I Wonder.... Does it Always Have to Be Fair?

Reading today's online version of USA Today of the New York vote on gay marriage (http://usat.ly/iwXggz) got me thinking. First, let me say that this writing is not about gay marriage itself, it is about the concept of, does it always have to be fair? By that, I mean, does everything have to be fair?

I was provoked into thought be the articles statement "The trend seems undeniable, rooted in the American belief - and Constitutional guarantee - that everyone deserves equal treatment under the law". Let's get beyond the gay marriage debate or conversation and not even discuss my support or opposition for it. Let's think about what's fair and what's not; what's reasonable and what's not.

I wonder....
? if a girl should be able to join little league or boy scouts?
? if a boy should be able to join girl scouts or brownies?
? if the Professional Golf Associationshould be forced to change it's rules to allow a player to ride in a cart?
? why must we have both men's rooms and women's bathrooms?
? if it is fair that a basketball hoop is so high, should it be lowered so height challenged people can play?
? if it is fair actors and professional athletes get paid more than teachers or fireman do?
? if it is fair that insurance companies take our premiums and can also deny procedures our doctors prescribe?
? if it is fair only girls can join a sorority and boys can only join fraternities?
? if schools are controlled by the laws, why kids of any faith can't say a prayer, but the president can end every address with "God bless the United States of America"?
? if I can't have a Christmas Tree in my office if it is fair those against it get A vacation day for Christmas or get to participate in my Christmas sales (and it is a Christmas Tree, not a holiday tree)?
? if I can celebrate Black History Month, would it be also OK to celebrate White Human month as well?
? if it is fair kids with average grades get fewer scholarships and don't have the same options of those with higher grades (or more money)?
? if it is fair the president gets helicopter rides to the airport and I have to sit in rush hour traffic?
? if it is fair women's shoes are less expensive than men's shoes?
? why it is fair for me to open a business and be told My customers and me can't smoke in it if I want to allow it?
? is it fair that some people are hurt in accidents or struck with an illness when they have lived what appears to be the perfect life and others (I'll refrain from adjectives unbecoming of niceness) who seemingly have done nothing right... don't?
? why we always have to find fault instead of finding good?
? why we need hot water heaters, wouldn't cold water heaters make more sense?
? if any of this matters to you?

Oh, I could go on.... Life is certainly not always fair.
Please leave your thoughts, if you wonder why...

How bad is your job... really?

Words are not necessary if this is your job...  if not, be thankful you have one

Why is being illogical so easy for some people?

I know not everyone wants to be a doctor, a truck driver, a garbage collector, an office worker or any of thousands of other jobs.  What I don't understand is why and how some people justify the mediocre jobs they have because they don't have time. They don't have time to do something better.

Talking to a young gal tonight who was counting her tips. She's young, works at an ice cream stand or something like that.  She was happy she made about $16.00 per hour in tips.  That was a great day.  I mentioned she might want to look into something where she could potentially earn a lot more.  Another Scentsy Consultant was here and told about a basket party she just did.  Basket parties are where we make up a basket of samples for the host to use for show and tell as she talks to her friends, relatives and coworkers to assist with sales.  This basket party netted something over $600.00 in sales; the host received almost $100.00 in free product and the consultant made more than $150.00 for what she estimated at a maximum of 3 hours of work.

I don't have time... I have this to do...  I have that to do... Oh, how frustrating it is to me.  Now, I understand that everyone doesn't want to be a Scentsy Independent Consultant or a Mary Kay Representative or even look for a better job.  Why???

This reminds me of a story I hear Art Williams tell.  If you don't know who Art Williams is, he was the founding forefather of A.L.Williams.  A company that, in my words, prided themselves not is selling people life insurance,  but finding people who had brought themselves Whole Life, Universal Life or something other than term insurance and showed them how they could do better every single time, without exception.  He told about how he would show people where they could get twice as much insurance for half the price; and then recommended they invest what they saved....  and some people were so....  so illogical, they just didn't get it.  That frustrated Art to no end.  I am right there feeling the same way.

