Disrespectful Alarms

Today's prompt:

Perhaps it was a dream, she thought. Perhaps if she pinched herself, she would wake up. But she didn’t want to wake up. She wanted to stay in this dream where...

Perhaps it was a dream, she thought. Perhaps if she pinched herself, she would wake up. But she didn’t want to wake up. She wanted to stay in this dream where everything felt light.

She sat at the patio table, sunlight warming her shoulders as she watched the kids splashing in the pool, their laughter bouncing off the water. Her husband stood by the grill, music humming from the speaker beside him, a cigar resting between his fingers like he was auditioning for a commercial. The puppies curled at her feet, occasionally nudging her as if to say, “Don't forget about us.”

She opened her notebook, letting the pen glide across the page. A soft breeze carried the smell of charcoal, and she breathed it in like medicine. Days like this — slow, warm, unhurried — were her favorite. Family time always felt like a reset button for her soul.

Her mother stepped outside, smiling. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a vibration buzzed against the table.

Her eyes flew open. “Oh damn,” she groaned, slapping at the nightstand like she saw a mosquito. It was her phone. “That was a vivid dream.”

The phone kept at it, rude and relentless, like it had absolutely no respect for the peace she was enjoying in her head. She sat up, squinting at the ceiling. Another workday. Another morning of pretending she wasn’t betrayed by her own subconscious.

She swung her legs out of bed. “If this ice isn’t melted today, I’m filing a complaint with the universe.”

But for a moment, she stayed still, letting the warmth of the dream linger — the sun, the laughter, the ocean‑level peace — before stepping back into the real world.

Dreaming Big

First, let me say Happy New Year.  I hope 2025 did right by you and your 2026 is even better! Now, OMG!!!! I can't believe it's been this long since I've blogged.  

I decided to switch things up  — stretch my imagination a little, have some fun. Years ago, I bought a writing‑prompt book because I wanted to sharpen my storytelling skills. It’s been sitting on my shelf giving me the side‑eye ever since, so today I finally cracked it open.

The prompt starts like this:

“At first, we thought the black liquid was oil — that we’d struck it rich, that we’d finally be able to retire and live in leisure. We actually started writing down all the ways we’d spend the money. Our first choice was…”

So…..

If Jamie and I ever stumbled onto a fortune, we wouldn’t suddenly turn into those people buying gold‑plated toothbrushes or pet tigers. No, we’re realists. Practical dreamers. So our first move would be simple: wipe out any remaining debt — ours and our parents’.

Honestly, the idea of our parents living the rest of their lives without financial stress feels better than any yacht ever could. Plus, I don’t even know how to drive a yacht. Do you need a license? A tutorial? A YouTube video? I don’t have that kind of time.

Next up: investing. Not the flashy, “I day‑trade from my balcony in silk pajamas” kind. More like the “let’s make sure we can retire without eating beans out of a can” kind. Sensible, steady, grown‑up investing. The kind that whispers, “Relax, you’re good.”

Then comes the dream we’ve been carrying for years:
a beach home in Hawaii.

There is nothing — absolutely nothing — like sitting on a patio with the ocean breathing in front of you. The waves don’t just crash; they exhale. They do that slow, soothing “shhh” sound like they’re telling your worries to sit down somewhere. Jamie and I realized long ago that the ocean is our reset button. Our therapy. Our free mental health plan.

Of course, we wouldn’t forget our family — sisters, nieces, nephews, etc. Not in a “here’s a stack of cash, go wild” way, but in a “let us help you get where you’re trying to go” way. Support that lifts, not spoils. We’re generous, not reckless.

And because striking oil apparently comes with responsibilities, we’d need a team — accountants, advisors, people who understand how to manage wealth so it doesn’t manage you. Basically, adults who are more adult than us. Secure the bag, yes, but also secure the people who know what to do with the bag.

Then comes the fun part: travel.

Jamie and I are travelers in our souls. You already know we’d be out here collecting continents like Pokémon. Every country we can reach, every culture we can learn from, every food we can’t pronounce but will absolutely try — we’re there. Life is too big to stay in one place.

And finally, we’d give back. The communities that shaped us, the elders who paved the way, the children who deserve a future full of possibility. St. Jude would definitely be on that list — the work they do is nothing short of miraculous.

I could keep going, but I’ll stop here before I start planning a whole imaginary budget. It’s funny how a simple writing prompt can open the door to a whole universe of dreams. Maybe that’s the real treasure.

Hey y'all!

Well, it has been some years since I have posted here. So, first things first, let me catch you up. Over the past three years (yep, I said what I said), I have celebrated twenty years in my marriage and at my job. My husband and I have celebrated various graduations of nieces and nephews and several milestone birthdays of loved ones. We have used our vacation and blessings by visiting several places (namely Hawaii, Curacao, Montreal, Puerto Vallarta, Switzerland, and St. Lucia).
 
