Wasn't So Boring After All

"And I realized....it wasn't so boring after all." - Me

I have no problem admitting that it took some readjusting for me to be used to not having a date on the weekends. Last year this time, I knew that my weekend would involve a date, church, another date, and recovering for my dates to do it all over again the upcoming week. Last year I went out with two men AT DIFFERENT TIMES. Hey, that's a record for me. As you may recall I was on a bit of a hiatus for dating for 3 years. And no it was not really something I tried to do, it just happened.

The last date that I went on was in October of 2013. Okay, maybe you have been on a date recently, or maybe you're stuck in the same dry season of dates that I was in just 3 years ago. Around March it started getting to me. I missed dinner dates. No longer was I taking small dates to the local department store. Yes, I like to take dates in unconventional places. You learn a lot about a person based on their style and the items that they buy.

Now my night consisted of a Redbox movies, church, and occasionally treating myself to a no chip manicure when pay week permitted. It became boring. I won't act as though the first half of my dating season last year didn't come with a lot of unnecessary drama. If you only knew the story about the first guy I dated, you'd wondered why I continued dating at all during the rest of the year. The second guy caught me by surprise (Be sure to read previous post for deets).

Back to the point, I became bored. Everything went right back to being predictable, but I have to be honest, I needed this time to learn who the new me was. Might I add, I really like her. She's pleasant. A lot more patient. She's motivated. She's ready to go to the next level in her life.

Before I couldn't see why I was removed again from everything and everyone. I needed this time. As you may recall from two post below, I received a random call. It reminded me that I didn't miss my past. I was free and I love every single minute of being free.

Okay, okay. Yes, at times I do wish I had a date, but I don't want to entertain a random man for the sake of receiving a free meal. I can't be bought. I have to be earned. "Earn me!" (In my Olivia Pope voice) That's one of my favorite lines from the sitcom Scandal.

I recently spoke with a friend about this quiet season in my life that I once labeled boring. Yesterday, I told her this season wasn't all that boring, this season "Wasn't so boring after all."

~Eve

Gifted

Happy Friday!  Hopefully the weekend brings you laughter and joy. We can never get too much of it. For those who work Monday-Friday, it’s time to let your hair down, loosen your tie, wiggle your toes, and take a deep breath! It makes me smile just typing it.

Today, I had a hard time thinking of a topic to write about. Clearly, things can get repetitive if not approached at different angles. Pardon me if the posting is brief. The topic of discussion today is (drum roll please) GIFTS!! Okay, you probably guessed that from the title. Many like to receive gifts. However, many also fail to realize the gifts they possess themselves.

You may have the gift of laughter that you share with those around you. When someone needs a smile or maybe you’re the life of the party. You know when to be serious and you know how to slide in a joke when you feel tension brewing. You are an amazing person. You’re the person in your circle of friends that probably is in every picture or in every story when it’s retold. Keep sharing your gift.

Could you be the person that is an amazing listener? When everyone has a problem or needs to clear their head, they come to you. Most of the time you’re probably few on words or shall I say you choose them carefully and that’s why your friends value your friendship and advice. You are so appreciated. You’re probably the reason why your friend put down the phone instead of making that reckless call or bit their tongue before responding to a snide comment.

This for the friends that pour into others and encourage them to follow their dreams no matter what the world tells us.  You push us even when the rest of the world and even our families laugh at our dreams. You’re the cheerleader in the front row (the only row) and you may even be our only audience. But when you’re there, it feels like a concert. Friends like you are hard to come by. We can only hope we’re there for you in the ways that matter to you when they mean the most.

I salute the friends that possess all three of these gifts and more. I can only hope that you receive the same love back that you pour into others. You are amazing. Without you, life would not be the same. You couldn’t be any closer to us than our blood family. Thank you for the laughs, the cries, the stories that we tell over and over again as if it is the first time. Thanks for doing this thing called life with us. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us all. 

~Eve

Change Your Mind...

Pacing the floor back and forth, while holding the phone in your hand. Taking the deepest yet slowest breath you've taken all day. You check the time. Only three minutes have passed, but to you it seems like an hour. You've talked yourself into it and then out of it at least six times within the last thirty minutes. All you have to do is call. What's the worse that can happen? You won't get an answer. The person's feelings aren't mutual. In your head you see how things could work between the two of you, but.. you just call anyway...

