So it seems that the Mercury Retrograde is in full swing,
with miscommunication, electronic glitches and delays. For those of you who
are seeming to put your foot in your mouth, taking a few moments to think
before speak and avoid those embarrassing moments. If your computer is being testy, or if you’re
on a project trying to deliver a system upgrade, take a breathe and breath out
that frustration, knowing that it’s not you. Lastly for those of you traveling,
take the expected delays in stride, since they are certainly out of your
control. As for me, well, I got the triple crown with issues with all the above
this 2014 October Mercury Retrograde.
A
perfect example as I arrived at my departure gate to catch a late flight for an
early meeting the following morning, I discovered that the first leg of my trip
was delayed. ‘I can still make the connection, I thought to myself,’ as I made
my way to the counter to get a latte. After about 2 hours, we started the boarding
process. It was then that I received word that my connecting flight had been cancelled
due to severe weather. I breathed in deeply then exhaled; the air slowly leaving my body through my nostrils, as the stress exited by body. I took a moment and came up with
plan B and alternatives to manage expectations with the folks that would be
waiting on me early the next morning.
‘Thank goodness it wasn’t an interview
with Good Morning America,’ I chuckled, not wanting to keep Matt Lauer waiting.
The gate crew was fabulous and apologized. I smiled telling
them that it was not your fault as I mused,"Unless you;re controlling the weather."
Why was I so calm?
Well, my dears, there was a time, not too long ago, I might
add, when I would have reacted much differently. Yes, I was inconvenienced, but
I quickly put the situation into perspective. It was just an unpleasant situation. But no one was injured or died. So often I see
people acting poorly when they experience minor inconveniences, like having to
wait in line for more than 3 minutes for their morning triple venti caramel
macchiato.
Is it our fault that we overreact?
In today's society it's considered normal now to rush through life without taking time to breathe. This all began with the computer technology explosion that began in the 80s and 90s. What used to take days to calculate or find, we now can gather using technology in seconds. The pace filtered into the corporate segment as we're pushed to our limit at work to deliver more and more in shorter timeframes. It moved into our personal lives as our patience has become almost non existent, getting agitated when the clerk spends a few extra seconds conversing with the customer in front of us. And we filter that to our children.
What has this change of pace gotten us?
A live filled with stress that's not really living. That leads to a few things including serious physcial and mental illness. Did you know that the scientific community has labeled stress the number one cause of disease.
I think that as a society we have all gotten spoiled and
have forgotten what is really important. The world may be your oyster, but
remember that the sun does not revolve around the Earth and the world does not
revolve around you. So, stop taking it out on everyone else by stressing
the small stuff.
The ONLY thing you CAN control is YOUR reaction. So, let it
be one of peace and patience as you break the pattern of the person who has no time to stop and smell the roses.
Sending you peace and love this day and always,
LeeZa Donatella
Have a day filled with love,