I know! He is not a green cricket. It does not mean I cannot pretend though.There is an interesting variety of wildlife living behind my hotel. I first met this little guy Saturday morning. He was just chilling on the wall. I stood there and talked to him for a moment. I am not going to lie, I was secretly hoping he would respond in a wry british accent like the worm from my favorite movie. Sadly, he was too regal to stoop down to talking to a commoner such as myself. Perhaps I should have introduced myself as Princess Quirky… or at the very least, Lady Quirky. He looked like he was sitting there pondering the state of the union.
His royal Highness… Sir Buddy Hoppy. He was up pretty high on the wall. I had to stand on my tiptoes to get this pic.When I came back to the hotel for lunch, he had moved so he could better survey his kingdom. I am going to name him Buddy Hoppy since he makes me think of a Cricket, and that was the name of the guys who played with Buddy Holly. Somewhat of an homage to home… He still did not talk to me. The disappointment was palpable. I was feeling a little rejected as I walked to the car.
So, as I was driving through the parking lot to return to the hospital I saw this round squatty creature scurrying along the curb. My first thought was, “what an odd looking cat.” Then, I realized he had stopped and was sizing up my car. I squinted and realized he was a raccoon. I wanted to get out and make friends, but I have been taught to avoid carousing with the wildlife.
Since I was on my way to get tacos, and there is seldom a day in which Benecio Del Toro does not cross my mind, I figured this handsome chap was probably named Bandito Del Toro. It probably also helps I was listening to Willie Nelson, and so Bandito just felt like a good name.
Bandito Del Toro. He is handsome, charming, and I imagine he speaks with a bit of latin flair.Every day I have kept a watch out for my new friends. I have not been able to lay eyes on them again. Until today. I was slowly driving past, peering into the brush when I saw shadows moving behind the fence where the dumpster is kept. With bated breath I put on the brakes and got my phone ready. Bandito came flying over the wall, and then he stopped and waited. He appeared to be ushering someone or something over the wall. He seemed a little impatient if you ask me. Then, I saw her creeping over the wall. She was moving cautiously. I think she was scared. Perhaps she does not like heights either.
Bandito was rushing his lady friend. I think she was nervous about the climb.I was about to roll down the window to tell him to cool his jets and be supportive, and then he moved a little closer to her, and I swear he was talking her down. Then, he waited for her to walk in front of him. If I did not know better, I would swear he put his arm around her for a moment. Bandito Del Toro has a girlfriend! I did not get a chance to learn her name. Maybe I will figure it out in the morning while I shower. All kinds of random brilliance occur to me then. I can also sing just about anything.
I witnessed a very lovely act of flirting out in the wild kingdom today. I must admit, I would not mind finding my own Bandito to reassure me sometimes.
So, this is what I think about during all my alone time. Imaginary scenarios between green royal crickets and dating raccoons. I may be losing my mind.
Hi Mom! Happy Birthday! I have been working on a post about you- and I should have started earlier. The words are not capturing the amazing spirit you have. So, I am going to keep working on it. I do not want to undersell how amazing you are.
I can’t say it enough, I am so grateful you are my mom. I could not have done anything without your support. You are helping me raise my son, and you have still been raising me this whole time.
I am who I am because of you. I think it is a good thing. I turned out okay.
I love you so much! I am far away working, and missing you terribly!
I am so glad you are my mom. Imagine if I had a different one, there is no way I would be as badass as I am. (hehe.)
You have been so supportive, all you ever told me to do is to be happy. To follow my dreams. You have allowed me room to make my own mistakes, and you have supported me through recovering from those mistakes.
You are one of my best friends, even if you don’t like the same movies, music, or books that I do. You will listen to me prattle on and on.
You have learned about the things that interest me, and you can talk about anything I am interested in. See?
You have always been my champion, and you have fought for me, helped me fight for myself, and helped me pick up the pieces if I made a mess of every thing.
I love you so much. I hope your day is special and wonderful.
PS. Thanks for taking care of my son. And my cats. And me. Gee- a mother’s job is really never done is it?
I love you. Happy Birthday. Even if you did name me wrong. (hehe)
I love it when people claim they are not judgmental. They love to effusively explain how they feel that the downtrodden are just needing a chance to change their lives. They preach about how they do not judge people based on their race, financial situation, or occupation.
