Wanted: Ultra Ray Lighthouse

I work for a local college by day. Yesterday, we disenrolled students for nonpayment, which is not unusual as we do this every month, after every due date. Today, a student's parents came into our office who wanted to pay for their daughter's classes. I explained to them that the payment was due yesterday and their daughter's classes were gone. I explained that now she needs to attend the first day of instruction and obtain an add code from the professor if the class is still open. They were not happy. The mother said to me while looking me straight in the eyes, "We need to speak to someone else. You are upsetting us." I did as she requested and called for a manager who basically said the very same thing I said, however, I guess she did not make them upset.

I'm trying to figure it out. Did I remind them of someone from a past experience whom they did not like? Was my lipstick on wrong? What about my tone? Was it in any way mean-spirited? What to do.

Whenever we hire anyone new in our office, we always tell them to never take anything personal. If someone is upset, it really is not about you. For the most part, I believe this. I wonder though at the same time if maybe the unseen is doing its thing. Incidents like this one certainly make life interesting as long as they don't drive you to distraction, and maybe we are not meant to figure stuff like this out as we just do not have all the information.

I do not believe in accidents. In everything that happens and everyone we meet, there is something there for us to look at, which is why I want to figure out today's incident so I can prevent it from happening again.

I think it might have something to do with my heart. Maybe it wasn't open and I was just rattling off what I had told others who had visited our office earlier. Maybe I didn't listen to them the way they needed to be heard. Today, I will take a deep breath and with each breath open my heart, and listen to others more carefully. Today, I will spend more energy on what is not seen.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/daniel_goleman_on_compassion.html

Long Time, No See

Sometimes, even though you may have your beacon on, and your eyes open, you miss some of the most important and life-changing moments that your life has to offer. It takes more than just living consciously to feel in-tuned with the Universe; The Universe that's inside as well as outside of us. It takes bravery and strength. Yes, just is case you didn't know, it takes bravery to face yourself head-on, and yes, strength, so that once you stumble onto a truth, that you are able to see it for what it is, claim it, absorb it, and then transform it into something that will move you toward evolving into the person you know yourself to be.

Life is ever-changing and will always be ever-changing. Just when we think we have a handle on it, something or someone will come along and prove us wrong. This is nothing new to most of you who might read this. Life is a struggle, but you know, it's okay. Whatever comes along, we will work through it. We will be okay.

Over and over I hear that blogging is narcissistic. Nah, I don't believe it. I think it is a reflective tool that can be used, and is used, like a journal, and more often believed that no one is reading any of the thoughts coming out of the writer. After all, if it is truly narcissistic, then that would mean nobody is reading and everybody is writing. After nearly three years absence, I've started blogging again, and who knows, maybe someone will see this post and ask me about my books, and if I have finished them. But if no one sees this, that's okay too.

My beacon is on, my eyes are open. I am brave and strong. I am a writer. I am here, now.