Until Something Better Comes Along

I heard it again the other day, “I’m just doing what I gotta do until something better comes along.”  NEWS FLASH…It won’t. Opportunities don’t move, You Do!

It may seem like time is the governor of opportunity.  In reality, opportunity is the realization of focus and readiness.  For example, if you are a nurse and a head nurse position becomes available, that is an opportunity for you.  If you are a nurse and a doctor position becomes available, that is an opportunity, just not for you.  If you are a nurse who just finished medical school and a doctor position becomes available, that is an opportunity for you.  There are doctor and head nurse positions offered everyday but if that is not your aim or if you are not ready to fulfill them, you may not notice them.

Many people have dead-end jobs, jobs they despise, and jobs for which they are grossly overqualified and undercompensated.  At times, working these jobs is a necessary evil.  Doing something you don’t like year after year can kill your drive, ambition, and morale.  Humans can adapt to anything and it’s easy to become comfortable and/or complacent with anything, even if we don’t want to.  No one knows what the future holds; therefore, I can’t say there won’t be a time when you or I may have to work a dead-end job to makes ends meet.  However, merely reciting to yourself and others that you are just doing what you have to do until something better comes along is the statement that will ensure that you live the rest of your days unfulfilled and retire poor.

Doing what you have to do is what you have to do.  While you are doing what you have to do, find ways to set up what you want to do.  If you really are truly waiting for something better, make yourself better in the meantime.  Focus on what you think you are waiting for so that your senses will be attuned to recognize all the possibilities that exist at every junction in your life.  Don’t wait – act, improve and be ready when you see the opportunity you seek.     

-- Wood Butler, Jr.

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Career Day

When I was in elementary school, my teachers and parent told me I could be anything I wanted to be if I studied hard and stayed out of trouble.  The shining examples of what to be was usually a doctor or a lawyer.  To reiterate their point, the school would conduct a “career day” when students were encouraged to have their parents come and tell us about their contributions to society.  Even though all parents were invited, usually only the doctors and lawyers had the time, or the interest, to show up.  Needless to say I wasn’t paying much attention on that day because I chose to seek a job instead of a profession, which is a discussion for another time.

But what if we viewed career day as a concept and not just an event?  On our jobs, we deal with many stressful tasks and situations to can burn us out and make us disgruntle.  I’ve heard people say they should have gone to medical school or should have took the Bar exam.  Well, people in those careers go through the same things that the rest of us do.  Let’s explore.  To have success on our jobs, it requires us to have a lot of patience.  Ironically, that’s what a doctor needs to have a successful practice…a lot of patients.  A micro-managing boss, an inflexible schedule, angry customers are examples of some of the trials we must endure at work.  Lawyers make their biggest monetary gains from trials.  Other than the paycheck, you can see what they do and what the rest of us may do are essentially the same.  We all have a purpose for being here and no one said life would be easy.  We have to learn to use the power of perspective to help us get through the tough times.  For many of us, everyday is career day. 

-- Linwood R. Butler, Jr.


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Moods

A person’s mood can change at the drop of a hat.  A person’s mood can change because they dropped their hat.  In fact, any of many things that are done, said, and experienced on a daily basis can change a mood faster than a Ferrari can hit top speed. 

By definition, a mood is a state or quality of feeling at a particular time.  However, we all know someone who seems to be in either a good or bad mood, well, all of the time.  A lot of that has to do with perspective.  Our take on an occurrence, a statement, a condition will affect our disposition.  It is undoubtedly best to be in a good mood as often as possible.  Achieving this is more of a challenge for some of us than for others.  Try thinking of the good things in your life at times when it seems everything is going awry.  A positive attitude has no choice but to eventually improve a foul mood.

It is imperative to remember that no matter how bad you may feel, you mustn’t spread your gloom or displace your emotions to the innocent people.  You may be mad at your boss, but take a deep breath before you go home and allow your mood to affect someone who has not done you any harm.  Don’t take the anger you have for your boyfriend out on all males in your vicinity.  Avoid yelling at the driver in front of you just because your dog died this morning.  Your mood affects my mood then mine affects someone else’s.  Emotions can be contagious.  Learn to recognize your moods and what triggers their transition to avoid drastic swings.  Constant mood swings are buzz killers.

Focus on being in the mood you want others to be in and watch it rub off on the world around you.  Laugh as often as you can.  Live life like it’s all you’ve got.  Stop to smell the roses, then pick a few and give them to some one who’s in a bad mood. 

-- Linwood R. Butler, Jr.


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