I have found the opposite to be true. As a society, we seem to ostracize and attack the outliers on both ends of the spectrum. We don’t like the smartest, richest, handsomest people. We also don’t like the people who are ignorant, poor, or ugly. So, we pretty much act like jerks all the way around.
Let me use this meme as an example:
Hmmm. This was probably supposed to be funny. I found it sad. We have to tear down everyone who is doing well in life. How is that fair? Why can’t we just be nice?First of all, how do you define someone as rich just by looking at them? Snotty? WTF? Maybe they are just shy. Furthermore, acting as if asking someone who is well-dressed if they work at the grocery store implies people who are employed there are not well-dressed. This whole thing is just disturbing. I completely understand this is supposed to be a clever joke, but I just can’t help but notice it is still judging someone based on how they look.
Treating someone badly for any reason is not okay. To single someone out based on your preconceived notion of their situation is really pretty shitty. Why are we such bullies?
One of the things I have noticed about people is how so many people feel the need to tear down other people. I do not understand this. Why would you punish someone for being successful? How is this behavior okay? Why do we condone marginalizing anyone?
I have noticed judgmental attitudes in myself. I can be an absolute asshole at times. It is rather disappointing. I do not want to be so shallow that I judge people without any information. I have to keep an open mind and give people a chance.
This whole “us” versus “them” mentality we have is terrible. Why can’t we just be people? It seems like we walk around trying to categorize people into these neat little packages. Personally, I have never met a person who actually fits into their stereotype. Didn’t we learn about all this in our after-school television marathons?
We are spending too much time figuring out why we should not like someone, or why they have not earned their position in life. Both ways!!! Successful people did not earn it, and the unsuccessful people are victims.
I sincerely doubt these situations are quite so black or white. I am beginning to understand how complex our societies are. We should really consider being a little more careful, and stop perpetuating these cycles of abusive behavior. You do not get to ostracize people for not being poor, just like you are not supposed to mistreat poor people.
We need to get a grip and learn to treat all people with respect. I am pretty sure we all learned this in kindergarden. Be nice. Even to the rich people.
Okay. I get it. You are a little crazy and you are suffering from some psychological pain. Someone hurt you or you have a chemical imbalance which leaves you without proper coping skills. Your life is a disaster and you have nothing to live for.
You want to be infamous or to leave your mark on the world.
You may just be a selfish prick and you feel the need to spread your misery to the rest of the world. OKAY. We all get it. You are a bad dude. You want to spread your message of hate and pain. You want to share your misery.
Perhaps you have a political or religious motive. Maybe you are a racist asshat.
Stop! Stop murdering people who are just minding their own business, living their lives and not doing anything to you!
I am sickened and disgusted by these freaks who insist on ruining lives to spread their angst. There is nothing to be gained by shooting up a church, grocery store, school, or movie theater.
Last night a movie theater in Louisiana was the latest mass shooting. The gunman committed suicide after he shot and killed multiple innocent people. What an asshole. I want to feel some compassion, however I don’t. Movie theaters are my place of worship. I go there to experience stories that enrich my life. It is my church. I should be safe there.
I cannot wrap my head around this senseless violence. I cannot fathom how you get to the point where your BEST idea is murdering people. STRANGERS! This is not appropriate revenge. This is not a crime of passion. You are not teaching your tormentors a valuable lesson. You are not preventing future injuries.
This man was 58 years old. This was not a moment of adolescent angst. (Which would not make this better, although sometimes it is easier to understand the mental illness involved.) Here is my question: How do you get to the point that murdering strangers seems like a good idea?
Well, screw you. Leave my safe place alone. Stop hurting the people who live in our communities. Leave the public alone.
If you are having crazy thoughts, go to a psychiatrist. Get a therapist. Call someone who is equipped to either help you, or lock you away from the rest of the world.
I know it is naive, but why can’t people just mind their own business? Why do they have to tear down other people in society? I don’t understand why bullies exist, and the bullied sometimes lash out. The real problem is that they fail to target their tormentors. They are hurting other innocent people. It pisses me off.
I do not really understand this kind of mental illness. I do not understand psychopathy.
If the problem is that your mommy did not love you enough, or that your daddy was not there, then go talk it out. Try to rise above it. Just stop. Stop hurting other people.
On another note, if you are a bully is who tormenting these sick souls, stop it! They don’t have the coping skills to deal with the pain. You are just as guilty as they are.
