Too Big
Ξ September 24th, 2008 | → | ∇ ramblings |
There are times when life gets overwhelming. When it seems as though the mountain of things to get done is simply too large. Cool thing is, I really believe in that whole “God won’t give you more than you can handle” type stuff. That everything “life” throws at us can be consumed. One bite at a time.
Although I believe these things, sometimes I need a little reminder. Years ago I cut out an advertisement from a magazine. I keep this up at my desk at work:
While the woman balances the elephant, the tagline says “No task is too big if you refuse to think small.”
It has been ages since I cut that out. Hell, I don’t even remember what it was selling. But I love it. Elephants have always been special to me and the message was just perfect. Just as perfect as another ad I have hanging (at home on the side of the fridge that I see if I am at the sink). It is for a long forgotten product that has an unhappy man sitting on the subway platform waiting. He looks pretty bored. Kind of sad. Behind him there is a subway car open and several clowns waiting for him to join them. Tagline says “There’s fun stuff all around you, you just have to know where to look.” So true, so true!
ANYhow, do you do anything little to help you remember to stay on the right track? Some rock that you rub, a small figurine that you gaze at, a photo, a key phrase that you repeat, chicken balls that you shake? What works for you? Spill…
on September 24th, 2008 at 3:00 AM
I have a bunch of Lucille Ball quotes from an old calendar. I never cared for Lucy really, but the woman had some phenomenal inspirational quotes:
One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.
I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.
If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do.
Luck? I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work - and realizing what is opportunity and what isn’t.
Also, I have all these people like you who are so encouraging and supportive and help keep me on track!
on September 24th, 2008 at 5:53 AM
One day about 2 years ago, I was having a really bad day. REALLY BAD I just wanted to quit my job and live in my apt and not deal with anything. I left work and went to pick up the princess and she was just learning to walk, that stage that is the run/walk/waddle/fall. She came r/w/w/f over to me and gave me a huge hug and I just sat down and hugged her. Now I keep a picture of the kids up to look and and breathe. I stopped getting as stressed about crap that I have no control over…oh I still get stressed but instead of just sitting and freaking out, I walk away, vent, sit down and look at the kids and realize that they are more important.
on September 24th, 2008 at 6:51 AM
I subscribe to “It is what it is…”
on September 24th, 2008 at 7:03 AM
On my desk at work, I have a ton of stuff up (trust me, I have needed this lately more than you know…):
- an awesome quote from Frederich Nietche
- pictures of myself as a baby (reminds me to keep life simple…)
- one of Finn’s more poetic entries (printed and posted with her permission) I printed off the color printer when printing on the color printer was “illegal” due to budget issues (reminds me that anything can be obtained if you want it bad enough…)
- my “quote of the month” on my desk calendar
- A stuffed gecko with a pencil through its head (reminds me that regardless of how bad it gets @ work, it can get (and used to be)a LOT worse.
I am writing too much.
-
on September 24th, 2008 at 8:06 AM
I fiddle with my wedding and engagement ring when I am feeling overwhelmed. it reminds me that I have a husband and family who need me to stay focused and get through the crap. Even when it’s them who are the cause of my stress….
and I constantly ask the sky “Really? Really?? What did I do to deserve this?”
yeah….or I blog til I feel better… hehe
on September 24th, 2008 at 8:36 AM
I just masturbate.
on September 24th, 2008 at 8:44 AM
I’m trying to come up with something, and the only thing I probably do is reach out to friends who I know will make me laugh. I don’t even think I let them know I’m having a bad day - I just pick them to cheer me up.
Also, Gilda tends to keep me out of those really bad days. I haven’t had one in years. I’ve had bad days, but not ones where nothing can pull me out of it. My mind is so focused on Gilda that I can’t and don’t waste too much time on me. Does that make sense?!
I love elephants, too, by the way!
Hope you’re having a great day today, though!
on September 24th, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Zoloft.
on September 24th, 2008 at 10:05 AM
I concur with Avit. Look at the clouds and masturbate. And bleach your anus for God’s sake. How can you walk around with that thing in that condition!? Sheesh.
on September 24th, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Breathe. : )
on September 24th, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Damn, I don’t. Maybe I should…
on September 24th, 2008 at 11:15 AM
I remember where I was in July 2007 and where I am today. That always does the trick. I have noooooooo idea how I got to this side of what seemed like an insurmountable change, but I got here.
on September 24th, 2008 at 1:33 PM
I’m with Poppy. I think of where I was, well in my case, not even a year ago, and how far I’ve come. I was just discussing that with an old friend last night - how empowering it is to overcome things, and when you do it’s really cool to look back and say “I did that!”
‘Course the fortune cookie fortune taped to my monitor helps too “There are many unexpected and thrilling surprises in store for you!”
And then there’s the one I got today - “A fond memory will soon lead to a renewed friendship.” Too weird.
on September 24th, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Heh, but I also have a nifty ad on my fridge.
