Problem Solvers

Those who know me, know I can be a bit "high-strung"; easily triggered at times of frustration. Especially when it comes to those who should know what they are selling, before they are allowed to present themselves as professionals.

There are two businesses that I have, in the past, refused to deal with. They both live or die under my husbands control. Insurances and AT&T. However, it seems as if I am getting thrown into the arena of dealing with both, of late. Where's my coffee?

The most recent, was with AT&T. When it comes to our wireless connections, I would rather go to the local brick and mortar store and not deal with using the device to work out a solution to the problem. Why? Because you never know what language you will have to decipher, making it very difficult to understand what is being said...asking for a repeat way too often. One can expect to be weeding through the dialog, as best they can, for at least an hour and a half, ending the conversation with no solution at all. Granted, it's mostly my fault because my patience beings to run on empty by the time I've said, "I'm really sorry, but I have no idea what you just said. Would you mind repeating that?" for the fifth time.

This time around, I was grumbling more than I should have because my online presence was completely messed up; wiped out mostly, with having no access for online bill pay. I couldn't see the actual bill, nor could I see the recent changes that had been made to our wireless account. Our connected plans had disappeared all together.  

But this story is not about that (mainly); but about professionals in the workplace. It seems to be such a rare thing these days, that employees take the time to look at you, or even act as if they really care you are there. Yesterday was different. The first thing upon entering the building, we were both met with a smile, eye contact, and "welcome to AT&T". Even though that first contact was with another couple, working through whatever they were there for, he acknowledged our presence, letting us know they knew we were there. This is exactly what is needed in any business doing business.

In less than a heartbeat, another employee was on her feet, coming our way. Excellent! First step to getting my blood pressure under control...and causing me to think we could possibly get this fixed, once and for all. I would be able to navigate our online presence, again. I had brought my laptop with me, so I could show them exactly what was happening. I seriously don't like using small devises (iPhones), to do business on. And, I figured if they could see what I saw, the problem would be solved much easier than me trying to explain the issue. I had already tried that. Twice. By addressing it on my phone. All that created was more anxiety, which ended with me hanging up on the last poor guy, after the third time answering the same question. I knew a visit to the brick and mortar store was in my future. 

Sooooo...I guess this is a shout out to our local AT&T store on Walnut Street in Cary, NC. Thanks to Christalyn (second contact) and her Assistant Manager (third contact...wish I could remember his name...such a great guy), we were able to walk out with our problem resolved, having been dealt with by kind professionalism. I had no doubt the Assistant Manager knew the answer to our dilemma, because of the confidence he extended by looking at me while I spoke. There was no looking away, no head down, no fiddling with other things while he listened. Just clear eye contact. There was an immediate disarming when met with this very obvious solution-knowledge individual. He was there for one purpose. To fix that which was broken. And the only way one can get there is to first listen to the why, and then proceed with attentiveness. You can always tell when someone is listening to what you are saying, and when they clearly, are not. Yesterday, we hit the jackpot of professionalism. And now my life has meaning...*wink *wink

Loving true and honest connections, here you will find me...in Mary's World.

Ambiance That Quietly Speaks Volumes

 

First, we feast with our eyes. Then with our nose. Those two senses alone, tell us if we should relax or tense up. Anytime I step into a business, the first thing that tells me if I want to stay there, is the ambiance the owner, or manager, has created for their guests. The next thing that alerts me is the smell of the place.

Being in business for decades, I have had more than a few clients make comments about how my house must look. The creative strain started many years ago while going through some rough patches. Possibly it was there inside me all along, just waiting to express itself. But once I allowed myself to release it, the desire didn't take long to grow to where I found the need to temper it down, at times. It was my get-away from the norm.

My husband and I have always lived the simple life, catering only to life sustaining needs. In our early years of marriage, we didn't have money to use for the non-essentials. Creativity was all I had to work with, always looking for things to decorate my home with, usually finding them at garage sales or gathering from things others were just throwing away. It didn't take long to have more than enough to fill any nook or cranny I might find.

While packing for the move to NC, much of my treasures got thrown out because of time constraints. I couldn't be in two places at once, so accepted help in sorting and loading for the big move. Couldn't have done it without the generosity shown us. However, without my eye on every little item I had collected over the 39 years of living in Oklahoma, much got lost in the mix of "what to do with this". 

Once in our new home, I went through a range of emotions when I found out that many things I loved were no longer in my possession. But...me being me, it didn't take long to replenish with up-dated, more beautiful, STUFF! Much to my husbands dismay. In our existing shed; his work shed, there are shelves overhead on either side as you walk in. On the right, is my recently closed Elements Salon totes, full of seasonal decorations. All labeled with "Salon Spring/Easter" "Salon Summer" "Salon Fall" & "Salon Christmas". On the left, are totes labeled, "Home Spring/Easter" "Home Summer" "Home Fall" & "Home Christmas". They ALL need to be downsized, once again...

This new season of my life...this new chapter labeled "Retirement" has thrown me a serious curve that I didn't see coming. The drive I once had to decorate every space (inside & out), is beginning to diminish. It feels as if there isn't any real need to go to all the trouble of putting up and taking down just for the two of us. Our girls and grand-girls visit a few times throughout the month, but both daughters have families that are priority and time constraints don't allow for being able to just walk next door to see each other. First of all, they don't live next door, and secondly, life can be super busy when you have a 9-5 and family to tend to. I'm happy they tend well to the necessities of their lives, but it sure does leave a house feeling empty, even though it isn't. 

