i see you, i hear you.

a goal i have for myself over the next couple weeks is to become better at recognizing people's efforts and strengths.  too often, i go about my day so totally consumed in my to-do list and in survival mode that i forget to stop and recognize all the hard work others are putting in.

this occurred to me this week as i recieved several 'admonishments' of my own, and i walked away with a little more bounce in my step and more hope that i'm on the right track.  everyone needs to know that despite their frustrations and moment-to-moment failures, that people recognize that their hearts are in the right place.  as an episode of parenthood put it, "i see you. i hear you."

some words i was given were sincere, filled with true praise and encouragement (and those of you who provided me with this...thank you from all that i am.  it has been a stress tear-filled week and i appreciate your kind and thoughtful words).  other words were not necesarilly intended to be truly thoughtful, but i appreciated them nonetheless.

case in point:  as i pulled into the high school for a training today, i had to parallel park.  did i mention i hate parallel parking?  i think i may have hit one to many cones in driver's ed and my first accident came from pulling out of such a parking place.  everytime i need to do this, all muscles tense and my heart rate instantly increases.  needless to say, i pulled in (in quite a hurry due to lack of punctuality on my part) and quickly looked around to see if anyone had noticed my 10 point parking endeavor.  an older gentlemen began to yell at me from across the parking lot.  i assumed i had parked in the wrong spot or maybe he was going to make a joke regarding my technique.  all he said was, "i guess there are women who can parallel park...this is a first for my eyes."  meant as a simple joke, but taken to heart.  especially after i had just called my husband and told him about my loving bump to a concrete pole in the coke line this morning, resulting in this:

i'm thankful for people who speak into my life even though i know i don't say thank you or return the favor as often as i should.  here's to the coworkers, friends, random old men, and family who take the time to notice.  may i do the same in return!