Seriously people! Why can’t we just be nice? Why can’t we respect other people as people? It does not sound like it should be that difficult. There is nothing good about keeping others down. There is nothing to be gained by hurting others.
I wish there were a good answer. Oh! I know. JUST STOP! Enough already. Let’s build people up instead of tearing them down. Remember what Thumper said, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.”
Grrr. Stop. Leave my movie theaters alone. I go there to escape. I go there to learn lessons. I go to there to fall in love with a hero. I don’t need to be wondering if the freak next to me is going to pull out a gun and kill me.
I have so many things I want to say, and yet I have no words.
We are not guaranteed anything in life. We have a responsibility to let the people we love know how we feel about them. We have an obligation to be kind and to try to leave the world a better place. Don’t waste your life waiting for it to begin.
So, in the spirit of that sentiment, here are a few of the people and memories I love the most.
I love this picture so much. This costume was logistically more difficult than I thought it would be. He was the perfect little mummy.May as well continue with the Halloween pics. Look, it’s my baby brother- wearing eye shadow! Looking tough Bubba.I would not go to school with crazy witch hair and makeup. I did not want to be seen ugly. (One of my family’s favorite stories.)I can’t believe it has been so long. We did it! One of my favorite pics of my BFF and I.Good times with my dear friends. Love these women so much.Me and my little buddy. My nephew, Kyle. I love this kid so much!Tough Mudder Adventures. I can’t wait for the next one!Me and my other nephew, My Squishy.Kurt and I before the Tough Mudder. He basically held my hand, and let me flirt shamelessly with him all day. Love all my superhero friends. It certainly helps how easy on the eyes he is.My “little bro”- Trevor and my brother, also named Trevor- are two of the nicest guys I know. I am a lucky girl to have all these great dudes in my life.I vote for: it’s always a good idea to get a selfie with the guy in chains.This is one handsome dude. I love his heart. I do not know how I got to be so lucky with a kid like him.Fun times with fun friends.Hanging out in Memphis.Just because we don’t have shot glasses, does not mean we don’t do shots. However, the lack of a corkscrew- did lead to wine bottle breakage… Live and learn.Love these peeps. You guys look so cool.Me and my beautiful mom. She’s pretty much awesome. I am lucky to have her.My first time! With Sushi, get your head out of the gutter…Ty and Granny… He played my favorite song for his talent show. The Entertainer from one of my favorite movies: The Sting.Just a girl and her dog. This was Cinnamon. She was the bomb-diggity.Ty’s first time! …. With Sushi!!! NYC was so awesome. I am so glad I got to share the experience with my favorite person in the whole world.Just us grandkids with Mamaw. Always a good time. I love it when she is game for selfies.Just one of the random things I miss most from my other job…. getting to take random selfies with this hottie. (He is Shannon’s husband- I always send them to her….) It makes me smile.Oh, my Gracie Belle. She is the coolest cat. Moody, temperamental, and my sweet girl. She nurses on my blanket, and she is always glad to see me when I get home. Her sister Bonnie Blue on the other hand…. not so much.My girl Brooke, who refuses to bleach my hair ever again… because the bleach makes me cry and whine… and then I demand to go dark again after the wounds on my scalp heal. Love that she humors my many whims when it comes to my hair.My dear brother and sister-in-law. Trevor and Robin, you guys are a good example of what a decent marriage should be. You love and respect each other every day. I love that you two found happiness with each other.My four guys. I always wanted a “red-headed step brother,” JT, thanks for making that wish come true.I love having all these strong, beautiful, brilliant women as my friends. I think I may have the best group of people in the world. I am indeed a lucky girl.Selfies are always better when you are wearing shades.Yeah…. now, we are all professionals and responsible for real human lives. Scary thought.
So, what’s the point? Well, my life is meaningful because of all these people. There are a lot of other people who mean the world to me too. I am lucky. We have to remember to love our people. Don’t take them for granted. My heart is with my family in California tonight. I will be sending you all the loving vibes I can. I love you guys!
So, yesterday I was downstairs at the hotel, and I met a girl from Minnesota. We commiserated about how freaking hot it is, and I had the sudden urge to look at the pics from my trip in April… or May… whenever it was.
This trip was an opportunity to take a weekend off and write. I used the distraction to refocus on myself. I was not looking for a grand adventure, I was looking for some quiet and perspective. I feel like it worked. I have decided I need to make more room in my life for exploring, and due to my newly acquired self employed status, travel is an option. This is exciting for me. I spent entirely too much time feeling guilty and ignoring my needs.