Now that even the salon is in my rear view mirror; where traffic and praise was plenty and where my ego was stroked a bit, I find myself questioning the importance of it all. And quite frankly, it scares me.

However...my husband and I still enjoy the ambiance, and joy, decorating for each season brings to our lives. So, I will most likely continue to dot our surroundings with items that beckon the senses to enjoy the comings and goings of the seasons as they dance their way through our lives.

After all is said and done, I must admit, the mood set in any shell of a home, speaks volumes as to the mental status of the homes occupants. Creativity is placed inside us all from the time we are being formed and nurtured, inside our mother's womb. It's a God thing. We ALL are created to create. In one way or another. And to worship the only true creative God, in whose image we are made. The master of all things we see. One might say, "But Mary! God didn't create the computer you are typing on. Man did that." To which I would respond, "There is a miraculous network of neurons and matter, created by a loving God, called 'the brain', so that any human desiring to create, can." 

This creative vein I have is so simple, but shows its own worth through the desire it manifests. May it never cease. May I never allow the lack of having crowds who stop to peer into my business studio to take it all in, keep me from creating. I don't know. Maybe God enjoys watching me live out this new chapter. Seeing what I will do with it. Watching, inspiring me, as I navigate this 180.

Slow and steady is my pace these days, but...as always, here you will find me...in Mary's World

What's the Best That Could Happen?

"You always think of the worst thing that could happen, Mom," said my daughter, after yet another caution was uttered by her mother. Always the worrier...

I don't remember just how long ago that sentence was spoken, but it pops up in my head every now and again. When the situation warrants it, I suppose. But she was right. I do. It's the "cover all the basis" in me. It's the need to be safe...to be in control, to be able to confront all the bad that could happen, before it happens. It helps me be prepared. You know...just in case.

I've walked a few miles in my lifetime, and have seen what unpreparedness puts in our hands. I've made a few missteps, a few clearly wrong decisions, to not wish it on anybody. But, once I got my head on straight, I began to see the beauty waiting for me to embrace it. Waiting for me to accept that just possibly there was a best case scenario waiting to place hope in my heart, and that life didn't have to revolve around the fear of all the what-ifs.

When I allowed my shoulders to relax and my lungs to breathe deep, life changed. The seeds of hope actually started somewhere around 1973-74. But I'm guessing it was because of the first 26 years of my life being lived much differently, those weeds of doubt and fear took a bit of time to completely be dug up and destroyed. And still, to this very day, I have to be cautious of allowing the winds of change to blow in a whole new harvest of those weeds.

Being a business owner for 50+ years also taught me a thing or two. One can't, one shouldn't, plan a success story without first evaluating the pit-falls of a start-up plan. One must have enough forward thinking to be prepared for the "what-ifs" while holding onto that vision placed inside your heart for the best-case scenario. 

Over the years, I have heard so much negativity about speaking something into existence. Coming from a charismatic background, "normal" people would make fun of us for believing something could actually come from that mindset. What they didn't understand was the why behind the phrase, and definitely not the how. I never believed we could just say, "Let there be...." like God spoke light into the darkness, and it would be so. Instantly, at least. But, what I DID believe was that I could quote Scripture, the written Word, back to myself and it become so embedded in my spirit that it actually gave birth to belief. And many times that belief led me to speaking something into existence. Stay with me here...

Think about the times you've been successful during your lifetime. Did you ponder whatever it was that caused your heart to beat a little stronger? Did you do research of how you might get from here to there? Did you begin to see the hope of actually getting where you wanted to be? Did you begin to see it more clearly as time wore on? Of course you did! And I would bet that during this time you talked to yourself. You searched for proof you could do whatever it was. You encouraged yourself. You fought back the fear of doubt and defeat, as your heart reached for what seemed impossible. Am I right? If so, then I would say you spoke something into existence.

I read somewhere that if you think you can't, you can't. But, if you think you CAN, you CAN! Over the years my vision became one that believed anything was possible. Anything was reachable if we just believed it was. There would be work to be done, of course. First, we have to convince our minds that it is indeed possible. Then we can begin the process of bringing it to fruition. Nothing is free, but everything is rewarding if done with a pure heart. There must be challenges to see victories.

It is by the work of our hands and the steadfastness of our minds, that we can experience best case scenarios. I would go so far as to say that it is by the renewing of our doubting minds that we attain greatness. That our vision changes enough to be able to see the "what-ifs" as only flies surrounding stagnant thinking. Yes, we must face those what-ifs so that we may be at least somewhat prepared when flies begin to swarm. And they will. We must have an alternate route, a plan for dumping the stagnant and beginning anew with fresh vision for those times we make wrong choices. Challenges will always present themselves. Such is life. It's always the darkest before the dawn. 

Having always been a risk taker, I've built. I've risked. I've won. I've lost. I've learned plenty. Looking back I can see that it was the times of believing I could do anything I put my mind to, success came. Just as we "eat with our eyes before we eat with our mouths", so it is with whatever our spirit prompts us to do. We first see it within our mind, begin to speak it with our mouth, then put our hands to the task. 

What's the best that could happen? Keep those weeds of doubt to a minimum! If they become over-grown, we have a problem.

Speaking hope...speaking life into my journey, here you will find me...in Mary's World. #myjourneyamongtheunseen #lifeissues #ICanDoAllThings #thebestoflife #fightingfear