Tuesday afternoon - it must be our weekly senior management team, and the chance to bond together and share our difficulties with each other - not!
I found myself writing at the top of the agenda - not doodling, but writing instructions to myself!
"PAUSE, THEN BREATHE, THEN SPEAK"
The wicked witch of the east is mis-managing yet another project, and finding scapegoats by the truckload. As I sat there fuming and restraining myself, I realised that it really wasn't worth the self-inflicted stress. So I thought about breathing for a wee while, calmed down and turned back into my normal well-balanced, cool, witty, dashing and modest self (well, something like that!).
I think it was Oscar Wilde who refused to enter a battle of wits with an unarmed man - kind of sums up how I felt.
Anyway, having calmed down a bit I survived the rest of the meeting.
It was absolutely freezing when I stepped out of the office - and my coat was in the car about 150 yards away. But as I walked towards the car, I didn't notice the cold because I was distracted by the wonderful view of Arbroath Abbey. Puts things in perspective I think!
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8 comments:
Fantastic photo!
Yet another piece of history I'd love to visit...even with the brisk air! :)
I like the note to self, funny, yet so true (as in wise to practice)
(ps. would throwing water on the wicked witch help or hinder things??! ;D)
Reminds me of an office I worked in who made the mistake of trying to raise morale with some shoddy pop-psychology. In one excercise we were all asked to complete the sentence, "it's great working here because......." on post-it notes, and stick them up on a wall. The wall would just ooze good-vibes apparently.
One of my colleagues didn't quite grasp the point of the excercise and completed his note,
"..because I like being told what to do by people who are more stupid than me."
"pause. then breathe. then speak." wonderful words of wisdom. i would say the same thing about the photo you captured...pause. breathe. speak, if you can find the words to describe such magnificence!
Forgot to add... love the picture!
I've taken the kids there a couple of times - during the summer holidays they were doing a great deal on Scotrail for families/kids. Fantastic train journey from Perth, absolutely fresh smokies at the harbour, and then exploring the history and buildings of the Abbey - brilliant. And when all that is done, the Abbey has loads of space to run and play, which matters a lot if you have herd of little childen with you!
ahhh..."remembering to breathe." That's kind of become a mantra for me. Stopping to breathe deeply is somehow magical. I had a simliar experience to your office meeting on Monday. It wasn't a biz meeting, but nevertheless it was a very difficult and tense time. While another was talking, I say there trying to focus on breathing deeply (a couple of times I actually closed my eyes). It didn't make the meeting go any better, but I was able to be there in calmness and with, at least, some clarity.
"Pause, breathe, then speak" should be in the scriptures somewhere! Thanks for the reminder.
Good thought, ER. I always find it's best to keep from talking when you can until you really need to. Don't always practise what I preach though.
THM - Gosh, I bet your colleague was a real joy to have in the team. Only takes one negative person to bring a team down to his/her level!
Great advice. I need to do that a little more and not let people get under my skin so much....great photo also.
Camel Rider
ER - if you find yourself in similar circumstance in the future, just hum this tune to yourself: "Ding dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead, the witch is dead. Ding dong the wicked witch is dead...". Now, I know that is a very christian thing to think, but I assure you it will bring a childish smile to your face and make the afternoon so much more pleasant. :) ~npp
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