Words I need to hear every day.
I struggle with knowing whether or not I am making appropriate progress. Am I growing as a person? Am I learning something new every day? Am I making a difference? Am I a good person?
These questions help me remain grounded and realistic. My goals have become much less specific over time, and I am more open to seeing where life leads me. The decision to do the next thing in front of me, rather than work towards certain goals is opening the world up to me.
Despite my attempts to find a statue or a bust dedicated to Work Daddy (This is his alma mater) This guy is the only dude I found. Why have they forgotten their finest alum? just kidding. This is a cute little fella. He does not even begin to compare with my Raider Red though. Guns Up!
I am trying to focus on finding humor in these situations, and I am trying to stop taking myself so seriously. I am just trying to give myself a break. It is okay to laugh and have a good time. It is okay to just be. I don’t have to be on a quest for greatness every single damn day. It’s all going to be okay. I can’t help but wonder if I have done myself a disservice with all these years of criticism and holding myself to ridiculous standards. I have to be okay with just doing what feels right at the moment. It is not the end of the world to make a decision. I am not going to die if I order the wrong thing off the menu. (Well, unless I get food poisoning or botulism.)
Relics. Too bad there is not a shelter for the fallout from our lives.
I doing well. I am making progress. Moving on from my comfort zone is probably the best thing I could have done. I was growing bitter and stagnant. I was full of self-loathing and disdain. In short, I was miserable. We owe it to ourselves to be honest and move on when it is time. We are not doing anyone any favors sticking around when it is not working anymore.
I don’t know where I hope to end up. I am not sure what my future looks like. This is a new experience for me. I am usually scheming and trying to figure out the path I need to take in order to hurry up and get there. Once again, I do not know where “there” is. I don’t have to agonize over plans and goals. I can just be. I can just breathe.
I am enough today. I am enough exactly where I am. I do not have to be searching for that elusive better person I am destined to be. This is the best gift I can give myself. Permission granted. Enjoy the experience of now instead of planning the next one before this one is over. I am so excited to see where this road takes me.
Welcome to my world. It is a bright, fast paced, and loud carnival of stimulating ideas. I promise you, everything that comes out of my mouth makes sense to me, until you are looking at me with that puzzled look. What? You don’t understand the leap? Here, let me spell it out for you. Oh. Wait. You were not there, and you have no idea what I am talking about. Hmmm. Never mind.
Going home last week was great! I got to work with my two favorite people to work with, and I felt like I was back at home. Leaving was hard. I may have cried some. Okay, we all know I cried some. I know it sounds crazy, but this job feels like a spouse. It feels like what I imagine a divorce feels like. I am a little afraid of losing my friends at work. They have been such an important part of my life for so long. I do not want to lose these relationships.
So, where does that leave me? I don’t suppose you want to know I am eating a microwave S’more in a hotel room alone. Solitude does not bother me.
I found the travel brochures. There is one for Lubbock. Hmmm. Only 7 hours away, I could not even drive straight there and back before I have to be back to work.
Adapt and grow. This is an adventure. I have to keep reminding myself of that. I have not been banished to the small town in East Texas. I chose this. I should be happy. I will figure it out. The job is fun. Perhaps I am just tired.
So, while I am all over the place mentally and emotionally, most likely because I need a nap, just know these are the fleeting thoughts that come in and out of my mind without warning. They come and they go. All I need is a distraction. Perhaps a well placed brochure to remind me I am traveling down my path. It is going to be good. It’s okay to have mixed emotions. It may even be a good thing. It means I can consider situations as a whole. I am not looking through some lens that leaves me with a short-sighted view of the world.
Nothing is black and white. It is all shades of gray for me.
I love my new pillow. It is squishy and wonderful. I can ball it up and form it into a perfect nest for my weary head. A couple of months ago, I did not know a new pillow could make sleep such a comforting endeavor. Since he entered my life, I look forward to my well deserved break every night.
I forgot my pillow. Sleep is less fun. I have a little moment of regret and loss every night when I lay my head on the cold, uncaring hotel pillows. They do not cradle my head and leave me feeling secure. They just lay there. It is almost as if they are just doing their job, they certainly don’t go above and beyond. They don’t invest part of their soul into making sure I get a good night’s sleep.
