Life

Please forgive me for the general title of this post but it’s the best that I came up with.

For sometime, I’ve been dealing with neighbors who live two doors down who blasted their stereo and drank all night. They didn’t seemed too concerned about the young children who were sleep deprived from their actions. The local police helped to some degree for sometime. My neighbors found out that it was me which afterwards I experienced some minor problems.

After stepping back on the situation, I decided to write my neighbors a letter which was delivered through the mail. The first letter I wrote was that I stated I was no longer to be contacting the police for their late night partying which they immediately started up again after receiving it. The second letter mailed the following week was to encourage them to live with purpose and to volunteer to give meaning to their lives. I have volunteered at the Ronald McDonald house and served Thanksgiving dinner plus served at a homeless shelter plus other activities myself.

Since then, the music and late night partying has ended which I believe that they’re trying to determine their path to make a difference. Earlier this week, I decided to write a third letter on encouragement for them to find their way as a group and individually to live with purpose and meaning plus wishing them happy holidays too.

In retrospect, I know that they are being challenged to live a purposeful life which probably has never been part of conversation in their lives previously. I also mentioned that it’s no accident that we’re neighbors and that this part of the unknown. My friend mentioned the book, The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren.

Life is more than earning a paycheck and partying all weekend. Life is meant to live with purpose by helping others who are in need and making a difference no matter the scope and size. Sometimes, it’s helping a friend or a stranger in need. Or a hug and/or a word of encouragement to help someone.

This story will continue with another post. Hopefully, I’ll get to have a conversation with my neighbors soon. I understand that work is difficult and that Friday nights are a good time to have a couple of drinks and relax.

Thank you for your time. May you find your purpose in life. If you have, thank you for making the world a better place.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Fur Babies

Life wouldn’t be complete without our fur babies. In my life, I’ve been blessed with Adrian, Seville and Madrid, and now Bella and Luna. Sukiyaki from my childhood.

The story of Bella and Luna started when I was planning a trip to my home State ever since I moved to Texas. My coworker was justifiably concerned that I would move back so before my vacation, she told me about some kittens who she found on a local Facebook community page. Out of curiosity, I agreed although I always had male felines in my adult life.

The day before my flight, I went and met my future feline divas who were full of fleas and malnourished with small size which was upsetting. Also, I learned that I would be their fourth family. After I arrived back from my trip, I went to pick them up. Then, time spent with veterinarians to help my girls get better and fixed.

It took about 6months of healing and lots of eating to get healthier. We’ve been together a year plus since April.

Pets bring so much into our lives. They know by instinct who is right for us. They also bring comfort and companionship.

Please share about your companions and pictures plus your story about how you got together. Thanks.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The Holidays

The holidays conjure up anxiety and depression or happiness and excitement depending on your past experiences and your DNA. From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, it’s a dynamic time of people who are shopping, going to parties, working and traveling even taking time to decorate your home and tree plus baking. Feeling sleep deprived?

Being our age, our situations are different from each other. Myself, I’m divorced and no kids. My nearest sibling is four hours away. Work full time plus Poshmark with this blog so my Holidays are quiet now but years ago were events mentioned previously. I’m a strong believer in taking time for yourself doing what you love. My personal experience is that continuous giving of yourself and not taking time to recharge results in a train wreck.

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah! Happy and blessed New Year!
Please feel to to share about your Holidays. Thank you.

Leslie Elizabeth David.



Adventure

Adventure. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Do you remember some crazy stuff you did in high school or college before responsibility came?

Believe it or not, adventures no matter how big or small, are good for the soul. Exploring the unknown is part of the human DNA. Our natural curiosity explains many discoveries in the modern era.

A couple of years ago, I traveled to New England by myself for the adventure. On that trip, I kayaked the Saugatuck river near Westport CT and drove to Providence RI although I missed Mystic CT due to time limitations. Flown into BDL near Hartford so that I could see more of CT. In addition, I have explored areas in my region that I have never been. Traveled solo with no problems at age sixty.

Personally, I can share so many other adventures that I have taken solo but it would be pages and pages of text that would take time. A longtime ago, I stopped asking my friends who weren’t interested because some felt that it’s what younger people do.

