Monday, March 7, 2011

Life is Too Short

Life is too short...one of my mom's favorite lines.  I remember a story she told about an office job she had.  I want to say it was when she and Dad were living in Holland.  Why she got the hankering to join the workforce after having been out of it for a number of years is beyond me, but she found herself in an office environment doing entry-level clerical work.

Mom had worked there just a few weeks when the office manager called her in to a meeting to discuss a few things.  True to form, Mom turned the conversation around from the office manager's review of Mom's inadequacies to Mom's review of the office manager's inability to manage and lead.  "I just told her, 'Life is too short, Girly.'" I couldn't believe my ears. "I can't help it," she said.  "I wasn't about to put up with that.  Who was she to tell me?"  Full of vinegar, that one.

My mom taught me all through life to stand up for myself.  She taught me the importance of taking care of myself, of sharing what I believe, and of inspiring others to do the same. 

I think of my work now.  The one thing I have struggled with since my mom's passing is balancing my work life with my personal life. 

I've been on a spiral over the last year.  I don't think it's been because of her passing but as a result of taking a new job about the same time she died.  The pressures have been tremendous, and I wish she were here to help me find that balance again.  It may begin with my taking the time to grieve over my loss, to at least give myself the day of March 9 to remember her, to visit her grave, to thank the Lord again for allowing her to be my mother. 

Life is too short not to have balance.  Life is too short not to have love.  Life is too short for regrets.  Life is too short.  Too short.

1 comment:

Margie said...

Hey Ann,
I think she followed the boss into the office because the boss had come in and grunted at the other workers and it put everyone in a foul mood. Mom took it upon herself to let the "boss" know that she was setting a bad atmosphere and "not a very enjoyable" place to work. The boss did thank her for the input.

Then there was the time at McDonald's, when she was the hostess. The manager called her over and told her it was time to empty all of the garbage containers………..she looked at him and said, "If I wanted to take out trash…………..I could do that @ home!" LOL
Margie