Catherine_3

Have you watched Watch Yes Man and Crazy Stupid Love? Both good movies about pushing yourself to try new things.

Are there any places in your city like tropical gardens, an indoor beach, etc. that you can start hanging out at until the weather improves?

I can't believe you has to endure all of that Victoria. And you're so sweet. I'm really really sorry.

What can a mother do to protect her daughters against this? Anyone who has been through this got any tips? What could your mothers have done differently to have prevented this?

In the meantime, though, until you find something new, maybe just turn the problems up side down. sometimes you just have to redefine the problem in order to get that spark back. I work in a highly politicized organization where people often become disenfranchised because they give good advice and recommendations, only to see poor decisions being made over and over again for political reasons. Sometimes I'm even told what advice I should give! And I'm supposed to be the expert. It's like they tell you the answer they want to hear, and send you off to go to the analysis to arrive at that answer. No wonder people get fed up, right? In this case, you have to redefine the problem. The challenge becomes more complex and interesting, because you have to really understand your objectives and the objectives of the people around you - all the way from the senior executive to the people you manage. Success is always measured at the margin. You have to really know your own core values, so you know what battles you're willing to lose and which ones you'll fight to the death for. Then you figure out how to achieve your objectives working within the constraints they've placed on you. And on top of that, you have to protect the people who report to you, so they don't become disenfranchised. They are unique types of challenges but I like it. Never a dull moment.

Sometimes people have been burned in the past when they tried to make positive change. That kind of disenfranchisement isn't something people usually start their careers off with; it is learned or developed over time. I'm the same way though. My husband's people have a saying - "crying louder than the bereaved". He often says I do it. Also, I've found that people will spend 3 times as much time and energy explaining why they can't/shouldn't do something than it would have taken just to do it! It's definitely exasperating. It's like "just get on with it already".

I love this book. How incredible the original must be.