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Amanda has written 72 articles so far, you can find them below.


Infect others with joy: How to fight your boss

Filed under Note to Self by on June 3, 2010 at 8:00 am {3 comments}

I have what you might call a toxic boss.  She has days when she’s fine, and she has days when she’s downright vicious.  Yesterday, during our morning meeting it became clear to me that we were all going to have a very bad day.  The mood was set.  Anger was the dish we were to eat.

Usually, when I realize she’s in a bad mood, I respond by hiding, keeping my head down, avoiding her at all costs, and being as quiet as possible.  I cling to the hope that, if she can’t hear or see me, she might forget I’m there.

Yesterday I tried an experiment.  I decided I would not let her ruin my day.  Instead of her infecting me with her bad day, I would infect her with my good day.  And so we fought.

I went to work armed with 4 cups of coffee and this little gem….

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Yeah, that’s The Bible.

Romans 12:21 for those of you who might be following along.

My boss isn’t really what I’d describe as evil.  I’m fairly hopeful that she doesn’t have the minions of darkness carrying out her bidding.

I used that verse as my personal mantra all day.  It’s similar to “kill em with kindness,” or “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”  I kept a caffeinated bounce in my step and a bright smile on my face.  I dismissed her comments.  When she spoke to me in a critical way I responded with smiles, laughter, and jokes.

By the end of our first conversation she was laughing with me.  By lunch time she was chatting with me and all the hints of the morning’s unpleasantness were forgotten.

Coffee and Jesus helped me fight my boss!

Don’t let a negative person infect you and ruin your day.  Be stronger than they are.  Fight them off with happiness.  Overcome a lousy attitude with a good one.

I am certain that there will be days that my boss is more angry than I am happy.  She will still win some, but I’m still going to try.

Fight the good fight! Has this technique worked for you?  Will you try it?

(Photo by: The fabulous Ash Makemson who insists this cat is yawning and not angry.)

Post Mortem: Behold, the Lost finale explained

Filed under Pop Culture by on May 28, 2010 at 8:59 pm {no comments}

This guy clears it all up if you had any confusion.

This summary works perfectly for the final season.  Maybe the back half of season 5 as well.  However, pretty much everything from the first 4 seasons is ignored in the new narrative.

The entire tone of the show changed and the writers seemed to abandon all the elements that they had weaved into the story.

The finale was good, but it didn’t fit this show.  I wish this had been the finale for Battlestar Galactica instead.  Lame.

Does anyone really like change?

Filed under Note to Self by on May 27, 2010 at 8:00 am {no comments}

I hate big decisions.  I really really do.  A decision means that something is going to be left behind.  Whichever alternative you don’t pick is going to remain an abandoned possibility.  A road never traveled.  A future self you will never be.

I always wonder if the other choice would have been a better one.

Despite the fact that I moved 1000 miles from home on what boiled down to a whim, I am terrified by the idea of change.  Whenever I’m faced with a life altering choice I find myself frozen in indecision.   The move was a fluke.

When you’re young choices are simple:  peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese, play outside or build a fort out of blankets.  As you get older choices have more meaning.  The consequences spiral out of control into your future.  Every new choice has wide reaching impact on your future and who you will be.  Where will you work, or live?  Will you go to school?  Where? What will you study?  Who will you date and be friends with?

There are no easy answers.  No one makes choices for you, and if they do, they’re frequently the wrong ones.   The ridiculous thing that I think most of us forget is that change is necessary.  If there is any aspect of your life that you are dissatisfied with then the only way to improve it is with conscious decisions and change.

We don’t have the luxury of a time machine or a crystal ball.  So it is usually impossible to see what effect something will have on your life.  But if we knew the outcome to everything where would be the fun?

So…..  should I take a pointless transfer at work?

(photo by alex-s)

Written by Pop Culture

Open Question: Now that Lost is over was it worth your time?

So….  I feel compelled to write something about the Series Finale of Lost, but I haven’t been able to find the motivation to keep up with this season.  I’d like to say that I’ve had better things to do with my time, but that’s not even true.  The better things have consisted of watching Arrested [...]

May 24, 2010 2
Written by Note to Self

Say yes to adventure!

I am a really boring person sometimes.  I can fill days and weeks with watching reruns of old tv shows while sitting on my couch. Forget nail biting, or neglecting laundry.  This is my worst habit, wasting time.  What’s worse than just wasting the time is that I complain that nothing exciting is happening in [...]

May 19, 2010 0
Written by Pop Culture

Are pets a blessing or a curse?

If you own this cat, it is certainly a blessing.  You always have fluffy entertainment.  I don’t even usually like cats, but I want this one.  This cat is clearly awesome. This morning we have some amusing videos for you to enjoy.  Nice low key entertainment.  You’re welcome. Kitty has a spectacular vertical leap! Squish [...]

May 17, 2010 0
Written by Note to Self

An easy way to find new inspiration

“So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains And we never even know we have the key” ~Already Gone by The Eagles It’s pretty easy to get stuck in a routine.  Weeks blend together and you feel trapped in the necessity of earning the bi-weekly paycheck and the general upkeep of [...]

May 13, 2010 0
Written by Note to Self

Are you too distrac… Is that a butterfly?

We live in an age filled with wonderful distractions.  300 cable channels at your fingertips to flip through and still nothing is on.  At least DVR was invented so that if you plan ahead you will never be without TV. If the television isn’t your particular interest there is always the internet.  Some of you [...]

May 10, 2010 1
Written by Rants

Why do you complain?

“Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. ~Lily Tomlin I would be lying if I said I didn’t complain.  I do.  Frequently.  In fact if my mouth is moving there is at least a 40% chance the words falling out are some kind of “complaint”.  I tend to rant about lousy things [...]

May 7, 2010 0
Written by Note to Self

Level up: Learn the skills your dreams require

We all have things in our lives we’d like to change.  Some things we have control of, and many things we don’t.  Being unable to control our circumstances doesn’t mean these things won’t change, it just means we have to be patient. Being patient isn’t just waiting though. The only thing you can really change, [...]

May 5, 2010 1
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