10 myths about life after graduating

Myth 1:

That your career path will be determined by what you studied in college. Wrong. Unless your field and major is an extremely narrow specialty (and even then) your career path will not be determined purely by what you studied in college. Some people don't even finish college. Blush. Blush. Can I become successful even if I've wasted my teenage years?

Myth 2:

Life circumstances and luck won’t be important to your career. Wrong. Life circumstances and luck will determine everything - from what city or country you work in, to what jobs you take up, to your decision to stay in those jobs. You can read about the luck factor in my life here: People say if it's meant for you, it'll be yours.  

Myth 3:

Your priorities will remain static. Wrong. Your priorities will keep changing. Early in your career, it will be all about earning money, and climbing the career ladder. Later, autonomy, flexibility, work life balance, or taking up a unique challenge and doing something more meaningful, may become more important. Work-life balance may be the most important thing at one stage, taking up a unique challenge at another stage.  What are some one and done mistakes in your profession?

Myth 4:

Education will protect you from unfortunate job events such as layoffs and terminations. Wrong. Education will not protect you. In fact, even though you are highly educated, you may find yourself with periods of unemployment, even long periods. Do I have any advice for dealing with those periods? I sure do: What advice would you give an unemployed person? I also advise you to build up as much of an emergency cushion as you can. How much? So much, that you can view your periods of unemployment, as goof-off periods, your own paid sabbaticals. Let me explain: How does financial freedom change your life? Why should people try to achieve the financial freedom?

Myth 5:

Good grades will be your ticket to success. Wrong. Adaptiveness, communication, professionalism, responsibility, determination, things such as that, will count far more. If not initially, it will definitely count very soon after.

Myth 6:

You will enjoy getting up and going to work every day. Wrong. You will have to get up and go to work every day, in spite of not wanting to get up and go to work every day.

Myth 7:

Your experience will be enough to make a successful job change. Wrong. You will have to prove yourself again, with every job change. And you will not be successful, unless you adapt to whatever the new environment brings.

Myth 8:

Once you are done with your university education, you are done with your education for life. Wrong. You will have to continually retrain and re-certify in different areas, plus add additional skills and knowledge to your skill set; and sometimes, you will have to start down an entirely new career path, completely unrelated to what you did before.

Myth 9:

What you think you are good at, is all that you will be good at. Wrong. You will surprise yourself. As I surprised myself by becoming a commissions analyst, after being an advertising copywriter. You can read more about that here: What are some jobs people luck into?

Myth 10:

Once an employee, always an employee. Wrong. You may think that it’s what your path is going to be, when you graduate. And then suddenly, for some, you decide to go out on your own. As I did. Both in my first career, as an advertising copywriter, and in my second career, as a commissions administrator. You can find out about my why, here: As an entrepreneur, what motivates you the most to pursue your goals?

So yes, as you are driving your career, watch out….there will be surprises and detours ahead.

How can I find activities and hobbies that I can succeed in?

It is a lifelong process.

You don’t have to be successful at a hobby to enjoy it.

We’re a family that loves music.

Singing was a part of every family event.

But we are no Jackson five.

Just people who enjoy singing.

Music took preference over college in my late teens, even though I had no desire to become Joan Baez, Cliff Richards, or Bon Jovi.

We’re also a family who likes to write.

My mom liked to write.

Me and my siblings like to write.

My daughter likes to write.

But we are no J.K. Rowlings.

We are just people who like to write, and enjoy writing.

At any stage of your life, a new hobby might emerge, that you enjoy.

It could be creating things with a Cricut.

It could be painting.

It could be cooking.

It could be gardening.

It could be wine-making.

It could be reading.

It could be playing a sport like soft ball, or pickleball, or basketball, or cricket.

It could be watching movies.

It could be photography.

It could be walking with friends.

It could be an ipad or phone game, a board game, or a video game.

It could be karaoke, or hula dancing.

It could be dress making.

It could be answering Quora questions, or writing a blog, both of which I do.

It is more important you enjoy your hobby, than that you are successful at it.

Success, in my book, is enjoying something so much, you want to continue to do it.

And you find a way to continue doing it.

Yes, it's all about the enjoyment.

At least, in my book.

