I’m too nice. Really, I am. I try to make everybody happy…often to the detriment of my own happiness.

Over the years close friends and family members have told me: “If you try to please everyone, you’ll never be able to please yourself.” True advice, but, coincidentally, these same advice givers seemed to be referring to “everybody else” and not them. They know my “pleasing flaw” and they use it to their advantage…this I am learning the hard way over and over again!

A recent “pleasing” experience turned out to be not so pleasant. My husband and I received three invitations for wonderful gatherings all on the same date. I RSVPed to the first invitation and when the second and third invites arrived I was disappointed that we couldn’t attend these events, but…oh well! (Why does it happen that you can go for weeks with no plans and then there are multiple invitations on the same day?)

I called the hostesses of the two other events and extended our apology that we couldn’t come because we already had a commitment. These hostesses—both good friends—expressed their disappointment along with urgings for us to “at least stop by.” Then both began campaigns to get us to come if only briefly. (I didn’t know we were that crucial as necessary party ingredients!)

Continue reading "Too Nice?" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I got into a bad habit when I was in elementary school that has lasted through middle and high school and college. It continues to this day. I like to go to the bathroom in the privacy of my own home. I “hold it” until I get home; rush through the front door; run to the bathroom; slam the door, and do what I have to do. Public restrooms aren’t for me. They just aren’t my favorite place to use. I like doing my business at home.

Since I started working a year ago I have been fairly successful waiting to use the bathroom until I get home from work. My system has adjusted to this routine. Last week, however, I learned the hard way that I had better rethink this bathroom practice.

Continue reading "Going with the Flow!" »

Posted by Emily Prysby at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I hate change, any kind of change. I’m so affected by anything different in my life that I’ve kept our furniture in the same arrangement where it was placed when we moved into our house 30 years ago. I looked at the space before we moved in; figured out what should go where (where it would look the best), and that is how the furniture has remained. Over the years we’ve purchased new pieces, but they go in exactly the same spot as its predecessor. Some (my daughters included) may say this is boring, but I don’t care. My home always receives rave reviews from visitors and I remain comfortable in my surroundings. (The furniture is, after all, placed in the most suitable space for it in each room.)

This consistency in furniture placement isn’t the only thing that marks my aversion to change. I get depressed over things that would bring joy to others. It took me awhile to adjust to no longer being able to shop at my favorite plus-size women’s clothing store when I lost 170 pounds. (Now that’s a sad statement!) For months I would pass the store and firmly have to restrain myself from turning into the parking lot. I so wanted to see what new stock the store held even though it was no longer suitable for my smaller size.

Continue reading "Maybe Change Is Good!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My friends want “honest” opinions on just about everything, including clothes, hair, weight, job and their significant other. To accommodate their requests, I have given them my honest opinions. If my opinion is less than favorable, I even try to soften it so I don’t hurt their feelings. I’m learning the hard way, however, that my opinion is expected to be the same as theirs'. They only want “honesty” if my opinion agrees with their thinking.

When am I going to learn? When am I going to stay away from the “honest opinion trap?” At the rate I’m going I will lose all my friends. (Fortunately, I have a lot of friends but…)

One friend has a new job. I know that the company has a questionable reputation and is always in search of large numbers of new recruits. I learned this from my own year-long job search when I asked others—those in the know—about the company. “Bad” and “illegal activities” were the comments I heard.

My friend never told me about joining the company until after she accepted the job. I didn’t know what to do. Should I tell her? What if I’m wrong? She didn’t ask my opinion, should I say something anyway? I was in a quandary. Do I tell her what I know or should I let her find out?

I went to my boss, who is a respectable and knowledgeable businessman, for some direction. He, too, knew about the questionable company and advised me to tell my friend. He said the company operates with a “cult” mentality. “If you are a good friend, you must tell her,” he said. So I did.

Continue reading "Opinions Anyone?" »

Posted by Emily Prysby at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We need to drink water to lose weight? I heard this for years but I continued to consume my six to eight cans of diet cola and forget the water. (Maybe I forgot because my stomach was so full of all the liquid from the soda pop!) Then I got serious about weight loss and decided I’d give water—that’s eight 8 oz. glasses a day—a try. Oh my gosh! This works! (If I learned this years ago, my weight-loss challenge would have been less of a battle and I would have reached success sooner!)

Continue reading "Water, Water, Water!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Continue reading "Get Moving!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)