Dove Sayings

Dove Chocolate prints messages on their wrappers. Instead of having the wrappers I want to keep with great sayings all over my desk, I will add them to my blog instead:

From Dove Chocolate wrappers:

• Take time to reflect on the beauty that surrounds you!
  
• Girlfriends prefer you listen, not give advice.
• Make it happen, every day.
• Learn to let go.
• Life is about creating yourself.
  
• Inhale. Exhale. Smile.
• Don't let anger rent a room in your head.
• Remember, everyone has story.
• Be still, breathe, know - you are fine.
• Be downright silly every once in a while.
  
• Living well and being happy is the best revenge.
  
• Never let others' opinions change the way you feel about yourself.
  
• Be who you are - originals are much more valuable.
• You are SO worth it!
  
• Do what feels right
  
• Life is precious and an opportunity for you to make every moment count.
• Live in the present.
• Failure is.... only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
• Learn something from everyone you meet.
• Make a list of your dreams.
• Make "someday" today.
• Your presence is often the best present.
• Do not look back and ask why, look forward and ask, why not?
• Don't think about it so much.
• Be a good listener to your friends.
• Keep believing in yourself and your special dreams.
• Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can.

Returns

I rushed to Burlington Coat Factory to return two shirts I bought 30 days before, because the receipt clearly states you must have receipt and bring back within 30 days. Well, after waiting in a long line, and the computer went down, I finally whisked to the counter only to find out it had been 31 days. Not only that, you CAN return it without a receipt after 30 days, you just get store credit. ARGH! So much for rushing that day. Ugh.

Then I returned a few small things at Target two days later. As I stood in the short line I read on a nice sign that if you don't have a receipt, just show them the credit card you used and if it has been within 90 days, the system will find the charge on your credit card and voila! You magically get credited without hassle and without a receipt. WOW! GREAT customer service.

Then I go to Walmart two further days later. The line is short, but I am there so long, the line gets SUPER long behind me. I have ten things to return. Three items on one receipt, and four more items on three additional separate receipts. The lady is NOT happy with me at all and had the bedside manner of a grape that talks shit. I was not happy. Then come the four items that I cannot find a receipt for (trust me, I searched everywhere for them!). I tell the grape, "I was told I can bring these back without a receipt, as long as the amount does not go over $50". And she replies in her grape tone, "Someone told you that?" "Yes," I replied... "I have done this before (can't you tell by the number of receipts I have?)." A $48.84 Walmart gift card later, and I walk into the meat of the store and proceed to spend that amount and 4 times more. :) (I bought new frames and groceries for Mom!) BUT - I didn't buy any clothes so there will be no returns with THAT receipt (that I have stored in a place I can find - just in case).

Stressful Destresser

My beautiful friend Sharon Townsend suggested I walk to de-stress. So, while my Mom was in the hospital, I decided one night to grab my new rollerBlades and skate in my neighborhood to destress.

I had some rollerblades that I LOVED but they broke after about 8 years and I didn't know where I had bought them. The next ones I bought were too big. So then I decided to try rollersKates - those were always fun! But, the ones I bought did NOT work well on the asphalt and I almost fell several times.

So while I looked for a better pair of skates with smooth wheels, I ended up buying a new set of rollberBlades in my correct size because skates are hard to come by unless you buy them from the Internet. :(

The sad pair of skates that SUCK!

Well, I put the new, correct-size rollerBlades on and they sure felt more comfortable than the other pair that were the wrong size. lol. As I rollerBladed along, while listening to my ipod, I had been gone about 15 minutes when I realized the right wheel was crooked; extremely crooked, actually. I tried to straighten it out as I skated along and WAM! I fell. I landed on the top of my left hand and scraped up my knuckles. Ugh. I got up, and wiped the embarrassment off my ass and as I skated along some more I wondered if it was a pebble that caused me to fall... and then I noticed again the severe crooked wheels and as I straightened my right foot, WAM! I fell again. Shit! This time I fell on my left knee and again on my palms and forearms.

I decided to take them off and walk all the way home with them under my arms. As I walked home, I realized it could have been a lot worse - broken bones, landed on my face, cracked my head open, etc. I was pretty fortunate for the scrapes only, even though they stung like hell.

So, what should have been a wonderful de-stressful time turned out to be very stressful. I got home, called Mom, and she immediately could tell something was wrong. I found the band aids and neosporin and limped upstairs. :(

De-stresser marks, right after the fall(s).

I have been rollerblading for over ten years and had never fallen until that day. Dag nabit!! Well, I have resorted to walking with the dog...

Pizza is Easy

I love being able to order pizza online! I just sit here and a few clicks and there it goes, ordered and charged to my credit card!

Ahhh.... technology.

If You Died Today....

I was driving to the hospital today after I won a league match to spend some time with my Mom while she is still recuperating and it donned on me if I died today, I would be okay about it.

I had this sense of be-ing surrounding me. I had a sense of completeness. I am very happy with all that I have accomplished in life and feel if I was to die today, I would not go scratching and clawing and wanting to be back because I wanted to do more or should have done this/that or had regrets. Nope, not me.

I know it sounds morbid, but think for a moment if you are happy in your life; satisfied; content; blessed; fulfilled. I feel I am very blessed. I hope my friends and family feel the same way.

Let me bore you and list a few specific examples as to why I feel blessed:

• I had a memorable childhood that I like to reflect on - growing up in the Texas Hill country along the Frio River
• I not only went to college, I had a blast in college.
• I LOVE my job.
  
• I have had wonderful pets in my life (still do).
• My Mom and I live together and I love being so close to her.
• I drive the car I always wanted as a child.
• I live in a house I always drove by and wish I lived in.
• Customer service (helping people) has been my overarching goal in my professional life and with my hobby (passion) and with my job I help people every day and with my passion, I ran a Tour for women to achieve their dreams and I also became an ambassador of sorts for Texas tournament players.
• I have designed my dream cue and play with it now.
  
• I won a tournament.
• I have been in love.
  
• All I ever wanted was for my Mom to be happy - I think she is happy.
• I am blessed to have dabbled and had a little talent in poetry, art (drawing), photography, webdesign, webgraphics, and yet also a mathematician.
• I have good friends and family.
• I was able to love my Dad and get to know the true, dedicated, loving man he is before he passed.
• I had a beautiful wedding.
• Was able to be a part of a great leadership program at work.
• Had a dear friend help me in my mid 20s from being overly sensitive toward everything in my life.
• Many very amazing people have crossed my path and come into my life.
  

Don't get me wrong, there are still things I would love to accomplish in my life.

And of course there are things that have happened to me in my life that I don't wish on anyone. I just try not to focus and dwell on the bad, sad, unfortunate things that have happened - that list would be longer than the one above!

But I live life knowing that everything happens for a reason and more importantly, I try and learn from everything that happens - the good and the bad. I don't see things as "bad" things happened to me - I see them as growing experiences; learning experiences; LIFE experiences. I suppose it's how I can look at things that make me realize I am truly blessed.

If I died today.... I'd be okay.

(of course this blog post is being written almost 5 weeks after my severe depression lifted. I wonder if I would have thought the same during that time? I sure hope so.)

Remember, it's how you look at things

Another great quote. I'd like to keep reminded of this:

"Everything hinges on how you look at things."
— Henry Miller