Top of the page says “Ever seen a grown man cry?” and the whole page is a photo of a shattered Crown Royal bottle. It just made me giggle. (I think I found it in some old Sports Illustrated from like 1984 - was in one of my cars when I bought it.)
on September 24th, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Well, there’s that bottle of Mandarin Vodka in my freezer . . . no, wait, I drank that during Hurricane Ike.
on September 24th, 2008 at 3:10 PM
My poster says, “If a pretty poster and a cute saying are all it takes to motivate you, you probably have a very easy job. The kind robots will be doing soon.”
Keep your chin up. Things will get better.
on September 24th, 2008 at 5:07 PM
I’ve got all kinds of quotes all over my office, as well as pics of my daughter & her family.
and Johnny Depp without a shirt. ;-)
Please pass the chicken balls!
I have been given this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it. (Just one of them)
on September 24th, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Jack Handey.
on September 24th, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Well I’m not sure this qualifies but even though I am a salesman extraordinaire and have made prolly 1000 ice cold calls I still have to cowboy up before every one. It isn’t anything I do or say but for just a second before I get out of the truck I just think “you da man” and then its on.
In a tough spot I usually go with the same advice I give.
Chin up
chest (tits) out
big girl panties pulled up tight
take the bull by the horns.
Locker room motivation in HS football locker
“the ONLY thing between Champ and Chump, is U
on September 27th, 2008 at 3:43 PM
are you kidding me?? i didn’t reply to yinz? and no one called me on my shit. hmmm. interesting. i love you guys. but imma gonna reply now…
win -
you are so right…the internet really does have folks who are great about kicking ya in the seat of the pants. loved the great quotes you typed out. thanks! (britt said i should go to adam’s party as lucy. i’m not going to do it, but still, would be fun.)
rachel -
oh how i love the r/w/w/f that you described. although i refer to it as the toddler’s “godzilla walk” because they really do the side to side thing that he did. and it makes me giggle. which reminds me, the laughter of a child is good medicine.
lisa -
oh so true. it always is what it is. all i can change is usually my attitude!
robin -
you, my friend, are free to write novels over here. don’t ever apologize for writing too much (there is no such thing!). i loved your comment. thanks.
cissa -
ohhhh, the wedding ring is a great reminder of what is important. i used to wear a ring made of three intertwining bands that i bought while on a phenomenal weekend with my mom and my cousin. the three bands reminded me of us and how great simple things can be. sometimes it reminded me of the father, the son and the holy ghost, too. anyhow, rings are great for centering us!
adam -
unlike you, i can’t masturbate at work.
sybil -
of course you made sense! i loved this comment.
just beth -
well that is one answer that i am thankful i don’t need to tap into!
donnie -
ok, that made me laugh. nutbag.
john -
in through the nose, out through the mouth. repeat.
britt -
really? nuttin? i’m surprised.
poppy -
i’m so thankful that you did. the you of today is pretty damn amazing.
cuz sarah -
i have fortune cookie fortunes at my monitor, too. hehe
danjeruskurves -
mandarin vodka, eh? sounds yummy. i keep svedka clementine vodka in my fridge. that stuff rocks my little world. in a good way. (the “becktini” is mostly svedka clementine, the juice of a half an orange and a splash of filtered water. damn fine drink…heaven!)
donnie -
we weren’t talking about motivation, we are talking about calming and centering. just stuff to help me from being overly stressed.
tug -
damn great quote. wow. thanks for sharing. (and hell yeah, johnny depp would help to take me to a better place. mmmm!)
gwen -
he is wicked funny…i should pick up one of his books for the plane rides.
sage -
i’m totally stealing the “cowboy up” phrase. you can’t stop me. although i love that you pull your big girl panties up. there is something new that you haven’t mentioned before. hehe
on September 30th, 2008 at 10:36 PM
cheeks found a rock about 5 years ago. a smooth green river rock. i think she ‘found’ it at the in-laws in one of my mil’s decorations but who knows. what’s important is that she gave it to me knowing that green is my favorite color and that 5 years later she still randomly checks to make sure i have it. and i always do. i have left the house without my glasses, watch and wedding band but i have never left without her rock.
cause she’s my rock. i forget that sometimes but i’m reminded every time i put my hand in my pocket and feel it there. sometimes i forget what i’m being reminded of but it’s comforting all the same.
on October 12th, 2008 at 1:16 PM
hey, heather, sorry for the delayed response. i left for a ten day trip on the 30th and somehow never responded to this comment. but i love that cheeks gave you a rock that is important to you. when i was in elementary school i painted a heart shaped rock pink and glued glitter to it. we think that is what started my mom on her rock collection. when mom passed two and a half years ago that rock was one of the first things i wanted to be sure to bring home with me. she had stones that cost big, big bucks and i looked for a pink painted rock.