Change Is Good

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Change is Good?

Oct10-3I think humans are huge creatures of habit.  We sit in the same pew at church every Sunday.  We drive the same way to work.  We order the same meals off the menus at our favorite restaurant.   It’s just who we are.

I’m definitely the same way.  I believe that some of my habits were passed down from the things my parents did.  They believed in volunteering, so I believe in volunteering.  They used TruGreen for their lawncare, so I used TruGreen.  They used State Farm insurance and National City Bank – so of course I followed along and did just the same.

I’ve had State Farm Insurance since I was old enough to drive. I just always assumed they gave me the best deal for my money. That was until I met another insurance company that wanted to give me a free quote. I figured a free quote never hurt anybody so I went through the process.  The prices they quoted me were actually a little lower than my current policies.

So I gave State Farm a call.  They asked me to come in for a review of my policies.  I told them the rates the other company quoted me and asked what they could do.  We looked at my car and house policies and found that there were some things that I did need.  I was happy that I saved some money and decided to stay with State Farm.

All was well in Yeagerland.  It was a hot day (we can all relate) and I walked outside across the street to my mailbox.  I felt like a State Farm groupie because I had five pieces of mail from them.   I thought it was a little excessive but was happy with what was inside three of them.  As I opened them, I was greeting with checks that were refunds to my policies.  It felt like Christmas in my bank account.

I learned that you never know what type of positive change can come your way unless you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone.  We have to be willing to see life from a different perspective.  Once we do, we’ll realize that either 1) it’s time for change or 2) life is fine just where we currently are.

M.Y. October 2010

Natural Zumba

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Natural Zumba?

OCt10-2As you know, I LOVE FITNESS!  I already had my personal training certification but needed to get 20 hours of continuing education over the next two years.  I saw that a Zumba Fitness certification class was coming to Louisville and that I could get 7 hours for that.  I’ve always loved doing Zumba and I needed the hours so it sounded like a win/win situation!

After attending the training I was hooked and equally excited to get more people involved.  Zumba is a  fun way to get in shape.  Tomarcus at APT Fitness in St. Matthews allowed me to use his space for the classes and I get to workout while working out others!

But here’s the thing I forgot to factor in.  Back in June, I either had an epiphany (or mental lapse) that I was going to try to grow out my relaxer.  I’d been on the fence about it for so long.  Since it was my offseason from competing, I figured this would be the best time to try it. If it didn’t work, I could always go back.

Dealing with the changes in my hair were fine, until the weeks leading up to my first Zumba class.  I’d practice at home every night and every night I would work up a sweat.  And with each night I worked up a sweat, another bead would lock up in the back of my hair. Another edge went from straight to not-so-straight to magically appear.  So I had to make a decision.  1) Do the big chop – Not for me since it’d only been 4 months.  2) Pull my hair back in a pony tail every day – Not really for me.  I love a ponytail but don’t think it looks professional at some of my meetings.  3) Get a wig or a weave – this was my last resort but really the only option I felt I currently had in order to stay active.

So I called up Chenica, went out, bought the hair and let the sewing begin.  I will admit, it took me some time to get used to having a full head of “not my hair” but I know it’s only temporary to get me through the process.   I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!

If you’re currently transitioning to a natural hairstyle or already are, I’d love to hear your advice!

M.Y. October 2010

If You Only Knew Me

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If You Only Knew Me

Oct10-1Late one night I happened to be flipping channels and came across a show on MTV.   It’s called “If You Only Knew Me”.  The show picks a different high school each week and takes the students through a one day Challenge Day program.  It starts out with everyone playing fun games, but by the end of the show everyone has shared a deep part of themselves.

I started DVRing the show and every time I watch it, I end up in tears.  Here you have a group of youth that start out with their basic labels (prep, jock, emo, nerd, lesbian).  But as they do different activities, each person shares something about themselves (i.e. they are homeless, they hate to look at themselves in the mirror, they’ve contemplated suicide, they feel all alone)  It’s an amazing transformation to see these teens realize how many things they have in common with each other.  They realize that although someone else’s life seems “perfect” he/she has his/her own struggles.  It was often the students with the biggest personalities that had the most to reveal.