😄

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers out there. The stay-at-home moms. The working moms. The retired from work moms. The moms to dogs and pets. Hope you find time for a few hobbies and interests, to help relieve the stress of parenting. And to take your mind off worries and anxious thoughts. Which never cease, however old your kids get.  Read before you go: Fun Mother's Day post from 2019.

"Hmm, What Can I Do With This?"

Creative people derive the most satisfaction from creating. So they consume experiences and content, with one eye on the experiences and content, and another eye on what they might create, based on the experiences and content. I will give you an example. Early in my blogging years, I came across some Big Bang Theory conversations on IMDB, and I went, “hmm, what can I do with this?” What I was able to do with it, was to create a series of blog posts, based on conversations between Sheldon Cooper and Penny. The 6 posts were fun to write. Or, "so fun", as my daughter will say. Here's one of them. Here’s another example: Early in my blogging days and early in Twitter days, I thought about the fact that Twitter was named for the sound that birds make, and I went, “hmm, what can I do with this?” What came out of that thought, was a series of blog posts, each written as a letter from a sparrow to the CEO of Twitter, protesting the use (misappropriation 😉), of the name Twitter. The 6 or 7 letters were a hoot to write. Here's one of those letters, now a blast from the past, with Elon Musk owning Twitter, and Twitter no longer called Twitter, anymore. So if you want to be creative, here's my advice...

When you see something, or hear something, or read something, or feel something, or find yourself with some stuff, ingredients, or materials, say to yourself, “hmm, what can I do with this?” And soon, you will be on your way to creating something fun and new. Happy Creating!

Is It Time for a Negativity Fast?

Do lawyers really care about their clients?

Was the coronavirus really that bad?

Were the masks, the shutdown, and the vaccines really required?

Does mad cow disease really make you mad?

__

Is voting completely rigged?

Are Me Too people just out to make a buck, and to make waves?

Do Black Lives Really matter?

Does driving with a seat belt really keep us safe?

__

Are people who ask questions on Quora jerks?

Was Mother Teresa really a good soul?

Do politicians only care about power and money?

Is everybody using the money I pay in taxes, to live on the dole?

__

Is the media radically left?

Are the universities rife with people who want to destabilize society?

Are people who focus on nutrition, instead of medicine, anti-science?

Is education marching towards wokeness, socialism, and anti-piety?

__

What do these questions have in common?

Suspicion, divisiveness, cynicism, are a few things that stand out to me

And it is only through self-awareness and meditation

We can get beyond this negative thinking, and restore our faith in our common humanity.

The Work Is The Master

Wrapped up in the pursuit of your goals, are your hopes and dreams.

To make something of yourself.

To do something important, and worthwhile.

To put your talents and abilities to work.

To show the world, what you are capable of.

If the goal is worthwhile (worthwhile goals involve creating, making, and growing things - things of wonder, things of beauty, things of excitement, things of nourishment), let the work be your master.

When engaged in the work, be fully present.

Obey the commands of your work.

Your future self will thank you for this dedication…

Dear Past Self,

Thank you for being committed to The Work.

For treating The Work from day one with respect.

For never veering from the thought that The Work deserved the utmost attention.

For obeying the demands of The Work, even as you toiled in penury or invisibility.

For staying loyal and faithful to The Work, even when it seemed you were just wasting your time, energy, and money.

You were not “just wasting time, energy, and money”.

Writing to you today is your Future Self.

Who, you will be happy to know, has made great strides with the Work, and is still doing what you set out to do.

You did it. We did it.

Thank you!

Your Future Self

Thoughts

In the humdrum of your day

In the midst of work and play

A thought comes your way

A thought you've never had till that day.

__

Our lives are so small

But our thoughts stand tall.

__

Thoughts take hold of your mind

Thoughts of all kinds

Questions arise

To which answers you must find.

__

And this happens

Even as the birthday candles increase, heralding and marking your age

New thoughts wait in the wings

And enter a well-worn stage.

__

Quietly, without a grand entrance

They appear out of thin air

Thoughts that weren't there

And then that were.

__

Our lives are so small

But our thoughts stand tall

A thought comes your way

A thought you've never had till that day.