My new pillow takes his job seriously. He works as long as I need him too, and he rarely asks to take off early. (Well, except for that one night when he decided to take a walk off the edge of the bed to the floor. We talked about it and he promised to try to control himself from now on.)
I am finally in a place where my professional life is more secure. I am finding my confidence again. The last several months were difficult for me. I was under intense pressure at work, and it was spilling into every area of my life. I would be bouncing along and thinking every thing was better, then the rug would be yanked out from under me again. I became afraid to take a step. I did not want to fall.
I felt like I was trapped. I did not believe I had the ability to find another job. I did not believe I was good enough to work somewhere else. I had been told I was very good at my job clinically, however my personality and interpersonal communication skills were leaving something to be desired. In a nutshell, I was good at my job, but people did not like who I was! It was horrible. Talk about feeding into the negative self talk. Basically, it did not matter how hard I worked, I was not good enough.
I ended up reacting in unhealthy ways. I found myself locked into a pattern of wildly unstable emotions and I vacillated between wanting to quit my job and digging my heels in and wanting to fight for this job I had worked so hard for. I was losing my grip on reality. I was miserable. The funny thing about all of this is how I did not even know how unhappy I was. I cried at the drop of a hat, I could barely sleep, and I was not very interested in anything.
I find it interesting how a few negative comments can make you question every single bit of positive feedback you are given. It did not matter how many positive things I was told, all I heard was the negative things. It was a non-stop loop. “Nobody likes you. You are not wanted. You need to go somewhere else.”
Now, do not get me wrong I was working hard this entire time to find perspective and to make appropriate choices. I forced myself to try to be happy and to make healthy choices for my life. It was just a constant battle. Nothing came naturally.
The day came where I had to start making some decisions. Did I want to stay or did I want to go? It was horrible. I half heartedly started looking for a new job. I got some calls and offers. I started to find out how many opportunities there were for me. I talked to my family. I discussed it all openly and honestly with my mentors. I went on a job interview and was offered the job. I turned it down. That same week I had an interesting conversation with a recruiter. They had a position open and it sounded perfect for me. The terms were very good. I did not have to move.
So, I interviewed with this hospital over the phone. I really enjoyed the conversation and I was excited to see how it all panned out. It was all surreal. Was I really going to walk away from a full time job for a temporary Locum position? It actually turned out to be the best thing I could have done.
This week has been great. I am helping out at my old job as they are still looking for my replacement. I got to work with Work Mommy on Sunday, and this week has been Work Daddy. I felt like I had returned home. I do not have the panicky, scared feeling I had towards the end when I was leaving. I am simply doing my job. I am spending time with my mentors and I am loving my profession again. Perhaps full time employment is not what I needed.
It is dangerous to place your personal self-worth on your career. I had spent so many years focused on learning this role, and I had poured my heart and soul into it. I felt like a failure. I could not understand how anyone could care about me. I was not good enough.
What changed?
I stepped into a new role. I had very little training, and I was expected to utilize the skills I had acquired over the years. I had to be confident in my abilities or I would not be able to take care of patients. I had to trust people I did not know, and I had to be willing to pay attention and pick up new routines. I had to be okay standing on my own two feet.
Guess what? I did it. I was not perfect, and I found myself feeling inadequate. However, I have been receiving only positive feedback. The amazing part is how I am being supported at the new job, and at my old job. I feel like I have done a complete 180. I am finding my mojo.
I am more centered than I have been in over a year. I feel confident. I have hope for my future. I know I can do whatever I need to do to support my son, and to take care of my obligations. I am enough. I don’t have to be overbearing or demanding. I do not have to go into battle every day to prove I can overcome odds and obstacles. I can just do what I am supposed to do. It is okay to admit I need help. I can ask questions without being ridiculed. No one expects me to be perfect, that was probably all me.
Feeling appreciated is so powerful. It reinforces the benefits of working hard. I am also learning to stand up for myself and to look out for my own best interests. I do not have to ignore my needs to make sure that others are happy. I can be honest about what works for me, and I can insist on meeting my personal obligations as well as my professional ones.
I can make plans today. I can allow myself to do fun things and not feel guilty for not being at work every single weekend. I can take time off without shame. It did not matter how many times I was told to take off when I needed to, I did not believe it was okay. I always felt like I was doing something wrong.
I am learning so much about myself. I am learning to be content. I am finding an intense desire to have adventures and to live life to the fullest. I am curious about the world and my abilities again. I am interested in things outside my job again. I feel like a person again. I had lost all that. I was shrouded in failure. Now, I am so much happier since I shed the cloak.
