Coffee, Chaos and Cuss Words

I've been busy, as usual, living and loving the work I do; guiding and people out of homelessness and back to stable lives that they can enjoy once again. There have been some changes with the staff hierarchy, and it's really challenged me personally and professionally. A coworker, who has been on the job several months less than me, was recently promoted over me. It was a hit to the ego that I wrestled with every day for many weeks. She is smart, competent and I think she'll do great at the job. However, my first thought was, 'What about me?'! I'm hard-working, dynamic, enthusiastic, intelligent, effective, reliable, consistent and somehow, all that didn't seem to pay off with the kind of advancement I had hoped for. I went deep into self-reflection, knowing they told me before that they recognized my strengths, wanted me for the long haul and could see advancement in my future. I chided myself for being bitchy, but still felt the sting of not bein...

One of the most rewarding things I have been working on in the past year is Servant Leadership. My job uses the principal behaviors of Servant Leadership for the clients we serve, the coworkers we consider our teammates but primarily ourselves. The behaviors of Servant Leadership are:  Serve First- Demonstrate Respect Build Trust-Show Loyalty Extend Trust Live Your Values- Clarify Expectations Listen to Understand -Listen First Think About Your Thinking- Practice Accountability * Keep Commitments Bring Value: Your Strengths- Talk Straight Acquire and Practice Virtue- Create Transparency * Right Wrongs Demonstrate Courage -Confront Reality * Deliver Results Live Your Transformation -Get Better We strive to 'Encourage, Equip and Inspire those with whom we have influence...' for their highest good. In serving others first, we actually serve ourselves the same way. It's a beautiful way to look at it. I have really felt changes and overall growth with ...

*UPDATE* I wrote this blog back in 2014. I certainly have had quite a bit happen in my life since then (more on that in another post.) It was a couple of years after my parents passed, before my life-changing move to California, before the recent pandemic, and before my husband's crippling disability took hold. The one thing I can certainly say without hesitation is the my spiritual beliefs and practices have kept me sane, balanced and happy through it all. BUT....I've never had a practice that I mirror from anyone else. My mantra has ever been, "Your Path, Your Way" and ever it will be. So-to get back to the writing I so desperately need in these days and times, I bring back this post as my update. It tells you a LOT about me and my perspective on life.  Welcome new friends....Welcome back old friends....Welcome all!! (Lina-9/4/2023) I am a Bad Pagan. Well, at least I am according to the standards set by many in the Pagan community. Long ago I left group practice and...