Work

Work. What is your first thought? Was it about your best employer or worst? Have you worked for the same organization your entire career?

When people who talk about their best experience, many would say it’s the people who were there that made it special. But, I believe that it’s more than that such as well defined roles and expectations in writing that creates the work environment. I have worked in such environments and it was a joy.

My current situation is the opposite of undefined roles and responsibilities which nothing is written down that ultimately causes confusion and has lead to litigation in court. It’s a small local family owned business with less than one hundred employees that grew from one location and a few people. Technology is a constant problem too of documents not printing well. Plus, turnaround time is longer compared to our competitors who are bigger and faster plus sometimes better.

The lack of defined rules have caused problems in relationships between people who become romantically involved and also in the scope of workplace harassment. The focus seems more on first more than the latter unless owners fear that they could be sued. Yes, I have been targeted and I have journaled my experiences in case it warrants further action.

Realistically at my age, finding a job with the hours and the pay would be difficult. I have chosen not to socialize much with colleagues and I have chosen to remain quiet outside of work discussions. When I first started, I did speak truth about the process and procedures which I got put in my place from it. Afterwards, I chose to keep my opinions to myself and to not discuss my personal life with of anything of value.

Thankful for my life outside of work where I have a few trusted friends and my fur babies plus an online closet and writing. It balances the good and the bad.

If you work in a toxic environment, how do you cope? Do you have a side hustle to fulfill your dreams?

Thank you again for your time.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Wednesday

Been dealing with health issues and other matters that happens as we age. Stepped away from my siblings because I’m much different than them. My sister reached out last week regarding unfinished business of family matters and we started communicating again.

Myself, I make my own path while my sibling stay in their own lane. My nearest sibling is 400 miles away and the farthest from me is 1660 miles away or 25 hours of driving on interstate.

Choose peace. Choose happiness. Make yourself a priority.

My next post will be sharing some of my toxic work environment experiences. Your input on your experience might be helpful to someone else.

Thank you.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The Busyness of Life

The last week of December and the first part of January, my life has been busy at work as a backroom administrator plus a closet on app where I sell clothes and other items plus writing this blog with a small house to maintain and two feline cats to love and to take care of. Yes, cats are easier than dogs to keep. Likely, I’m sure your responsibilities are much bigger and greater than mine especially if there are spouses, children and grandchildren plus possibly caring for your parents plus working, cooking and cleaning. In my younger years, I worked two jobs to just fulfill my responsibilities without any full days off. Later on, I worked full time while earning my MBA and afterwards my Six Sigma Greenbelt certificate from the University of Michigan.

How do you succeed with your busy schedule? Do you take time for yourself? Do you do something that you love in your free time? Do you work over full time plus over time? Are there enough hours in the week for your commitments?

Sunday has traditionally been considered to be a day of rest. If not able for you, I hope you have your day to do what you want and not what you need. Our bodies weren’t created as non stop working machines but designed with needs such as rest and relaxation to avoid sickness and injury plus premature death.

Please take good care of yourself. You’re valuable and you’re needed.

Thank you,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

January 1, 2025

Welcome to the New Year! It’s now 364 days left of life to live this year.

Being the mature woman, you may realize that quality of life is as if not more important than quantity. Spending time with your kids and grandkids add to the quality of life as much as a good friend who has been there for you and vice versa. Grand children are a blessing which a good time to impart your love and wisdom.

Volunteering adds to the value of our life by helping others. It gives us purpose to make a difference in this world. Google “Volunteer Opportunities” with your zip code which you may find an opportunity to change someone’s life in small way but make a huge impact. One of my best experiences was making thanksgiving dinner for those staying at my area’s Ronald McDonald house.

The simple act of checking on your neighbors who are older or who are ill even just saying, Hello, can make that person’s day. Also, being a good neighbor is maintaining your property. For me, it’s being respectful of not having loud music or equipment at times when toddlers and babies are sleeping.

Finally, it’s imperative that you take good care of yourself. We weren’t created to only eat, work and sleep but to give ourselves time to live fully. Living life fully and completely is a path worth exploring because it’s time to feed your soul.

Thank you,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Jacob Brown

My friend and LinkedIn, Jacob Brown, published his first book. He’s accomplished many things in his life like being TEDx Speaker, former NFL athlete, speaking coach, trans formational speaker and human being. Information from his LinkedIn profile. Big heart and great spirit. I encourage you to learn more about Jacob and consider buying his first book. Mine arrived today.