I have also lost my last living grandparent (love you, granny!), a brother-in-law who always made space for me, a first cousin, and an uncle. I had a major surgery that messed with my head a bit (so grateful for my support system in family and friends). I have also been able to reconnect with family members and friends who mean a lot to me, and I missed more than I realize. I received feedback from friends who are special to me and let me know that I am seen in an important way that supports my purpose (thank you, ladies, I love you!).
 
Through it all, the one message that is clear and repeated, that I hope we can all use daily, is that life is not waiting for you. As we go into this year, I hope we approach every situation with that in our hearts, minds, and actions. 

Guess whose back...

Ok so, I know I’ve been missing in action for a long while now.  In my defense (because yes, I must defend myself 😊 ), 2020 was a whirlwind of a year.  Even beyond the pandemic, I had several things that occurred then began to pile up.

• I started a new job in which my goal was to stand up a department and processes to support a sales channel shift.
• I started a 9-month long leadership project that required a great deal of time outside of my normal job.  Wonderful experience but it required a great deal of evening and weekend work.   In the end, the team, our sponsors and our ExComm team were incredibly pleased with our work.  In fact, our ideas were implemented into the strategy and goals for that group; now that’s success!
• Once the pandemic hit, my husband and I had to figure out the best way for both of us to be comfortable and productive.  I was used to working from home, but he did not work from home often. Trust me, two people that have days jam-packed with meetings is not something you do in a shared office.  😊  But, we figured it out and have created great spaces for both of us.
• The social unrest brought about several conversations with colleagues and teammates that are not typically commonplace.  While I could go several places and have many thoughts on this topic, I will say only this, “It is my hope that at some point we could all simply approach and respond to one another on a human level.  On a level that says, this person is a human just like me."
• It took the contractor EIGHT MONTHS to complete our kitchen.  At after all of that, the work was still subpar.  I would not recommend them to anyone and they got great details on the workmanship.  Do I love my kitchen?  Yes, you should have seen what it looked like before. 😀 I am happy that my kitchen looks 30 times better than it did, but the work and process could have been a lot better. 
• While we were able to get a great deal of things done around the house, not being able to travel like we normally do put a great strain on our ability to destress and focus on our family and friends.  For those that don’t know, travel is basically how we remain sane in the Morris household.
• I got selected for multiple leaderships seminars and workshops, which was great.  I was happy to meet and network with people from various industries and backgrounds.  That too took a toll on my stress levels.  All-in-all, I made great connections and learned some things

So, I’m going to stop there.  I think that gets us caught up through 2020 and I can get through 2021 in my subsequent posts.  The overall message here is that 2020 was an interesting year that brought about a lot of change for us all some good and some not so good.  I fell short on some things like many people did, so now I just need to refocus on some things.  I will say this though…if you are still here today and can read this message with no issues, COUNT THAT AS A BLESSING!!!

Quote of the day!
“Appreciate what you have before it turns into what you had.”
-A variation of a quote by Ziad K. Abdelnour

Just thinking...

So, it probably is not the best idea to write a post when your emotions are everywhere but we’re here anyway.   What I want to talk about today is giving.  What are your thoughts?  For me, I thought giving was about doing things for others with no return. Meaning that you do not only do so because you can but because someone or something came to you with the need.

Maybe my thoughts are too simplistic, but I don’t feel that you can opt to “give” something then come back at a later date or time then hold that over someone’s head.  If you give to someone and expect something in return, you should define that upfront and let them make their choices from there. You can’t have these things in your head and never express or share your expectations; that is unfair to everyone involved in the exchange.

Just thinking out loud...via the internet.  Thoughts/comments?

Ahhhhh the memories…

When I saw the word scent, my mind immediately went to a small house sitting on the pacific ocean on the Oahu island.  Scent is a powerful thing; it sparks forgotten memories and emotions.  It’s amazing how that works. So many great memories with scents.  I think of the elephant ears that the seaway festival when I was in my hometown; my husband’s cologne when he kisses me goodbye when he’s headed to work; nephew Desmond’s hair when we used to babysit him; our old house. 

Such a truly awesome sense.

Quote of the Day

“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived”

-Helen Keller

Books and Me

Books as a part of my life.  As far back as I can remember, I’ve always love to read books.  My mom tells stories about how I used to sit in the library for hours then bring at least ten books home every month.  What’s the fascination?  It’s the stories, the characters, the plots.  When I was younger, it was probably more of an escape for me, a place for my dreams.  I even wrote short stories of my own.  Now, I think it still serves as an escape or a place of my own.  It’s where I can go to clear my head of everyday stresses.

