Advertising with the Mermaids... is a great way to get your business noticed. The Mermaids of the Lake website is an online magazine, reaching thousands of readers.
If you had to describe 2009 using one word, what would it be? Mine would be "humility." For the first time in many, many years, I felt humbled by many situations in my life - my work, my finances, the overall economy, and through altruistic situations.
Being humbled is a positive quality, although it doesn't always feel that way at the time! Being on-top-of-the-world might feel a little better.
But it is at those times of challenge and of feeling small that perhaps we learn the most about ourselves and the people around us. Doesn't being humbled make us realize who we can really count on? For me, it has helped me to grow in my spiritual life. It hasn't always been easy, but it has been necessary.
For the coming year, I hope to use the word "success" to describe 2010. Success in some personal pursuits as well as in business is my goal. I'll let you know how it comes out.
How would you describe this past year of your life in one word? What word would you like 2010 to epitomize?
If we receive a fair response, we'll run a story on this topic in Mermaids of the Lake.
Yesterday as I was driving to a meeting, I realized that I forgotten my cell phone at home. For a moment I panicked - What if the kids need to reach me? What if there was an accident? What if my house burned down?
Should I turn back and get it? If I did, I would surely be late for my meeting. Driving along on the freeway, I actually felt inadequate not having my cell phone lifeline by my side.
What if it's ringing at home? My personality was split like the scene in the movie, "Contact" where Jody Foster is about to go to into space in the alien pod. Her thoughts were running rampant, and yet concurrent to her thoughts, she had a voice of reason trying to mediate her feelings.
It was at that moment that I realized how truly ridiculous this inane conversation with myself was. Who was I kidding? There wasn't going to be that much need for me to have a cell phone with me. My kids were accounted for after school; and there was very little chance of a fire occurring in my home.
Looking back 15 years ago or farther, we never had cell phones. People actually talked on real phones in a home when they needed to reach someone. And gosh, the world survived! Kids grew up, parents went to work, groceries were bought, and everyone was basically okay.
Now, I see women who are stay-at-home Mom's pulling out of their driveways at lightning speed with cell phones attached to their ears. Really now...what is that about? They are home all day! What it is about, I believe, is a feeling being competent - even important.
Cell phones give identity to teenagers, and they are now defining women and men all over the world. Teens stand there like zombies getting a stiff neck texting all day. You go to Starbucks and adults have their cell phone sitting on the table in front of them. It rings and they set the phone not to answer. It's the ultimate popularity contest. People call and the ready recipient of the call has the power to make a decision as to the importance of that caller.
You my friend are shut down! Your friends are all available, but your call will not be answered! Wait though, maybe if you send a text...oh yes, so less confrontational. Yes, I am sitting alone in Starbucks and I don't want to answer my phone, but perhaps I can reply in text. That way, they will know how busy I am and that I can't be bothered by the mundane of talking!
If I want to be bothered by the mundane, I'll head on over to Facebook.