TV Mysteries

My confession is that literally overnight, I went from watching romance movies on a certain network on tv where the couple is tested once before knowing that they found each other to mysteries that tell the story of someone ultimately pays the biggest price of losing their life recently. Was into General Hospital for Luke and Laura plus other trending shows over the years. Truthfully, crime was never my thing until a couple of years ago.

My first crime show was, Monk, which I watched all the episodes. His personality tendencies were things that I can relate to. The women who played his assistants on the show had more than a job but emotional support. Being a little OCD myself, I saw part of me in him.

After that, it was Diagnosis Murder, Castle, Psych, original Matlock, and Murder, She Wrote which is the American version of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple which Angela Lansbury acted in one of Christie’s movies based on her books. Miss Marple was well written and well acted television series. Most of the mysteries that I watched had main characters over the age of 40 with the exceptions of Psych and Castle. Personally, I like Psych because of his using and trusting his mental abilities to see things beyond the obvious. Castle was interesting because he was a writer.

In realty, life is messy and no one is perfect. We all have good days and even some very difficult days that test us to our core.

What are your favorite crime/mystery shows? Why do you like them? Which ones that you don’t like?

Thank you.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Happy New Year!

In a few days, many people will be celebrating the New Year around the world to ring out the old and bring in the new. In my younger years, I watched Dick Clark on tv then later on went to many celebratory parties. What about resolutions?

New Year Resolutions from the Cambridge dictionary describes it as, “ a promise that you make to yourself to start doing something good or to stop doing something bad on the first day of the year” probably after midnight.

Years ago, during my college years, I felt the pressure to have a resolution on the spot to make the effort to be a better human like more caring and more generous even with after drinking. Many times afterwards, I forgot my promise that I made to myself and others. Seriously, there’s 364 other days to humble yourself to make changes that others have been honest enough to share with you and that you have discovered yourself as well.

Like Time magazine and others that do the year in review and then make some changes for the next year is a reasonable way to make changes for yourself and myself too. Present, soulfully look at your relationships personal and professional, your career, your finances, your health, your behavior and decisions, and your dreams to decide for yourself on what needs to be changed without pressure from others. You’re blessed if all aspects in your life are in sync. Honestly, I have changed from criticism of myself from others. It’s difficult to eat humble pie but it was essential for my personal growth. Now 2024, I will consider the importance of the person delivering the message in my life before jumping aboard to change like a trusted friend or a respected colleague.

Wish you life, love, happiness, health and laughter for the next year! May the upcoming year bring you blessings better than you ever dreamed possible. Live life with meaning and purpose with some fun mixed in. Enjoy the ride!

Bid adieu 2024 and Hello 2025!

Thank you.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Karma

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Karma as the force generated by a person’s actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person’s next existence. Also, the dictionary defines it as a charismatic emanation, aura or spirit that infuses or vitalizes someone or something.

If you know the common sayings of, “Of what goes around, comes around,” and “you reap what you sow.” Simply, what you give, you get back.

My wisdom has taught me that staying silent and focusing on my work are best. For example, I work with this person who doesn’t care for me because I’m different, somewhat of a free spirit. This individual has attempted to make my work life miserable by trying to get me to believe that someone likes me knowing that my actions could get me terminated for pursuing his advances. My employer doesn’t have an employee manual plus both people involved were upper management unlike myself. My decision was to distance myself from both of them and remain quiet which helped because I didn’t react in the way I thought. Later on, it was bragging in front of everyone that HR was going to terminate me which I decided to focus on my work and not the chaos. Everything that has happened to me has been documented for possible future use.

Honestly, it’s not the first rodeo of bullying another for either of them. I believe that prior, both of them faced consequences for their actions but believed that it wouldn’t happen again. Legal did get involved for obvious reasons. My actions of remaining quiet and focused on my job throughout the situation has kept me out of trouble. A friend said that I cannot get in trouble for not saying anything.

In closing, karma visits if one speaks and/or treats others badly so blessings visits if one speaks and treats others in kindness and respect. You and I make the decision daily on how to treat others. Please consider it carefully because it will come back to you. Choose wisely.

Thank you.

Leslie Elizabeth David.