Who puts the most pressure on you -- yourself or others?

Photo by Planet Improv

Well today, I am back to doing my prompts, and it is very refreshing to know that I can come back to them.   That is the plan for 2014.  I have other ideas to write on this blog, plus I do not want you to say, “Not again.”  I love mixing it up a bit.

Who puts the pressure on more?

Good question.  I would have to say me.  Sometimes, I think I am my own worst enemy.   Everyone look at my work, and they say that it beautiful, while I say half the time, “what do they know, look I missed a spot.”  I know deep in my mind I did a good job.  I am the same way with my music (both instrumental and singing), my dance, and the way I carry myself.  I am not trying to be perfect, only God is perfect, and I could never measure up to Him.  When I mess up, I often cannot let it go, and that is the biggest problem I have with myself.  When I think I am getting better about it, it happens all over again.

A great example of that problem is now.  Last November (2013) I was in an accident with my sister.  I have the license, she was learning how to drive.  She had a learner’s permit, and we were running late getting to her job.  It started out innocent, I was invited to a shopping event through my women’s business group, so we went.   I had tried on some pants and I was getting a jacket and 2 pairs of socks (one for me and one for her).  My sister was due at work at 8 pm, and when we got to the register, it was almost that time. So while I was checking out, she got my keys, and drove my car up to the door.  Instead of me hopping to the driver’s side, I thought this would be a good time for her to practice driving, so I hopped in the seat on the passenger side, and we were on our way.   We got to the corner, and my sister asked me if I needed gas and I reminded her that she was running late, but thought better of it, and said OK.  The light was yellow, but she thought that she would pull in behind the car in front of us, who sped up to make the light.  I warned her not to do it, but before I said her name, SMACK, we ran right into the side of a red truck in another lane.  

My sister immediately got upset, and we sat there for a second while I got ready to look at the damage.  The ironic thing about it all, was a police car behind the red truck. They instructed both us and the other person to pull into the parking lot across the street.  My sister was so upset, until I had to drive the car to the lot.  While we were driving, I made the decision to tell our dad that I was the one driving the car, since he really did not want her to practice driving in my car.   What we found out later from the police was (1) in the State of Ohio, people with learner’s permits cannot drive at night (neither one of us knew that) and (2) her learner’s permit had expired (she told me and our mom that it expires in December).   We told mom the truth the next day, but our dad just found out through the other driver’s insurance company that my sister was the one driving last night.  I do not know why I made that decision, but I cried for two nights, even though my dad has said that he forgives us for not telling him that night.  I am the responsible adult, but I choose not to, because I wanted to protect my dad from this news.  I am not sure if he found out that my sister also went to court for the incident.  She was charged, I was not.   Just lack of poor judgment that could happen to anyone (a mistake), but I am still beating myself up for something that was not totally my fault.

So, I got to get better about things like that, and also enjoy the imperfections I see in my work that others do not see.  By the way, my hood was totaled, I had to get a new one, and the other driver’s damage was $800.  A fender.  He did not want to deal with it but his insurance company wanted to.  So I guess I will be out $800 that I do not have.

So who put the most pressure on you?  I would love to hear your answers, so please comment below.   Be blessed, my friend, and be careful out there when driving.  NO TEXTING OR TALKING ON THE PHONE.

Do you have a tendency to procrastinate, or do you like checking things off your to-do list?

Photo by Google Images  

Hello, today’s post is a combination of a week’s worth

of delays, “I am too cold to type,” no lights for a few hours, and did I mentioned that I was too cold to type.   So, if you are wondering what my answer is to Monday’s (yes, Monday’s) post question, stay tuned to your screens.   But, first a PSA:

My heater has been working overtime.  I repeat, my heater has been working overtime.   I hate to complain, Lord, but, “WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE FREEZER DOOR OPEN?” LOL.   (End of the PSA)

Now, this week came with a bunch of polar vortex jokes, and many of them I read on Facebook, and the cutest one I read with Captain Picard trying to explain the polar vortex.  If you are a fan of Star Trek the Next Generation or any of the Star Trek movies and television shows, you will get the joke.   I am a closet Trekkie who holds no collections nor attends Star Trek conventions (although I might be persuaded if there was one in Central Ohio).

I thought that I would be able to escape the “No Electric Movement,” and the electric grid to my place was overtaxed yesterday, when the lights when out.  I lost an Excel spreadsheet over it.   No problem, I got an IHOP breakfast for it.  (Thus ending my 6-week craving for crepes).  So, being without lights has its rewards.

What are you currently feeling pressure to do that you don't particularly enjoy?

photo by Google Images

Today’s prompt is a little difficult for me.  I guess if I took it for what it means, rather than what it actually means, I would feel a little bit better about it, but I do not. So I am doing something a little different with this prompt.  It was supposed to be yesterday’s prompt (I will get to today’s prompt over the weekend, so I have homework to do).

I am turning it into a “word of the day” prompt, while still tackling the question.  If you are scratching your head right now, well, you are thinking, and that is a good thing.

So my “co-prompt” (If there any such meaning as one) is EXPECTATION.

