Friday, January 13, 2012

Whichever Way the Toilet Paper Rolls....

Are you a perfectionist?

I have struggled with this for years. Everything had to be ‘just so,’ and no one could ‘do it as good as I could’ so I ended up wearing myself out doing everything.

One day I heard speaker Joyce Meyer talking about perfectionism and how it can be an undue stress upon our lives. The perfectionist within me disagreed…my life was just perfect as it was. However, she suggested that we could give ourselves a break by remembering it is all about Purpose….not Perfection. As long as the intended purpose is being met, the means to get it done should not matter.

It took a couple of days for this message to sink in. I finally got what she was talking about – while sitting on the toilet. I had been raised to put the toilet paper roll on the holder with the paper coming out from the top. This kept the paper sanitary because if you put it on ‘upside down’ you would have to roll it with your dirty hands to get the paper instead of simply pulling it toward you. Besides, pulling the paper toward you is more efficient than rolling it from under the roll.

I don’t know how many times I've had to 'fix' the toilet paper at my home and office because others loaded it wrong! It was irritating to take the roll off, turn it around the right way and put it back on the holder before I could use it. One day I figured out that both ways give you the paper! And that is what its purpose is in the first place. You may have to work a little harder if it is put on ‘backwards,’ but you can still get it!

Remember 'toilet paper' the next time you stress over something in your life.

Is the Purpose being served even if it COULD be done better your way?

Purpose over Perfection – it took toilet paper to teach me a lesson!

Perfection is not necessary because the Purpose is being fulfilled whichever way the paper rolls!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Be a Rebel

I have been breaking the rules and bucking the system practically all my life.

A high school teacher told me I needed to get married right after high school because I was not smart enough to take care of myself. I run my own business today. I take care of myself.

I have a debilitating health condition. The doctor told me to settle for an easy career. I disregarded her advice.  I wanted to be a dentist. 

A college professor told me that girls could not understand organic chemistry. I got a perfect score on his final exam and earned an 'A' in every science course after that class. This same professor wanted me to continue my studies once he realized that I could, indeed understand chemistry.  They offered me a job after graduation, but I wanted to be a dentist. I did not want to work for him; I wanted to work for myself.

I attempted to obtain early acceptance to dental school even though my college adviser warned me that no postgraduate school would accept a student without a college degree. I was accepted to the University of Tennessee, College of Dentistry three hours short of a degree.  I am the only dentist I know without undergraduate degree.

In dental school, pregnant women were expected to drop out and join the following class after the birth of their baby.  Of course, I got pregnant, but I fought to stay in school and graduated on time with my class.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

An Unconventional Goal Setting System...That Works Everytime!

This is not your typical 'goal-setting article.'

I am not going to ask you to set specific and measurable goals then determine long; detailed action plans to achieve them.

No, my system for setting goals is simple but not conventional.

First, determine what you don't want in your life - then change it into something you want.

I wanted to lose 15 pounds-and keep it off. Over the last twelve years, I have gained and lost the same 15 pounds repeatedly. Apparently, the goal of losing weight was not was not working, and I was playing havoc with my metabolism due to the 'weight roller coaster.'

A threat from my doctor got my attention. He told me that I was pre-diabetic and that if I did not lose weight and get into shape, I would have to take diabetic medication the rest of my life. I hate to take medicine! Plus, I do not want to have diabetes!

This motivated me to get in shape! I cut out the sodas, exercised six days a week, and ate nutritious meals. I wanted to be thin, but once I lost the weight, being thin did not help me maintain the goal. It was the dislike of taking medication that helped me achieve and maintain my goal.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Wait to Worry

What were you worried about this time last year? How about the last six months? Last Month? Did you know that only about 8% of what we worry about ever comes true? Instead of worrying about something, make a note about what is bothering you on your calendar thirty days from today.

In thirty days revisit the problem —you may be surprised that it was not worth worrying about in the first place!

This was good advice a friend gave me last month.  The same friend who contacted me today on Facebook to tell me her 8 year old son was just diagnosed with leukemia.  Now the things I am worried about do not seem so big. 

Thirty days at a time.  That is how she is living life now.  Chemo, PET scans and exams all appointed in thirty day increments. 

We are about to begin a new month.  So I wrote the things I am currently worried about on the calendar for November 30th:
                                             paying end of year taxes
                                             losing the last stupid stubborn ten pounds
                                             finding the money to buy a new sensor to take xrays at the office
                                             finding the time to winterize the boat

None of these concerns are life and death.  My children are healthy. I will wait to worry about these things.  I will check in at the end of the month to discover how much of a concern these things really were - while an eight year old child fights for his life.  Kinda puts things in perspective, doesn't it?