Happy Easter: Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you

You don’t have to feel afraid, tired, cynical, jaded, or hopeless.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

In the hugs and kisses of a child, or loved one.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

In all the catastrophes, and ups and downs you've survived.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

+++++

In the old music, new music, and all the music faves that thrill your soul.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

In all the people and moments, that make you feel connected, emotionally fulfilled, and whole.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

+++++

In the friendships, which keep boredom, loneliness, and isolation at bay.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

In the many small interactions, sights, sounds, and experiences, that mark your day.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

+++++

In the simple pleasures of playing a game on your ipad, or sipping a hot cup of tea.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

In the things you watch, the people you meet, the antics of pets or babies, which make you smile, or laugh out loud with glee.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

+++++

In the people who read what you have to share, or hear what you have to say.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

In all the many things that go, like clockwork, every day.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

+++++

In the advances and breakthroughs, you've made in the areas of work, health, family life, spirituality, relationships, and community.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

In all the areas, in which you made mistakes, but were able to pick yourself up, and develop strength, wisdom, and immunity.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

+++++

At Christmas, Easter, on birthdays, or other times, when you you feel whole, and your heart is filled with plenty.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

In the confidence that your spirit is a replenishing source, and will fill up, whenever life leaves you feeing empty.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

+++++

Yes, in these, and in so many other uncountable ways.

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

And you can count on Wonder and "wonderful" continuing all your days

Wonder and "wonderful" will be all around you.

+++++

No matter what happens, and whatever you do. 

++

There will be wonder and "wonderful" things happening to you!

++

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you!

++

Happy Easter and have a wonderful day

And I hope you will join me, when I say....

++

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

++

Wonder and "wonderful" is all around you.

+++++

And now are you ready for some "wonderful" music?

You are?

Then...

Play this and sing along.

Something Moved In Me

I watched a puppy just being his adorable self.

And something moved in me.

__

I watched a toddler doing her bouncy up and down dance..

And something moved in me.

__

I listened to an orchestra playing a majestically beautiful song.

And something moved in me.

__

I saw someone run into the arms of someone else, in the arrivals lounge of an airport.

And something moved in me.

__

I watched and listened to two people exchange wedding vows.

And something moved in me.

__

I watched a graduate receive her diploma.

And something moved in me.

__

I watched a runner breast the tape.

And something moved in me.

__

I went on an early morning hike.

And something moved in me.

__

I watched the sun come up over the horizon.

And something moved in me.

__

I entered a church, and sat in silence with a few worshippers.

And something moved in me.

__

And during each of these moments, I was so glad, I was so glad, that my ego, and mundane, and material concerns, were no part of it.

No part of it at all!

Desk Life

Going to work every day

Tackling the challenges that come your way

Dealing with things, easy and tough

Dealing with people, smooth and rough.

__

Desk Life.

All in a day’s work.

All in a day’s work.

__

Drinking gobs of coffee to get your brain going

What the day will bring, you have no way of knowing

Taking a break, here and there

Mostly pretty much stuck in your chair.

__

Desk Life.

All in a day’s work.

All in a day’s work.

__

Calendar says, oh glorious, you are going to a meeting

Off to the conference room, to find seating

Trying not to yawn, you listen to different people bleating

All the while, thinking of the Chick-fil-A sandwich on your desk, you could be eating.

__

Desk life.

All in a day’s work.

All in a day’s work.

__

Lunchtime comes, and you eat your sandwich, or go out and eat

If you are shy, introverted, busy, or in the packed lunch category, you don't leave your seat

Bathroom breaks may be the only time you stretch your feet

It's when you think, if I could be invisible, it would be neat.

__

Desk Life.

All in a day’s work.

All in a day’s work.

__

Afternoons are for glancing at the clock, time and again

If it's going slow, resisting the desire to exclaim

That heavy lunch, and being up so late last night, you now regret

But you keep sitting in your chair,  because oh, glorious, it's several hours till the end of the day, yet.

__

Desk Life.

All in a day’s work.

All in a day’s work.

__

Finally, it arrives - hallelujah, the end of the workday

You're out of there, before Mr Officious next to you can say "Hey!"

Speeding home, or to the gym, you pat yourself on the back, and say

“Yay, I survived another working day.”

_

Desk Life.

All in a day’s work.

All in a day’s work.

😉

All those in favor of a 32 hour work week, say "Aye"

Build a house where love dwells

Build a house where love dwells

And companionship and peace fill the air

Where words are spoken in gentleness, and good humor

And differences are handled with compassion and care.

__

Where truth is spoken with kindness

And hurts are always made right

Where no one is made to feel unworthy, or unfairly burdened

And no one suffers secretly at night.