There are all types of expectations.  You expect a paycheck when you work for someone, you expect a good grade when you perform well at school, and you expect a trial when you commit a crime and get caught.  To expect is to “look forward to.” Or “in the normal scheme of things to come,” this is the next step to something that always happens, no matter what.  If you are born, you expect to die at some point of your life.  If you work, you expect to pay taxes at some point in your life.  OK, enough with the definitions.  

My expectation is from my family, people expect for me to work for someone all of my life.  After all, that is the American way, right?  Not necessary, and I discovered that when I became an entrepreneur.  When that happened, all of a sudden, relatives, especially my father, wanted to know how I was going to live.  I left my job of 4 years at a scrapbooking store on the pretense that while I was establishing my business, I would be working temporary jobs in the clerical field.  It did not happen.  I did not get one job.  My business was, and still is 3-fold: direct selling, homemade products, and writing and document building.  All of it both online and off.  I do not know if by now they expected me to make 6 figures right away, but I guess they do not want me out in the streets either. 

Today, every once in a while, someone will ask me how is my job, and if I am still at the scrapbooking store (which is going out of business next month as of last Thursday).  I kindly tell them what I am doing in my life, and they look at me as though I just committed a crime.  That was the look I got from a cousin back in November.   I thought she knew, since the total amount of time I have been at this stage of my life is 12 years (with 4 of those years owning a business AND working at the scrapbooking store).  That is what I do not enjoy. I do not mind telling people what I do, it is just I do not like it when people have this sour look on their face, and all of a sudden, the advice starts coming.  “You know, I heard that X is hiring.” Or “what are you doing for insurance?”  How about this one, “You can always file for X until you get back on your feet.”  What feet?  I am not homeless and I am struggling just like you are, but I am not in that way.  I do explain that this is normal for any new business, and I have two more years.   I know when it is time to change paths to do what everyone else is doing, which is to go back to working for someone.  In the meantime, I am enjoying being a business owner, which is not an easy life, but then again, neither is working for someone else. It is rewarding, and you never know when you have touched someone’s life to do what you do, or to get them motivated to live out their dream.  Now that is what I do enjoy, the satisfaction of an end result.

COMMENT below on either my prompt of the day or the word of the day.  Be a blessing everyday my friends because you already one.

Do you work well under pressure?

From Google Images

Happy New Year, 2014!!! I know late in my celebration.  I celebrated in church and prayed in 2014 with some church members.  Shout outs to the members of Clair United Methodist Church, my home church since the age of 12 or 13.  I love ya, and keep strong for the Lord in 2014.  This includes former members, wherever you are.   2013 was a year of ups and downs for me.  I am not going into it, because some of it was painful, and some of it was a release on my mind, as what I thought was going to be a trying health problem, turned out that I never had it in the first place.  It was basically stress, and I am happy with the outcome.

Anyway, I am blessed and highly favored, and if you know what I mean with that saying, then you get what it.   I am not saying that the rest of you are not, it is just that you have not been taught on what that meaning TRULY says. Well on with the topic at hand:  do you work well under pressure?

I have decided that I am going to continue with the NABLOPOMO prompts, I also found some other prompts that I am going to incorporate with these prompts, and occasionally will add a few of my own.   That is where My Ambiance Life is going this year.   I have decided that talking about the occasional Honey Boo-Boo’s, Abby Lee’s and venting was not right for the blog, and people loved it when I write “prompt style.”  I have seen higher numbers of traffic with it, and I love it myself.  So going forward that is what’s happening with the blog.  My challenge for you this year is to follow along with the prompts, and see what you answers are to these prompts.   I would love to see your answers in the comment box.  I just ask that you stick to the topic.

Pressure?

For me, working under pressure means two things:  1) do I have the time to do what you ask me to do, and 2) what are you are asking me to do.   My sister is good at asking me to do things at the last minute.  She does not drive yet, so she has this thing of calling me to take her somewhere in about an hour.   I am usually in middle of something important when she ask me.  I am not good at that type of pressure, because now I am thinking these thoughts.  Those thoughts are usually, “Who could not or would not take you?” and “Have you forgotten about the wonderful public transportation that our blessed city has provided you?” she now live a block from the nearest bus stop, so for 2014, I want her to use it to her hearts content, if she has not asked me at least 4 days in advance.  The exception is an emergency.  I, on the other hand need to prep more, because she will forget that I have a business to run.

For my stuff, I do work well, because if I have something due (like this prompt that was due yesterday, LOL), I am calm, cool, and sometimes collected, because it is something that I imposed on myself, and this year, I am going to make it a point to write more things down.  After all, I have calendars on my computer, my phone, and my Ipad.   I am on them once a day, so I need to make it a habit to check them daily.   I have a sleek new desk and my bulletin board is attached to it (well semi attached), so I need to use it more. 

I create more when I am not pressured, but that does not mean that I don’t create when I am.  Overall I do not like it, but I perform seeming well when I am.

Be bless, my friends, and enjoy 2014.  Make it your year, and go out and be a blessing for someone, even if it just a stranger.