#IWSG - Celebrate Life
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Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
The awesome co-hosts for the March 4 posting of the IWSG are Chemist Ken,Suzanne Sapseed, and Shannon Lawrence!
Now for my post. I’m taking a different route for this
month’s IWSG post.
Today would have been my mom’s 80th birthday.
Of course I’d much rather be celebrating it with her, but because I can't I’ve decided to celebrate with you.
Though I learned many things from my mom, like sarcasm,
fashion, and impeccable manners, there is one lesson she taught me that
I’d like to share today. I was in my early twenties. I had a good job where
people liked me. I had an office of my very own near the front doors where I
could see people coming and going. Co-workers depended on me. I felt important.
Then we got a new Regional Manager.
The first thing he did was move me to a desk in a common
area near the warehouse so a salesperson could have the office. Then he
outlined some crazy expectations for my job, took away some of my favorite
responsibilities, and made me start reporting status updates on my projects. I
went from feeling independent and needed to feeling insufficient and not trusted.
I was pissed. I was beyond pissed. I was ready to quit. I stopped at my mom’s
for a glass of wine and to complain one evening. She listened and nodded. She
asked clarifying questions and nodded some more. Then she said something I’ll
never forget. “Sure, you could quit. But wouldn’t it be even better to make it
right before you quit?” I was so angry about the situation I didn’t even
understand her, so she patiently issued the challenge that instead of leaving
in a huff, wouldn’t it be better if I proved myself, earned his respect, and
then left? Left on my terms.
See, that was my mom. Always doing things with grace. She
was absolutely right. I did make things better before leaving that job—with my
dignity in tact, thank you very much. It certainly wasn't easy, but boy was it worth it.
So today I’m celebrating my mom’s birthday by challenging
you to identifying the situation in your life that you’d like to turn your back
on, or give up on, or blow up with a cherry bomb, and turn that situation
around so that when you do finally leave it, you’ll leave it with a smile,
knowing it was a job well done.
Or maybe you don’t want to leave. Maybe it's just a
situation that you need to improve on. Is it an aspect of your writing? Do you
want to step up the support you offer your fellow writers? Do you hope to remove
the hostility from your social media presence? Have you always wanted to be a
part of a collaborative blog, but you’re too shy to ask? Then take the steps needed
to make it better. If you want to compliment people more, set a daily reminder
on your calendar. If you want to finish that manuscript, write 100 words in it
each and every day. 
That was a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI loved the story and the sentiment behind it.
So often we turn our backs on bad situations, and while I know that sometimes we have to just leave, to protect ourselves, sometimes improving things before we go is the right thing to do. For ourselves, and as a service to others.
p.s.- I still think of my mom's advice a lot, too. :)
Good point - there are dangerous situations that can't be fixed and which you shouldn't even try!
DeleteThanks for the visit and the kind words, Amelia.
Beautiful, inspiring post! Turning out hardships around is the best thing we can do for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteHard work, but rewarding. Thanks, Chrys.
DeleteA lovely story, Kai. An inspiration to look at those bad situations in a new light and do something positive about them. What a wonderful relationship you had with your mother. Smile.
ReplyDeleteYep, Mom and I were close. Smiling back.
DeleteWhat a lovely story. Your mom sounds very special. I volunteered to do something for my writing group and now that I started it, I understand why the previous person quit the position. But I've decided to make it better. Your post was perfect for me today.
ReplyDeleteYay - I'm so glad. Good luck with the project, Susan!
DeleteThoughtful post, Kai! Sounds like your mom stays with you in many ways. I did have to leave a job in 2007 when I had a similar experience. I tried to make it work for a while but I was miserable so I resigned. I wondered if I stayed on too long, trying to make it work, and felt like I'd been through a trauma. But surprisingly I came back to the job in 2013 and I'm glad I did. We never knows what life has in store for us!
ReplyDeleteI have turned my back on dating for years, but a friend and I are going to attend a speed dating event together soon. Takes bravery to face something!
Funny that you ended up back there again. Good luck with your new adventure. Sounds like you've got opportunity for some fun!
DeleteAlways try to find something worth saving in a project before giving up. You'll be so much happier afterward. Thanks for the inspirational post.
ReplyDeleteThere is always something worth saving - even if it's the tough lessons learned. Thanks again for hosting!
DeleteWhat a great tribute to your mom. And thanks for the kick in the pants. I needed that to get me going.
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm always good for a kick in the pants. Or maybe I always need a kick in the pants. Hmmm, must ponder that one.
DeleteHo wonderful that you appreciate your mother and have such a great rapport with her. She sounds like an amazing lady. One of my worst failings was staying in bad situations when I was younger, thinking it was the "right" thing to do. Basically being a martyr. That all stopped when I hit my 40s and had gone through a LOT. I turn my back very quickly and easily now. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Lexa. There are situations where no one benefits by your sticking around. Thanks for reading.
DeleteWhat a wonderful relationship you have with your Mom. You were wise to act upon her advice. I think of my mother every day and feel her spirit with me. I have two daughters and I hope that I have left them with some good advice and examples they can carry into their future lives.
ReplyDeleteI think that was the first time I learned how to regain control of a situation instead of just letting things happen to and around me. Mom was my business adviser. Very smart.
DeleteWhat a wonderful thing to learn from your mom. Basically, to do the right thing. Carry that with you always.
ReplyDeleteAnd congratulations on all of your books. I have seen them all over this past couple weeks.
Thanks Alex! Good to know my books are getting around - 'cause I know you do! The internet that is. You know what I mean. Right?!
DeleteThank you for sharing your mom's birthday with us. What great advice! I had a couple bad work situations where I improved it before leaving, despite the way I was treated. I had less grace than your mom, though. I just couldn't leave it imperfect.
ReplyDeleteLol - I don't think that's any less graceful. Setting things right before you move forward is important, I think.
DeleteFantastic advice. Your mom is so right.... Dignity and grace IS the way to go. Always act professionally. I've been in several situations like yours, and I always bit my tongue and did as your mom suggested. Great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. On Monday I am finalizing a job for a client who acted very badly toward me. She pushed every one of my buttons. I had decided to cancel our contract through the mail, but decided to have the final paperwork signed in person. I rose above my anger and will leave this situation with professionalism and my dignity in tact....
I wish you the best in the less than ideal circumstances. Sometimes it seems like the we are the only ones who value our own professionalism and dignity, but there is always someone on the outskirts watching, learning, respecting. It isn't always the easiest way, though!
DeleteI remember never listening to my mum's advice, and now I say the exact same things to my children (and they probably listen to me as much as I listened to her!) At the moment there's nothing I'd like to change, although I will be glad when some projects get completed!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
IWSG Co-host in March :)
It's nice to be in a good place in life. Hope you stay there for a long, long time. And of course your kids are listening. They'll realize it sooner or later - just like you did. Lol.
DeleteThis post is really resonating with me. Don't want to go into specifics on the inter-webs, but thanks for the post (and thanks to your mom!). Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI hope it's a good resonating. I know this can sometimes be one of the toughest things to work yourself up to do. Hugs back.
DeleteHappy Birthday to your mom! She was so right, though I would have felt the same as you. Someone new came in and took things away from you. Sounds like you were up to the challenge, though. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteThat was the first time I ran into that situation and I'm surprised by how many times it has come up (in varying degrees) since. Life can be hard - for those of us who try to be responsible.
Delete