However, Art conquered the frustration and went on to become a multimillionaire.  I haven't gotten over it yet.  Art got over it by saying to himself... no matter how bad a deal the person had; no matter how much they could have saved in premium and in with their investments; no matter how bad it is...  if they are that illogical, it is the best thing they could have....  well good for them.  That's what I have to do, get to that mindset.  Once there, I'll be off and running, how about you?

What's wrong with some people?

I almost hate to write this today since it follows my previous post...  something good....  something not so good.  It should be hard to figure out which is which.  What's wrong with people today?  Why are there so many that feel they have to be "who they are" in the midst of those of us that don't care who they are if they are going to dress and act as they do?  Am I being intolerant? While I don't mean to offend anyone, I likely will, but I feel I am being offended and also have a right to speak up.

There are just some things that a majority in society do not agree with and do not have to accept.  Maybe someone could build a mall where your pants have to be lower than the cheeks of your butt in order to shop there.  Those of us that wear our pants as they should be would not be allowed (as if we would be interested in the first place).

Now that I think of it, someone has done just that...  I'm not sure how it was originally planned, but Sam Walton's empire has become just that.  If there's any doubt and haven't seen it before, the clientele is well documented at the People of WalMart (see www.peoplpeofwalmart.com).  If they installed bars around the various departments, it would be like going to a zoo.  Why don't these folks get it?  I think it's an easy answer... they don't care.  So sad.

Buddies of Hope

Giving Back is one of the most important thing we can do as Scentsy Consultants, as leaders, and just as people. Giving More Than You Take is embedded into the ethos of Scentsy and everything we do as Consultants! We are all so blessed and when we look at all of the tragedies around us, we should hugs our kids tight, kiss our loved ones, and appreciate all that we have and how quickly and easily it can all be taken away from us without a moments notice ......by a natural disaster, by an accident, an illness or in many other ways!

Buddies of Hope came about when deadly tornadoes ripped through Tuscaloosa, Alabama in late April 2011 and was the brain child of Scentsy Director, Kara Laczynski. Although I have not yet personally met Kara, we have conversed about the incredible program she has begun for the sake of children who's lives have been turned upside down. We both agree and want this to be for all children in need after a horrific ordeal has happened to them.

As you all know there have been horrible tornadoes all over the Midwest, South, Southeast, and Northeast the past few weeks and months. Many lives have been lost and entire communities have been demolished! The loss is great and the impact on children in these communities is unimaginable! Some have lost parents, some have lost homes, some have lost their schools, their communities, and their friends. Some have lost all of the above and more!

As a Scentsy Consultant I am always completely overwhelmed by the generosity and compassion of other Scentsy consultants and our incredible customers. We're all always looking for ways to make things easier, lessen the pain and burden, and put a smile on the faces of others. Buddies of Hope has spread nationally, buddies are being delivered to children all across the country. This program gives Scentsy Buddies to the children who have been impacted by these natural disasters and who have suffered great loss! There are lots of children impacted and they NEED MORE BUDDIES! So...we're calling all consultants, customers and businesses to come to their rescue, collectively participate, and share our own Scentsy love with the children in need!

For those that are not Scentsy consultants:
ALL Consultant commissions from the sale of these buddies goes to purchase more buddies. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Buddies are $25 each and there are 6 to choose from. You can see them on my website at https://dangreeley.scentsy.us/Buy/Col... or the Web site of any other Scentsy consultant that supports this cause. Those supporting this cause have pledged to donate all profits from the sale of Buddies back to Buddies of Hope... we are here for the children only. Please contact Kara or me directly if you can help. TO ORDER: Please go to the Web page above and order or call my office at 413-203-4930 (and save shipping cost) and order directly from us.

If you order on line, ship buddies to:

Buddies of Hope New England
141 Oakridge Drive
Belchertown, MA 01007

or

Buddies of Hope Tuscaloosa
‎8915 Argonne Forest Drive
Duncanville, AL 35456

If you are a consultant
Order through your own workstation, list Buddies of Hope New England or Buddies of Hope Tuscaloosa as the party host and ship buddies to one of the addresses above. Call my office for the Buddies of Hope donor card that you and or your customers can complete (or e-mail us the information for the card to buddiesofhope@gmail.com, we'll add it. Every buddy will include a donor card of who the buddy came from.

It may not seem like much to you, but it could mean the world to that little boy or girl!