Get out of your comfort zone and live life!

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Intuition Part I

If you ever watch, Pysch, the main character talks about strong feelings of something or someone. If something feels wrong, it is and vice versa. It’s about paying attention to the smallest detail.

At work, I was a target in a small business because I’m different than others. My gut feeling was to stay quiet and keep my distance.

Because work owners and managers don’t communicate anything, I trust my senses on what is happening. No employee handbook to guide behavior and work processes.

One of my coworker’s who is dating another one in a different department and are living together. They were both on vacation last week which I sensed that they were getting married. They did get married. After the announcement by her husband of the marriage, he got fired. Work allowed them to date and to live together but nothing was stated about commitment. My senses were right

Growing up, my Mom told me that I had a gift that was nurtured when I was a young child by my great Aunt. On winter trips to our cottage, I refused to go because I told my family that we would get stuck in the snow and end up staying in a stranger’s house. My Dad got mad me for it especially later on when it came true. Also, I call up my sister about things which the timing of the calls are more than coincidental. It’s been happening all of my life. For example, I flew to CT and landed in BDL. As precaution, I checked for who along my rural journey because I have never been. I found some of the women who my sister was friends with in high school. One day, I decided to call her unplanned and share with her about my adventures. I told her that it was intentional that I drove by her old high school friend’s homes. She freaked out because only one hour before, she ran into them in her small NY town. My sister believes that her intelligence and smartness can explain everything so it stumps and infuriates her when she’s proved wrong.

Be alert. Trust those small feelings. Observe more than speak.

Thank you,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

My #Covid Obsession

During the time of Covid which I had found time to explore. Yes, I listened to some podcasts but found myself leaning towards YouTube.

My Covid obsession on YouTube is some of the narrow boat channels filmed in England. David John’s, Cruising the Cut, which he was my first channel to learn about this way of life living on a narrow boat and cruising the canals. He is now considered to be an expert and face of the boat life. The CRT known as the Canal River Trust which is a non profit organization that works on maintenance of the locks and canals. They are there to ensure safe passage for boaters.

There’s three types of boats found on the canal such as Holiday about 30-40 feet sufficient for the weekend, Extended Cruisers are the boats that are 50 feet and are either wide or narrow beamed and the Long Term Rentals. Most of the people who I follow on the channel travel on the extended cruises.

My current channels that I follow are; Ben and Emily, The Narrowboat Pirate, One Day More, Holly-The Cafe Boat, Narrow Boat Life Unlocked, The Mindful Narrowboat, Country House Gent, and Cruising the Cut.

Why the narrowboats? The cruising on the waterways are peaceful because one hears the water as the boats are cruising and the scenery of the land which they pass by. Water is soothing and calming most of the time except some boaters who have experienced turbulence on the canal because of the changing seasons.

What did you do during Covid that you still do now?

Grateful that Covid is over. Stay healthy.

Thanks again,

Leslie Elizabeth David


The Power of Silence

On this Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, I wasn’t planning on writing about silence but more about Black Friday or about insurance on rates. Where I work, I’m far from popular and have been the target of harassment even by HR. I determined that no matter what I said or did would be used against me. Yes, I work in a toxic environment.

Because of my job duties and the environment, I have chosen not to socialize much at work and to not talk much outside of it. Some people who I work with and are high on the pay scale and closer to the owner/CEO than I decided to convince me that the CFO had a crush on me. It didn’t make sense. It felt wrong because I’m low on the totem pole thus not in his peer group. It seems that they tried coaxing me to be interested enough to pursue him to eventually get fired for an unauthorized personal relationship.

My employer is family owned and small with no written employee manual and HR policies to follow. The silent code depends on who you are and how the family feels about you. Small businesses may not always invest in time or money to create proper employee engagement policies when funds can be used better elsewhere. Cheers to the ones that have them.

The power of silence is not ignoring people who are talking to you but it’s more of not offering personal information in conversations or not sharing about your life randomly. As a friend stated, “they can’t use it against you if you’re not talking,” which she is correct. Basically, I only speak of professional matters at work. In addition, my social media settings are for people who I don’t follow and are not friends with cannot read my posts because they have checked. In truth for me, my silence helped me see better like see others for who they truly are good and bad. See situations for what they are. Plus, see myself clearer for both the good and the bad. Things I wished I could’ve done better. A learning process to become a better person.