__

Where home is a joyful place to return to

A sanctuary from worldly stress

Where each dweller can relax, and be themselves

And do things without fear, or duress.

__

Where compliments are thoughtfully given

And gratitude and appreciation is high

Where help and support can be counted on

And trust and respect never die.

__

Where beautiful memories are created every day

Where spirits are renewed, and hearts are set aglow

Where confidence is daily strengthened

And negativity is left at the door.

__

Build a house where love dwells

From the roof down to the floor

Because a dwelling of love is worth more than

Any token of love you can buy from a store.

__

A dwelling of love is worth more than

Any token of love you can buy from a store.

__

Build a house where love dwells.

Build a house where love dwells.

The Deepest Longing of A Soul

The deepest longing of a soul

Is for a city beyond the self

Where the temporary and the physical don't matter

And where only the eternal dwells.

__

Where your thirst is not for water or wine

And your hunger is not for bread

Where comfort is not found in an earthly breeze

Nor rest in an earthly bed.

__

The longing is for truth, beauty, wonder, love

Out of this world, and not on this earthly plane

The longing is for a grace and reconciliation, that defies description and definition

And cannot be described in terms of worldly joy or worldly pain.

__

It is filled with wonder, and a sense of mystery

It is filled with a passion, that sometimes spills over to awe

It is persistent and eternal, and never ends

Which is why, no matter how much you are filled...

You find yourself still wanting more.

You find yourself still wanting more.

C is for Coddiwomple

From a very young age, I fell in love with words.

My mother was a poet, and wrote incessantly.

That may have had something to do with it.

The newer the words, the bigger the words, the more unusual the words, the more fascinated I was.

2 of my older sisters left India for good.

Another went to Calcutta to study.

I wrote letters to all 3 of them.

I used all the new and wonderful words I picked up from the dictionary.

*Sobriquet* , *ennui *, *zeit geist*, "Floccinaucinihilipilification".

"We can't understand a word of Minoo's letters" one of my sisters wrote in a letter to my mom.

Nevertheless, I loved my big words. 

I thought I was making a super cool impression on everybody.

They made me feel superior.

I managed to find multiple outlets for my love for words.

For instance, when a family friend Janet taught me and my brother the guitar, I started composing songs, and writing my own lyrics.

I ended up with 30 compositions, and no college degree.

I also wrote freelance articles for Deccan Herald.

Cupid’s arrow struck.

Providing me with a new way to use words.

By creating romantic cards.

The cards were a simple folded piece of paper. Couldn't afford anything better.

"You're a magician" is what I might have written on the outside of the folded slip of paper.

"Whenever I see you, everyone else disappears", is what I might have written inside the folded slip of paper.

When I became a copywriter, I discovered I couldn't be pompous, or mysterious, or ambiguous with words anymore.

Multi-syllable words like palatable, delectable, and epicurean had to go out the window.

The finely-honed Shashi Tharoor part of me recoiled, but I got the memo...

 "Tasty", "yummy" and"finger-licking good" were the only way to go.

You can read about how advertising changed my writing here.

In time, I also discovered crosswords and scrabble.

Crosswords perfectly suited my introverted nature.

But I loved Scrabble.

I TRULY LOVED SCRABBLE.

In fact, I don't think there was ever a time in my life, starting from when I was a teenager, that I didn't own a Scrabble board.

Padmini and me would play a quick Scrabble game during the lunch break, when we both worked at HTA.

While Mira Prabhu and me would would play back to back games, sometimes all day long, every time we caught up with each other.

My most memorable Scrabble game was played with Eugene Titus one MAA Day.

A game worth recording for posterity.

My early and obsessive love of words, would result in me landing my first copywriting job on my 20th birthday.

I would continue being a career copywriter, until I moved to the U.S.

Today, I am a freelance Commissions Analyst, but I continue to express my love for words on my Minoo Jha Life Strategies blog.

And I also write on Quora, and on Linkedin.

If I had to pick a symbol to represent my childhood and youth,  I would pick a dictionary.

With its sobriquets, and ennuis, and zeit geists, and floccinaucinihilipilifications, and coddiwomples, it is a perfect symbol of my lifelong fascination with, and devotion to words.

And now, it seems to me, it's your turn.

If you had to pick a symbol to represent your youth and childhood, what would it be?