A Love Story

It goes a little something like this...

Socially Awkward...

The world is obsessed with what’s outside of its peripheral vision. This causes most who have a smart phone to ignore the atmosphere in which they dwell. Now the world is fixated on what everyone else is doing, volunteering hourly whereabouts, and strangers now know our personal thoughts. What happened to the days of a little privacy?

It’s pretty scary if you think about it. I too was once on social networks before I deleted everything. Facebook was an easy way for me to stay in contact with old classmates. Twitter was my means of sending out inspirational messages. My short lived account on Instagram was simply to appease my close friends that wanted to include me on vacation trips. No, I never had all three at the same time. Facebook was the first to go, then Twitter, and then Instagram. The same order in which they were introduced was the same order they were deleted. But one day something changed.

The 9 to 5

To say the least, my job is humbling. On days I feel like complaining, I have files to remind me that things aren’t as bad as they could be. In all truthfulness, I would have never imagined me working with people in this setting. And if I’m being 110% honest, I don’t ever recall applying for the job. I prayed for increase and a better paying job than what I had at the time and then I received a call for this one.

My interview was horrible! There is no shame in admitting that. My interview was conducted on a Wednesday after my part time gig and I fumbled all of the questions. Truth be told I’m not a good interviewer because I’m not comfortable talking to complete strangers about myself. A man would have to encounter seeing me at least twice and having a brief conversation before he asked for my number in order for me to consider it. Hence the reason I may still be single, but I digress. Back to the story, my interview was horrible. Shortly after my car found its way to a Taco Bell. It was my guilty pity meal. I was embarrassed that I even told close friends and family that I went on an interview because I was sure I wouldn’t get it. A week later, I received a call asking if I could quit my job immediately and come work for them. God is crazy faithful.

While I am grateful for the job that is a resource for me to do a lot of things, I have to learn how to not let it stress me. In no way, shape, or form have I conquered this. But I know I need to change and QUICKLY! How do I know? My body is telling me that it is time to change. I’ve began some pretty bad habits. My eating habits are horrible. Every now and then I’ll stop to get breakfast (bagel and OJ). Most days I won’t. I’ll grab something for lunch (fast food) twice a week and then I go home. Usually, I’ll fix something quick or opt for a chicken wrap AGAIN, another item that is fast food. The fast food was fast to attach to my hips and my buttock. This extra weight HAS TO GO AWAY. On top of that, my sleeping schedule is out of control. If I’m lucky, on any given day, I’ll potentially sleep for four hours and that’s typically not a consecutive four hours. When I get up, I’m sluggish which sends me grabbing for a nice cold carbonated soft drink. Yes, first thing in the morning at work I drink one because I despise even the smell of coffee. Might I add, I know the sugar in the carbonated drink added to the pounds.

But my life has become work. My down time is spent catching up on work emails and going to church. Don’t get me wrong, anyone that knows me knows that I love going to church, but I need to have a hobby. Last year, I created opportunities for me to enjoy life and have fun. And slowly yet surely it came to a halt. In various ways I needed to stop because I wasn’t balancing things correctly. I had too much fun and didn’t balance it well with work and church. I’m able to admit that.

I went to a meeting last year and I was surprised at what the speaker and former employee said. He simply stated to take all of your vacation and sick time. Too often we believe a place can’t function without us. And if you feel like you can’t leave for a few days, it means that you aren’t doing something right and you’re leaving loopholes. You are no good to your place of employment if you can’t give them your best. He was right. Today, I reminded myself of that and I submitted a few vacation days for myself. It was just two days, but its two days for me to clear my head and enjoy myself.

Your job is a resource not your source. You don’t have to take your coworkers home with you. It’s easier said than done, but give yourself a few minutes before you exit the car before walking into your home. Let your home be a place of peace. Your life, your health depends on it. 

Save Your 10

Recently I watched a movie that had quite a few "Aha" moments in it. It provoked a lot emotion. Happiness, sadness, confusion, and the list goes on. Despite all of the lessons bottled into 2 hours and 6 minutes of the movie, I took away the quote "Save your 10".