Word Of The Day

I think I'm live. Alright, I'm just gonna go because I think I'm live. Good morning. I know I have to give people a few seconds. I had to do a test to test my speed in here. Well, happy Wednesday. And it is still a little iffy outside. I don't know where you live and how it is for you, but there's some sun. So after this, I am going to get out for a walk, take advantage while I can with this non rain that we have. All right, so it's word of the day, but it's not actually a word. It is words. I want to talk about self awareness and developing self awareness because it is such an important thing to have.

Hey, Carrie. Happy to see you in here. My daughter got married over the weekend, last weekend. And it was so beautiful and perfect, but there were a lot of people, a lot of things going on, a lot of back and forth interactions, conversations. And after it was all said and done, after everybody made their way back home, something. Well, I kept thinking of certain things that happened throughout. Nothing major, but just kind of made me really think more about self awareness. Like some people lacked a little bit, me included, I'm sad to say, but I'll share that with you.

But self awareness, it's important to have. It helps you to have better relationships with people. It helps you to be conscious of how your thoughts and your behaviors are impacting those around you. And not to the point of you compromising who you really are, but just being mindful of how the things that you say and the things that you do affect others. And I don't know about you guys, but I always want to, well, I never want to be offensive. I never want to, I don't know, just upset people with being careless about what I say or do.

So I'm always, you know, doing my best to be mindful of that. And there were just some things that happened where I was like, you know, self aware people. There are a lot of people who need to build and develop this skill. So one of the first things that happened that really caused me to start thinking about this was we were getting ready on the day of the wedding in the, with the bride in the room. And there were several of us in there, me, a few of the bridesmaids, my sister in law and my younger daughter, who's 20.

So she's, she's a young adult now. But one of the girls in the room was just swearing up a storm. And it's like, whatever people cuss, I'm around it. Whatever. I don't cuss. But it wasn't just that she was cussing. It was that she was saying some really vulgar things. And I'm the type. I'm still learning tact. So if I'm not sure how to address something tactfully, a lot of times I will just not say anything to avoid making things uncomfortable. Right. Especially at that moment where we're getting ready for my daughter's wedding.

So some of the things she was saying were just, like, jaw dropping. Like, just vulgar. Outright vulgar and disrespectful. Because I'm like, hello, mother in the room, right? And I should have said something like that, but it doesn't come to my mind so easily, so. And then the next day, I saw my sister in law, and she was sharing how she thought that that girl was so offensive and inappropriate, and I agreed and let my daughter know the next day that that was just not cool and definitely something for next time if it happens again.

Hopefully not, but that I would address, because I don't think the girl meant to offend anybody or meant to be disrespectful, but it totally was because she lacked, like, regard for anybody around her and her elders. I know when I was younger, I had a foul mouth, too, I'm not gonna lie. But I was always conscious of who I was around, and I. And I just would not talk like that around my elders. So that was number one. The other thing that happened was there were speeches, and my daughter was very adamant about keeping everything going, moving along.

And she's always very considerate of others. And so she wanted this wedding and this whole day to be fun and enjoyable for people. So she was really clear on getting through each part of the wedding in a certain way in a timely manner. And so one of the speeches. And again, God bless him. Like, it was the sweetest speech at first, but then it, like, drew on and on and on, and it was like, okay, now we're all just like, when is this gonna end? Right? But all good intentions, but just a little bit carried away.

And then now I'm gonna just wrap myself out. Hey, guys. Hey, Luke. My eyes are so bad, I have to zoom in. Like, what's that guy? Earl? There used to be an old character. Character Earl. He would always get his face close to the camera. So this is something I honestly almost cried over for the next two days after I realized what had happened. I have a stepson, and he's older. He's in his thirties. He's got his own family. And unfortunately, there's been a drift in the family for several years. And so my husband is now reestablishing that relationship.

It's going great. But the problem is, our three kids together, they have very, very little, almost non existent bond or relationship with my stepson. And he's the sweetest guy ever, too. But because the lack of bond, this is what happened. We were taking family photos, and my daughter, again, trying to keep everything in a timely manner here, was kind of like, all right, you know, this family come up. Let's take our photo. Okay, next. And she was kind of doing that. And so everybody was just rushing in, taking the picture, and leaving.