I won’t say that I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I am usually not up to speed on current shows.  I tend to watch streaming television in spurts.  When I find a show that I like (typically funny), I must watch it until its done. What I found is that I watch TV like I read books.  It must be something that doesn’t consume my mind and heart, basically nothing too heavy.  Not to say that I don’t read heavy books at all; I just sprinkle in more light ones than heavy.

The issue is simply that I feel deeply and can carry those emotions and stories for a while.  This, in itself, can be very draining.  Life comes with many stresses naturally and relieving this stress is key to a healthy mind, body and soul.  Books allow me the opportunity to release and manage life anxieties.

Quote of the Day

“She reads books as one would breathe air to fill up and live.”

-Ann Dillard

What did you learn today?

Being a person focused on helping others, I find myself in many situations where I have the chance to teach and/or learn.  These opportunities present themselves often and in the smallest forms and are so often missed.  Traditional thought approaches teaching and learning as something that happens mainly in a classroom or at home, even in earlier stages in life.  But learning is an ever-evolving aspect of life. 

Case in point, I am learning a new role at work; it involves new business partners, new focus, a new team, new customers and new skills.  Everyday, I am exposed to something new.  But, what I’ve also learned (through the help of a couple of colleagues) is that I am in a position to teach a few new managers.  Things that they are experiencing or up against, I’ve managed through and was successful.  So, rather than simply telling them that I understand and move on to what’s most important to me, I try to offer not an answer but an ear, support, perspective and insight.  Not only am I teaching them how to be better managers, I am teaching them (while also learning) to become a stronger more valuable team player.  The more perspective we have, the better we are at dealing with and resolving a broad spectrum of issues. 

People, communities, cultures, countries grow by being exposed to more.  How did you contribute today?

Quote of the Day

“The best part of teaching is that it matters.  The hardest part of teaching is that every moment matters every day”

-Todd Whitaker

Consider this...

We are in very unusual and uncertain times and have had to adjust in many ways.  For most, it’s been tough.  I’m not saying that it’s been a piece of cake for us but we still have each other, shelter, food, and our health.  Our families are doing well and have the same.  But for some, it’s been tougher.

My best friend’s mom is experiencing some challenges with her health and my friend can’t be with her (about 200 miles away).  She is getting information second-hand, is over-stressing and has no outlet.  Another friend lost her grandmother last Thursday.  She lives about 400 miles from her family.  She can’t go home, she can’t be with her mother, they can’t even have a funeral right now.  These situations truly bite.  I can’t imagine how hard this time is for either of them right now.  My heart goes out to both them and their families.

It’s easy to focus on ourselves and what we want; complain about the inconvenience.  That energy is wasteful.  Don’t forget about those who are experiencing this time differently.   Use that energy to be gracious, be helpful, be supportive, reach out, love on your family.  Be aware, be selfless.  We’ll never know if and when we may be facing something worse, enjoy what you do have now.

Quote of the Day

“Sometimes life turns out hard, Isabel.  Sometimes it just bites right through you.  And sometimes, just when you think its done its worst, it comes back and takes another chunk.”

-M. L. Stedman

Planning...who me? (Day 10- Orchestrate)

So, I guess my husband was right… I do spend a lot of my time orchestrating my life.  From personal, professional and volunteer relationships, I spend a great deal of time ensuring that the needs of others are met.  Need to check-up on someone, I have a plan or reminder for that.  Need some guidelines for a meet and greet?  I have some talking points.  Need to get the parents some essential items?  I’m your girl and Amazon’s my best friend.  😊  Team feeling unheard? Hey, I’m here, let me help. 

It’s important to me to connect, to help and to resolve; these things motivate me.  So, I guess I do spend a lot of time in ‘coordination’ mode… now, if only I could execute. 

Quote of the Day

“Your first and foremost job as a leader is to take charge of your own energy then to help orchestrate the energy of those around you.”

-Peter Druckers

Catching up with Day 9

Had some challenges but let’s see if I can catch up….  So, day 9 was ‘Pairs’.  When you think of pairs, you tend think of things meant to fit perfectly together.  But, is that always the case?  I think of Jamie and I when we first started. I wasn’t exactly his type nor was he mine, but we fit.  Perfectly in our own space, we fit.  My best friend and I are opposites in so many ways but similar in those that matter, we fit.

I guess the main point is that pairs are not always simply the other side of one dimension; sometimes, they simply coexist in a favorable environment.  Pairs don’t have to be perfect, they simply have to work well together. 

Quote of the Day

“Great striking partnerships come in pairs.”

-Nigel Spackman