my Uncle and Aunt and 99% of the time meet 4 girlfriends for dinner.
Sandy: we have been friends since kindergarten and have remained close ever since. Kristal: we attended church together from 6th grade on and also were very close--then and now. Deanne: we went to kindergarten together but separate elementary schools, so we did not become close friends until Junior High. She was my first college roommate...again--we have remained close. Courtney: she lived behind me--horse pasture separating our two houses but would meet at the fence on a regular bases. She is a great friend. During the most recent dinner (Courtney was unable to attend this one) our lively conversation turned to the fact that we are so very lucky to have such lifelong friends. We have been in each other lives for decades. Every time we get together it warms my heart. Needless to say we laugh. We have been part of each other’s lives for decades. How many people can say that? We do a lot of “remember when” and 99% of the time we are laughing at ourselves. Our conversations have turned from cute boys and making the drag to hot flashes and colonoscopies. But we refuse to admit we are older….of course we are so surprised how some of our classmates are starting to look old….but not us….we are ageless……….except for the hot flashes and colonoscopies. I recently was asked "what do you see as your strengths? And what do you see as your weakness?" Well.......how long do you have?
I once attended a training where the trainer stated your strengths will always be your strengths and your weakness will be your weaknesses....no matter how hard you try, no matter how many trainings you attend to improve your "time management".....time management or whatever your "weakness" is will never be your strength. Oh, you may improve significantly but I would doubt you would ever list it as a new strength. The whole point of the story was that you need to use your strengths to offset your weaknesses. The trainer continued to tell a story about a man who wanted to plant a garden. So he begin to work the ground and kept uncovering rocks....rocks of all sizes....He worked hard to remove all the rocks. The next year he went to work the ground again. And to his surprise uncovered rocks. rocks of all sizes, rocks, rocks, rocks...... this happened year after year. The point of this story is that rocks will always "creep up in your garden"...... we may think we have addressed the weakness in our life but our weaknesses will always be a struggle--maybe smaller but still there. That is why it is so important to increase your self awareness. Being aware of the big boulders (weakness) that keep popping up in our garden (life) can help us be prepared to manage them. Use your strengths to help overcome or balance out our short comings.... So WHEN (not if) our weakness pop up and we think we are facing a boulders--remember that the small pebble of strenght and self awareness can help you sort out your path. I am reminded of David and Goliath and how David killed the giant Goliath with ONE smooth stone. So a small pebble of strength can master a boulder of weakness. I actually keep a small stone on my windowsill at work to remind me to use my strengths. What are the small pebbles you posses that will help you slay the giants in your path you need to concur. It only takes one small stone to overcome our struggles. .. |
AuthorJust Ronna: Random Thoughts, Random Topics. Just thinking out loud. Archives
August 2023
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