Is the glass half empty or half full?

"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work."

This is a quote by Aristotle that I feel not only refers to my job as an office associate but my job as a wife, parent (to my doggies), and friend.  Some days are harder than others.  After having a stressful and busy day at work, sometimes there is nothing I would like better than lounging in bed relaxing, watching CSI or something on the Food Network Channel.

I am so blessed to be working for a company that cares for their employees and their families ..... and is solely based on shared values.  Values that each have their own specific and special meaning which spell out TEAM SERVCO.  At the beginning of each month they reintegrate the importance of one of the values.....today's Value of the Month is ENJOYMENT.

Here's a little tidbit from the memo I received this morning.

ENJOYMENT

Everyone wants more enjoyment at work.
One way to get it is by managing the stresses of life and work.

A teacher, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water
and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from
20g to 500g. The teacher replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it."

"If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our “burdens” (anger, frustration, fear, worry, overwhelm, etc.) all the time, sooner or later, a burden becomes increasingly heavy and takes a toll on us. Just like the glass of water, we have to put it down for a while and rest before deciding whether to pick it up again or release it. After a short refreshing break, we may have a new perspective, feel lighter, have more energy, or see a solution we haven’t thought of before."

So, from time to time, take the opportunity to relax,
reflect on the positive things in your life, share a joke or funny story with a colleague,
step outside to breathe in fresh air, or just sit quietly by yourself.
You will be amazed at how much better you feel after this brief break.

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Life is short. Enjoy it!

Wow!  Now I know why my ears are ringing!  It's all about perspective and how you view it.  Is the glass half empty or half full? A solution is just around the corner, but sometimes you just might need to take a little break to realize where it is hiding.

Time and time again I've tried different diets, exercise routines, food choices and yet I've never really found the one that fits ME.  And it just might be because I was lacking enjoyment.   After taking a much needed break and doing some soul searching, I believe I am on a road I've never traveled before.  A road that I am enjoying.  

Early morning workout routines (stretching, abs, walking, strength training), adding whole grain products, keeping sweets to a minimum, incorporating more fruits and vegetables into each meal, running, mountain biking are just a few of the steps I've been taking.  And I just might add hiking and swimming to my activities to help keep me motivated.


As I make progress down this new road I may come across a few bumps and whether I choose to step in them or move around them, only time will tell when I will make it to the end.  But one thing I do know for sure is I'm going to ENJOY each and every moment (no matter how stressful or crazy it may be) I spend traveling down the road.