Maybe it would be a dictionary too.

Have fun thinking about that.

Actually, have fun pondering, contemplating, debating, considering, entertaining, weighing and cogitating what would that be.

Oh how I love words!

When A Me Becomes A We

When a me becomes a we

There's a sense of expectation

And a new energy

Which captivates you, and from which you don't want to be free.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we

That's when, you may suddenly see

That a new way of thinking and living was out there, that you were blind to, previously.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we

You give up being on your own, for a shared vision that feels right, feels wholesome, and feels meant to be

You feel empowered and ready

To journey together, and discover the experiences and joys of a shared reality.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we

You shift from a self-focus, to caring about someone else's happiness and priorities

You are kind, you do your fair share, and make small and big sacrifices generously.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we

You drop your old "Whatever" identity

And start living a life with more heft, more solidity.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we

You make joint decisions, rather than acting unilaterally

You think of the other, whether it's how you spend your time, energy, resources, or money.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we

You learn the meaning of empathy

And what it means to be trusted with someone's limitations, fears, pains, dreams, and vulnerabilities.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we.

When a me becomes a we

Life takes on a new found dignity

And there's a new purpose, meaning, mission, and agency, born of your special unity.

It's a life-altering event that hints of divinity.

When a me becomes a we.

                                        ************************

Written for Valentine's Day 2024 - to celebrate all the mes who have become wes, current, past, and future.

💖

Rasam Reflections

We are all special.

We are all unique. 

10 different people can cook tomato rasam with the same ingredients, and each will taste different. 

Because each person did something different. 

Smashed the tomatoes before tharkaing it.

Fried the tomatoes with skins on.

Pureed the tomatoes.

Sauted the tomatoes till they were brown.

Left the dhal grains whole.

Pureed the dhal.

I remember my friend Mariam saying, when she cooked anything new, she would have multiple recipe books open - with the same recipe - and combine them all.

Isn’t this what most of us do, in one way or another? 

I have always believed everyone is creative. 

Even those who say they are not, I will observe creativity in at least 4 areas of their lives: the way they dress, the décor of their houses, what they do in their kitchens, and what they do in their gardens.

We are all special.

We are all unique.

Each of us brings something special to the table.

Our own special touch.

This is why we should welcome new and diverse friendships, however brief they are. 

Some brief friendships will turn out to be not so brief, after all.

Because friendships are like polar bears.

Some of them will hibernate.

Some of them will hibernate for a long time.

Some of my friendships have hibernated for decades.

But back to uniqueness.

Each of us is special and unique.

But we tell ourselves stories, such as “I have nothing special to offer”, or “everything has been said and done”.

Things are always old. 

Things are always new. 

Everything that is new is a spin on something old. 

Do you know there are over 40 Cinderella movies? The producers didn’t say, “oh, this has already been done before”. 

They knew they could create a fresh twist. 

Plus technologies have changed, possibilities have expanded. 

Whatever you undertake, it will be new.

New to you.

New to all the people who you are doing it for.

New to all the people who are witness to you doing it.

You cannot cross the same river twice.

Don’t tell yourself, “What’s the point of expressing myself? Everything has been expressed, and more eloquently.”

The fact that you are expressing that something will make it different.

Even between 2 people from the same family, there will be different styles and perspectives.

Don’t worry about success.

Just take a chance. 

There are no guarantees. 

Just opportunities. 

And dreams. 

And ideas. 

Sometimes, they all come together.

We live in a golden time. 

For free, we can create a blog. 

For free, we can write a post on LinkedIn. 

For free, we can share our latest thoughts and creations on X, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. 

For free, we can create and post videos on YouTube. 

For free, we can write reviews on Yelp or Amazon. 

The only price we have to pay is the price of our time, the price of our effort, and the price of our courage.

How many of these opportunities are you using?

Don’t let another day go by without sharing your specialness with the world.

Now go make some rasam. 

I know it will have your special touch.

It Could Have Gone

It could have gone

That I didn’t get to right all those wrongs

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I was never able to say hello to my inner lion,  never grow strong

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I never found my wings, and was never reborn

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I never got to meet all the wonderful people in my life, of whom I have become so fond

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I lived without thinking, or thought without living, and never looked beyond

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I never got to experience peace in my life, or to to live this long

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I never got to write and sing and dance to all those songs

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I never stopped worrying about what people thought of me, my life, and how it was adorned

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I never learned to meditate

and the same old same old problems and issues continued to daunt

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That sorrows drowned me, and made me hopelessly sad and withdrawn

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That all those times I lost my way

I could never be found

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I couldn't adapt to changes in the wind, and my ship ran aground

It could have gone.

