They got me

While grocery shopping this weekend, I fell for it. Like most folks these days, my hubby and I are on a budget. I try to get the most bang for our buck each visit to the grocery store. At the check out, I have my coupons ready for the double, my store discount card handy, and my crumbled list in hand- the list from which I did not deviate even though I was slightly tempted in the baking aisle.

However, this weekend they got me! While reaching for a gallon of milk, my attention was diverted to a product that has some of the best packaging I have ever seen. So sleek, so beautiful. As a result, I couldn't help myself. I added the product to my cart confident that it was worth it. I spent $1.79 more than I had bargained to do all because this product looked so amazing I knew it must have a flavor comparable to the package. Silly? Well, kind of. However, it does taste as good as it looks and I got a treat for us to enjoy this week for less than $2! It didn't break the bank and it made me and my hubby happy.

International Delights -thanks for flavoring my world (well my coffee anyway). And, I hope and pray whoever designed the packaging for your new product line receives a major award!

I feel a little strange now that I know I am not immune to the clever marketing schemes of food companies. I guess the only comfort is knowing that I fell victim in an area where I am already weak - coffee.

Life Lessons....

We have all had our share of joys and sorrows no doubt. I know I am constantly learning things in this life from both the joyous times and the sorrowful times. On some things I can be a slow learner, but once it sinks in it usually sticks with me. Lately, I've been thinking about some of the life lessons I've learned to date.

The most recent being: Every choice you make has consequences, good and bad. If you suffer from undesirable consequences as a result of a choice you've made, learn from the pain! Now, this is not an epiphany that is going to shock the world, I realize this. But, it is very humbling when you find yourself suffering painful consequences from a decision that you sincerely believed to be - with all of your heart, all of your mind, every ounce of your being - a good choice. The serious ramifications of such a choice can be so extreme at times, that you honestly feel like you will be crushed from the weight and severeness of the punishment. Yes, this is humbling because while you are frantically searching for the "control Z" so you can undo this pain and suffering, you actually realize that you caused this pain and suffering. Only after you discover your responsibility in the ordeal, do you realize that your only choice is to suck it up and work through the pain and hope and pray you learn enough from the punishment your enduring to never, ever make the same choice again. That's a tough one in my book!

Another is that you can't put your faith in people because they will always fail you. Now, this is not to say that you shouldn't be in relationship with people. The simple fact is that no one is perfect. I've learned it's better to love freely and trust those who have earned your trust, all the while knowing that they - just like you - aren't capable of perfection. So, inevitably people are going to muck things up sometimes and that's life. If you put your faith in God, versus people, then you won't be disappointed. The truth is that while people are prone to failure (I know I've failed many times - and I'm sorry to any and all that I have let down in the process), but God never fails and He always keeps His promises.

Finally, another lesson I've learned recently is that you really can't judge something or even someone unless you have lived it or experienced it in some way, shape or form. Even then, you shouldn't judge. After all, isn't it Biblical? Just not lest ye be judged (Matt. 7:1). Being on the receiving end of harsh judgments from people who are simply clueless about a situation has taught me that you absolutely have no room to judge anyone or anything unless you have in fact have experienced it. And even then, don't judge it. Instead offer your understanding, help and support. Judgments don't help anyone or anything! One thing that goes hand in hand with this life lesson is the fact that for us mere mortals, the truth as we see it and believe it is based on our perception of something. Our individual perceptions are relative. They are developed based on our own experiences. Therefore, it's difficult to fully know the whole truth and nothing but the absolute truth regarding someone or something. As a result, our judgments are most likely inaccurate, despite the intent. The bottom line is that judging is not productive. Do something productive - get off your high horse and help someone or change something. If that someone isn't in a place where they want to receive help, then take a nonjudgmental step back and make yourself available for when the aforementioned person is receptive to your help.

These are just a few of the life lessons I have found invaluable. While learning them was painful, it was worth it. I sometimes forget them and the relearnin' hurts, but it too is worth it. I know that these are just a few of the many lessons I'll learn in this life. My goal is to learn them well the first time so I don't have to repeat them too often along the way!

Feel pressure to post....

Now that I have this blog (and really I just started playing with this to see how I could incorporate a blog into a project at work....), I feel compelled to post something, anything.... But what to post? It's January - New Year's resolutions worth posting about? I guess that's good enough.

Ok, so this year for the first time I did not write down New Year's resolutions. My hubby and I make a point to talk about goals and such on/around New Year's Eve religiously - we make these elaborate goals and lists in a fresh, new planner (I know, we're party animals!). 

This year, the resolutions were more of the same... try to improve body and soul, etc. Per the agenda, we discussed financial goals and revisited our budget (shudder!). The one thing that was different this year was the fact that I decided not to write anything down. Now, I'm a list maker. I enjoy making lists, completing tasks and most of all, scratching things of the list. Heck, I add things to lists just so I can cross them off! I wouldn't be able to keep things straight in life if I didn't have a list - just wired that way I guess. 

But for some reason the thought of a list of New Year's resolutions hanging over my head is just too much - I know I'm going to fail. So, I make the silly list on New Year's Eve (or other designated time for the annual ritual) and then proceed to have guilt whenever it crosses my mind throughout the year. It's a vicious cycle and this year I decided to end it! No more list for New Year's resolutions!

And just like that it's like the curse was broken! Suddenly, I actually enjoy accomplishing the things that hubby and I discussed on New Year's Eve! I like taking care of my body and soul and I don't have guilt or anxiety - strange how freeing not making a list can be! Amazing how that list, that annual ritual, was holding me back! 

I know it's only mid-January, but I have hope that this year will be different. This year will be the year that I actually accomplish goals. I'm sick of planning and talking, I'm ready to start doing. 

So, I hope 2009 is a year of doing - a year of accomplishment. And, maybe I'll start a new ritual. Maybe on New Year's Eve 2009 I'll make a list of the things I actually did - then cross them off one by one in celebration of a productive year! Or, I may be depressed that yet another year passed me by and I didn't accomplish those goals. No! I will not that let happen, for 2009 will be a productive year and I will celebrate the accomplishments... Or at least I'll get a running start... oh my... feeling some pressure now. Here's hoping for a productive January - we'll see what February brings... 

Guess it's time to jump on the blog wagon

For a few years now I've heard the term "blog" used by young and old as well as famous and not so famous folks. I get what a blog is, and I think I get why the blogging phenomenon caught on - and appears to be here to stay. 

As a public relations professional, I should know better than to allow myself to be a Luddite. However, that's just what I've done with blogging. Now, I feel as though I have some massive catching up to do in order to fully utilize this blogging deal. And I'm a little apprehensive about the whole thing. 

As a result, this is my first feeble attempt at blogging. Sure, I could do better. Sure, I wish this, my first blog entry, could be some masterpiece that would forever have its own place in the vast world wide web. But that's not the case today. Instead, I simply share a few insignificant thoughts and perhaps a little bit of fear regarding the now infamous blog.