In closing, silence gives one power in situations that speaking might cause more problems of, “The what you say can and will be used against you,” type of scenario is cohesive on being quiet. Trust your instincts on what’s best for you.

Thanks,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Thanksgiving

The question is it thanks, giving or giving thanks for the Holiday? The answer can be however your perspective of the Holiday.

Thanks is being thankful and grateful for all you have to others and to God. If you don’t believe in Him than maybe some other Higher Power. Thanks for being alive, hopefully in good health, family that loves and accepts you, and friends that you can’t imagine life without. Some might add coworkers as well.

Giving is of serving others for their betterment. Years ago, I had the privilege of serving Thanksgiving dinner at my local Ronald McDonald House. We had to make and to serve the food to our guests. My turkey turned out well and wasn’t dry thankfully. Afterwards, I felt that I received the gift of the feeling of serving others well.

Thanksgiving is a combination of the above to myself and hopefully others. May your Holiday be filled with love and laughter plus some great football.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Poshmark

Poshmark is a well known online network of closet owners who sell everything clothing, electronics, luxury, pet, home and a few others. My friend started looking for VS Pink tunics to buy which she tells me that she found them at a reasonable price. About a year later, she decided to start selling clothing from her closet in her home.

Poshmark Level One Ambassador Silver. This was her first achievement after continuous sales and great feedback from buyers. She accomplished over 5000 community shares, over 5000 self shares, over 50 new Posher shares, over 50 available listings, over 15 sales, average rating of five stars for good customer service, lower than average ship time and love notes given to others. Her experience in clothing from working at Dress Barn, JL Hudson and Marti Walker helped her with closet presentation, pricing and shipping. She states that every Posher has their own story on success that is different than hers. Level one, once achieved, will stay on her closet page.

Poshmark Level Two Ambassador Gold. This one shows that you’re a leader amongst your peers by achieving not only sales, great reviews but also supporting others plus encouraging others to join. Four out of five criteria must be met to maintain this level of sales, average feedback score, ship time, new listings created that includes relisting items and community sharing at 5k minimum. My friend got nervous when her first year in gold was up but has found helpers like Closet Mate to help her achieve her goals.

Truthfully, she has gotten reviews of some sales in the past which she felt it was more of an attack on her than the actual sale. My friend wouldn’t sell an item that is damaged or has defects which she got marked down for. She is particular about what she sells and how she ships. 0.70 average days to ship which she has told me that she gets home from work, finds and packs the item then drops off at the post office before eating dinner.

Finally, my friend states that she has met some great people on her journey with Poshmark from wholesalers to retail closets. During the “live shows” which she participates in, she said that the conversations start on the feed which her and others are laughing about something which some hosts love or sometimes not but it builds community in her opinion. My friend hasn’t done a “live” yet due to logistics.

In closing, Poshmark found a niche in the retail markets that community support is necessary to succeed in the virtual world.

Thanks,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Kindness

Kindness can be the most easiest thing or the worse depending on the people involved and the situation.

Today, at work, I’ve been dealing with a difference of opinion with two of my coworkers who gave me the silent treatment yesterday. From the start, I could see that there was no change. The opportunities came up that I had to speak with them to help out our customer on the phone. I transferred the call being kind and using manners to diffuse the situation. About an hour later, life seemed to be back to normal after many calls. Although when I came home, one of my felines pushed one of my thermal printers off of where one was plugged in. Unfortunately, I lost my temper and started yelling. I gave them their treats. It appears that the printer is destroyed. My printer is used for my online closet. Apologized to my cat because it was my fault for not moving it off of that table. Kindness is difficult and never easy when you are given an obstacles of having a long day at work, on your commute home and your surprises when you get home.

My lesson is that I should’ve stepped away from the situation but I didn’t. Hope you do better than me. Grateful that my coworkers and I are okay.

We are perfectly imperfect.

Thank you,

Leslie Elizabeth David.