⏲

It could have gone

That I never got to strengthen important bonds.

It could have gone

⏲

And I am happy

So happy

That I lived this long

And I am happy

So happy

That I became this strong

And I am happy

So happy

That I was able to right those wrongs

And I am happy

So happy

That I got to strengthen those important bonds

And I am happy

So happy

For everyone and everything in my life

that came along

I am happy

So happy

Coz it could have gone

It could have gone

You know how it could have gone.

⏲

I have much to be thankful for.

And it is well,

It is well with my soul.

⏲

The Horatio Spafford song, It Is Well With My Soul, has been a source of inspiration to me at many different points in my life. You can experience the same inspiration by listening to it here.

Leave a Personal and Professional Legacy You Can Be Proud Of

You want to inspire budding entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams

You want to inspire writers and artists to write and paint more

You want to inspire fashion designers and fashionistas to keep innovating

You want to inspire musicians to come out with new scores.

__

You want to inspire the unadventurous to do something new and a little scary, but worthwhile

You want to inspire people to conquer their fears

You want  to inspire the weak-intentioned to be stronger in their intentions

You want to inspire procrastinators to take the first step.

__

You want to pass on ideas, thoughts, and compliments that could be useful

You want to build confidence, so people are courageous enough to take a chance on themselves

You want to build confidence by saying “you can do this” or “you got this”

You want to be accessible, supportive, and always ready to listen and help.

__

You want to help people get through challenges

You want to be a calm, caring, reassuring voice, when things get tough

You want to give people the confidence, not just to handle the day to day

But also the strength to deal with the uncomfortable, difficult stuff.

__

These are the things you can do as a boss, parent, mentor, well-wisher

And if you do, here’s what the satisfaction will be -

You know you would have changed lives

By helping people achieve their potential and their destiny.

Upper Case MINOO Lower Case minoo

Upper Case MINOO had to be first in line.

Lower Case minoo will patiently wait her turn.

😊

Upper Case MINOO was self-conscious, self-absorbed, and shy.

Lower Case minoo has become more comfortable about interacting with different people.

😊

Upper Case MINOO would get worked up about the way other people were driving on the road.

Lower Case minoo keeps calm, because other drivers will do what they do.

😊

Upper Case MINOO could never stop arguing, once she got into an argument.

Lower Case minoo has learned to shut up (well, not fully, but she is a lot better at it).

😊

Upper Case MINOO thought nothing of walking out of anything she didn't like - events, jobs, relationships.

Lower case minoo is less impulsive, and less impetuous.

😊

Upper Case MINOO was a Tiger Mom and Helicopter Mom rolled in one.

Lower Case minoo is a reformed Tiger Mom-Helicopter Mom, a Hippie Mom of sorts.

😊

Upper Case MINOO could not resist acting on the ups and downs of the stock market

Lower Case minoo is able to sit on her hands, even during steep drops.

😊

Your turn.

Create a list like mine - with  Upper Case and Lower Case versions of yourself. 

If you are comfortable sharing 1 or 2 of your observations about yourself, I would love to hear them. 

You can do that via comments on Blogger, or comments on Facebook.

😊

A 2024 Message of Hope From Me

There will be times

when you feel you've lost your way

when you think I can't do this for another day

There will be times.

There will be times

when you feel alone

and the more people around you talk and joke around, the more you feel on your own

There will be times.

There will be times

when every day seems like a grind

and you feel rotten, because you are the only one who thinks that way, the only one that seems to mind

There will be times.

There will be times.

And they will be hard times

and you will have to stay strong

and believe a day will come along

when your feelings will settle

and you will see what they are telling you

Those lost, burnt-out or hopeless feelings are a part of your journey,

and contain a vital message for you.

A message of hope, renewal, and redemption.

                                  *************

Related reading:

What are some one and done mistakes in your profession?

The Element of Life As a Journey and its Hope for Enjoying The Voyage and the Stops

Just When The Sun Shone So Bright

Seek inspiration (and information ) (and consolation) for where you are in life