So when it was our turn for our immediate family, we took a picture, and at some point, she said, okay, siblings. And my stepson kind of just went with, went out with the rest of the family and didn't stay behind for the sibling picture. And nobody, myself included, even thought twice about it. And so, long story short, when I found out that he wasn't included in the photo shoot, I was so, so sad. I was so. I felt so awful about it for not being conscious and aware that, hello. Like, yes, they have a brother.

Just because he's not my biological son, he's still part of the family. He's still a sibling. He should have been in that picture, and one of us should have been more aware of that, right? But it didn't happen. I feel terrible. There's no making it up or going back. It was not intentional, but it was, to some degree, a lack of awareness, right. Of just others around us. And so that is something that we'll have to figure out how to not make up, but make right some way somehow. So we'll do that. But I just think in general, a lot of people.

Well, I think all of us, I think we need to practice self awareness every day. And I wrote down a few examples of, like, minor things. But still, I think all of us are guilty at some point, right? Like in meetings or. I don't know, this has happened to me so many times where somebody's sitting behind me and they're out of a nervous twitch or whatever, they're just clicking their pin away, and I'm like, oh, my God, it's driving me crazy. Right? So little behaviors like that. Recently, I was buying groceries, and I'm the type to go to the store every day as I need stuff.

So I made a trip to the store to grab one or two things, and I get in line, and there's a lady in front of me with, I'm not kidding, a cart full of items. And she did glance behind and see me holding just whatever couple of items I had, but she didn't offer to let me go first. And I was so bothered. I was like, oh. Because I was in a rush already as it was. But I just kept trying to stay patient and be patient and, okay. And that's one of the things I came home and said was like, oh, my gosh. It's like, no, no.

Self awareness and consideration for others, but whatever. And to make it worse, just for that one example, she had all her items. It just, of course, seemed like it was going slower, but for some reason, she had to double scan most of the items because they were supposed to be on sale or whatever. So that day was crazy. That's another example. And then these are things that happen to me often enough to make me think about it. Talking on speakerphone when you're out in public. I had a Facetime recently to show items to a family member that I was buying something for, but I just, whenever I'm out shopping and people are having full blown conversations on speakerphone, it just distracts the heck out of me.

And I don't know about you guys, but, and I don't think people are intending to be rude or inconsiderate, but to me, it comes across as that way because, like, I'm being forced to hear this conversation that can go a thousand different ways, and it's different than in person. Two people having a conversation, the volume just comes off different when it's on a speakerphone. So I've thought about, like, these little, little things when it comes to self awareness and just being more mindful and conscious of how the things that you do, the things that you say every day when you're around others, how it comes across and impacts people.

And I think that when we have a strong and high level of self awareness, it really does help us to strengthen our relationships and be open to different perspectives. I know I've come a long way. I used to get really defensive. If anybody called me out, gave me any kind of criticism or feedback at all, I was up in arms over it. And now I've gotten so much better where I appreciate it because I think it takes courage to even offer that to another person. Right. And so I've learned to be open to other points of view and use it to better myself and just really be the best version of myself.

All right, any comments in here? Thank you, Carrie. Thank you, Luke. I did take us self awareness test that I found online. And I am not perfect. Well, none of us are. But I was at the higher end of the spectrum, so there's still work to do. But again, this is work that I want to commit to doing every day. And just really making an effort to think of others outside of myself and thinking more deeply about how what I say and what I do affects others so that I can be the best me and have great relationships and just develop that important skill.

I think that was everything I wanted to cover, but just something on my mind, on my heart that I am going to talk more about. But I'm happy to come on here and just share that little tidbit with you all. And yes, we are all definitely a work in progress. Defensiveness kills. Yes, I know. Because the second you get like that, like I used to, it's like it just goes bad. It just goes bad or it abruptly ends and nobody gets anywhere. So that is the word. Words for today, guys. I hope that wherever you are, the weather is nice somewhat and you can get out for some fresh air and a walk and enjoy the rest of your day.

Good to see you guys in here and I will see you again very soon. Take care. Bye, guys.