Please join, support and promote our cause on Facebook: http://bit.ly/joTU2A

Unhappy and am Posting Anyway

I'm writing only because of the commitment to write everyday, what I'm feeling, what I'm thinking or what I'm doing....  all in under 12 minutes.  I also don't lie complainers and whiners or those that are always right...  I hope I don't fall into any of those categories too often.  Unfortunately I know I have and I'm trying to stay out of that area.

Today I feel like my hands are tied...  I'm caught, I don't know which way to turn...  I, for once, am having a great deal of difficulty with a decision that is stressing me to a point where I don't want to be.  Don't you hate it when you feel lie that?  What do you do?

It's said that you can only control the things you can control and not those you can not.  Easier said than done when there are things that mean so much for which you have no control.  Life is too short to have to be in these situations. 

I will survive.

A Day With the Boys

Yesterday (almost Father's Day), I got to spend the day with my youngest son Travis and my two sons-in-law, Garrett and Pockey.  I'm not sure "sons-in-law" is a correct phrase, it sound weird.  Garrett and Pockey are both golfers; Travis is a 16 year old natural for someone that really does not play regularly...  he has a lot to learn and could probably become very good with some coaching and practice.  Me, I play once or twice a year at events hosted where I work as "golf events", but are more of a take the afternoon off and let's relax and have fun.  Relax and golf - that could be an oxymoron.

We played at Ledges in South Hadley, MA, the first time there for any of us.  They said the course was on the short side so we played the blue tees.  To me, all courses are long whether we play red, white, blue  or gold.  Typical day on the course for me...  hit the first ball a country mile, the next one about a foot as it popped straight up in the air, then another OK shot followed by woods, rough, bunkers and lots of two and three putting.  Of course, I wanted to make a better showing, but it really didn't matter, I got to spend time with a few of the boys that normally doesn't happen.

I think if I were to flash back 10 or 15 years, yet being able to be in the same place I am today, I would have a closer relationship with the boys and would be able to hang out with them (and keep up with them).  I know things change, I know I have, I often wish I could do all I use to do.

Although I don't think we took any pictures yesterday to look back on, I'll always have what I can remember about the day (like how the two big boys wanted to humble the little one for how they played last time - I think Travis played pretty well last time - he cam on stronger yesterday toward the end).  Thanks guys... but next time, please have a masseuse ready for my feet... I know I had a cart to ride in, but my feet still hurt.

Father's Day morning - Travis comes down at 10:30 and is making me coffee and toast.  Sweet.

My first 12 minute (maximum) post

I'm taking the challenge of long time friend Phil Gerbyshak (@PhilGerb on twitter) and new time friend Becky Robinson (@beckyrbnsn) and their 12 Minutes at a time project (@12minuteSMP).  Here goes my story today.

Yesterday was a bitter sweet day... some sad thoughts for happy moments, some thought for how the moments will make me sad.  First, my second born daughter organized an awesome 40th birthday dinner for my first born.  It was nice, it was fun and it was a surprise!  Well done Becca, Happy Birthday Tina.  At least it was all good until, during a conversation of kids and birthday's, Tina mentions it must be an awful feeling when you child turns 40!  One must really feel old at that point.  Oh sure, rub it in honey.  At least I'm not as old as your mother (she should love that one but it eases my pain).  The pictures should be interesting, especially the ones in our baloon hats.

The second part of this story is that on the way to the joyous event, my Beemer reached a milestone...  we turned 100,000 miles...  gosh they go quick when you drive 40,000 miles a year or more.  100,000 miles.  This is the best car I have ever owned, and I have had some cars that were pretty nice... there was the Buick Park Ave back in the day....  the Volvo S80 T6...  sweet and powerful....  but this BMW 550i is stands up its calling as the ultimate driving machine.  I love the way I get a hug from the seats, literally, every time I get in.  The best thing is that it looks and acts new... it just has 100,000 miles on it now.  People find it hard to believe it is not brand new, that's what happened when it is taken care of (that sounds like a subject for another time).  100,000 miles means a few more things... the warranty expired... no more included oil changes and wiper blades...  included maintenance is gone....  oh well, it's still the best car I ever owned.