This kid is back!
Turns out, I am good enough. I am enough. I am not too much and too little all at the same time. I am me. That is a pretty fantastic place to be. I am finding my happy.
I am remembering how to be happy and content. It is awesome. Finding the excited girl I used to be is awesome.
I am finally remembering what it feels like to be have an enormous weight lifted off my shoulders. It is perfectly acceptable to be happy and to love life. Life is good today.
My mother used to say I would argue with a fence post if it would stand there long enough. I am fairly certain she was exaggerating. I was mildly well, in my mind it was mildly, quick to offer an opposing viewpoint when I was younger. To be honest, I just love a good debate. I can generally see more than one side to just about any issue. This makes it difficult for me to choose a side.
I was eight years old when I was given Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. It is basically a manual for interpersonal relationship building. My issue with this book is that it seems to be written for salespeople. Sure, you want to gain people’s trust and to get them to buy into your ideas in the workplace. The book title sounds somewhat nefarious. Am I supposed to be fake and disingenuous in order to get my way?
No.
Once you delve into the book, you realize most of it is a handbook on how to be charming. I do not know many women who have this skill. At least there are not many women who charm me. However, I am a sucker for a charming man. There is some trick some men do. I have watched them. I am drawn in by them, even when I am trying to avoid it.
Do you know the shoulder touch? You are standing there talking to someone. You can be discussing the rain or any trivial subject, and they lean in a little closer. If they are taller than you, which most men are taller than me, they lean down and in a little, and they touch your shoulder or arm. Eye contact is paramount. They speak softly. Then you find yourself feeling a little giggly inside. It does not matter what position they hold on a subject, I find myself agreeing with them! I would fight to the death to defend their point of view. Well, maybe not to the death… but I would vehemently back them up. It is the craziest thing.
What is that magic power???? How do they do that? What part of my inner self are they speaking to? More importantly, where do they learn that?
Sometimes I find myself wondering if they are being all charming and persuasive on purpose, or if they are just that slick all the time. Does my weakness for the arm touch mean I am a sucker? Probably.
So, what’s the point?
There is a certain amount of charm and persuasion one must possess to be a good leader. Assholes are rarely inspiring. There seems to be a level of charisma required to actually inspire change in people. So, I find myself studying this book. It is not about specific leadership skills in a specific field, it is about how to win people’s confidence.
I have to know more about this subject. I think the best place to start is asking one of the charmers I know. I can imagine he will give me a look and refuse to answer the question, but I am going to ask anyway. Here are my questions:
Do you realize you are being charming?
Are you doing it on purpose?
Where did you learn that?
Does it require practice?
Are you careful about when you choose to employ this skill?
What happens when it backfires?
What does that look like?
I assume there are people who are immune to your charms, do you try to change tactics, or do you try to avoid those folks?
Is there anything I can do for you?
See? It always ends up there. What can I do for you? Sneaky, charming men! I am mostly kidding, except I am not. I am seriously a sucker for the arm touch.
Holy Cow, Man!
I was watching Magic Mike on Sunday, and while it is certainly not a study on human behavior, I found myself marveling at the way “Male Entertainers” use charm to make their act more inviting. It is actually about giving people what they want. Of course it helps when they are seriously hot. So, here are some of my favorite pics from google…
I have to get a Rolls Royce.Seriously, can you be better looking?Swoon.Rescue me. Please.
Joe Manganiello is a good example of a charming hot guy. There are a lot more pictures of him I like, but this is a nice selection. He is beautiful. Oh! I got distracted. I was trying to make a point. Oh, well. It seems to be gone now.
It is not only extremely good-looking people who attract me. My newest crush is Anthony Bourdain. I am not sure what it is… I mean, he is older than my mother by nearly a decade. He is certainly not unattractive, but he is no Joe. I think it could be how passionate he seems. When people are passionate about their career, I find myself drawn in. I become interested in what they are interested in. I mean, if they love it so much it must be cool.
So, forget reading books on leadership. Be nice. Find ways to engage other people. Lean in and do the arm touch. Find your passion, and share it with others. It does not seem to be that difficult. Or, if all else fails be incredibly hot and avoid acting like an ass.
PS… I can’t wait to ask some of the charming men I know these questions. I wonder if they will play along and answer them.
The Accidental Boxer 