It was also an important message for each person to understand that they are not alone.  The person that thought about committing suicide realized that many others had felt at their all time low.  The athletes sometimes broke down crying because all their life they never felt good enough in their parents’ eye.

I don’t cry often, but this show has a tremendous effect on me.  I think it would be pretty cool if adults could do the same type of activities.  So often we judge people by the neighborhood they live in, the crowd they hang around, the church they attend or even the men/women they’ve dated.   We stick our noses up at others and assume the gossip we hear is truth.  But, if we “really knew each other” we could see that we’ve all had our struggles.  Some reach back to childhood, while others have their own personal struggles today.  How often have you talked about someone or posted something on Facebook about them without evening taking time to realize what type of emotional toll it could take on that person?  We need to quit judging each other and instead offer each other a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear.    There’s no time to start like today (and while you’re at it, check out the show!)

M.Y.  October 2010

One Expensive Colts Ticket

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One Expensive Colts Experience

Sept10-5I decided to be a nice girlfriend and do something special for my boyfriend.  He is a huge Indy Colts fan so I made it my plan to buy us two tickets to their season open versus the NY Giants (Manning vs Manning).  I went online to Ticketmaster and saw that the Colts tickets are pretty much sold out for the entire season.  However, they did offer a site where you could purchase tickets from season ticket holders that weren’t able to attend certain game.  Perfect! (or so I thought)

I went on the TicketExchange site and for several days we researched and watched the prices of various sections where we wanted to sit.  Some of the prices were mad high.  We found great Club Seats in the 200 level section on the 40 yard line.  I went online to purchase the tickets, entered my credit card information and then noticed that there was a rather high service charge fee.   So, I opened up another browser on my computer and randomly clicked on two more tickets to see if the service charge was the same.  I noticed the fee goes up with the price of each ticket.

I knew this was the only way we could attend the game, so I went back to my original screen, checked my total purchase price, clicked on the button that said “I agree to these charges” and pressed enter.  I was excited.  He was excited! – Until I received the confirmation email.  The email I received said that I purchased two tickets totaling $3224!!!!!  Yes, you read that correctly – three thousand two hundred and twenty four dollars.  I almost went in shock.

I immediately called Ticketmaster.  They said that because I opened the second screen to look at those tickets that those are the tickets I purchased.  I told them I only entered my credit card information on the first screen and even checked which screen I was on when I confirmed my order.  My response fell on deaf ear.  Nobody wanted to listen to me.  I talked to several supervisors.  I called my credit card company and tried to dispute.  Everyone thought it was unfair, but nobody was willing to help me.  So, I started calling every day and pleading my case.  I filed charges with the Better Business Bureau and had a demand letter sent on my behalf.  One supervisor said although it wasn’t my fault the tickets were purchased, it wasn’t their fault either so they couldn’t do anything.  Another supervisor said that Ticketmaster couldn’t afford to reimburse me $3000.  My response to that was, “So a multimillion dollar company can’t afford to lose $3000, but I can?!”

Two weeks of frustration went by.  I became more and more overwhelmed by the situation. It got to a point where it consumed many of my daily thoughts.  At my highest stress level, as I lay down to bed, I said a prayer to help right this situation so that I could move forward with my life. The next day I was sitting at my office desk and my cell phone rang.  I answered it and on the line was a lady from Ticketmaster.  She said they were able to re-create my online situation and realized that I honestly had no intent of purchasing the expensive tickets.  She said they were going to refund my ENTIRE amount!   I was ecstatic and overjoyed!

I realized that when I was at my worse that I had to put my faith in the situation in God’s hands.  It’s pretty amazing that as soon as I did just that, all of my problems were solved.  God does answer prayers.  They aren’t always answered overnight like this situation.  But, he can always help see you through.

M.Y. September 2010

Black and White

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Black and White

Sept10-4I went to a banquet I attend yearly.  This year’s theme was “Hats Off”.  I found a black and white hat and dress.  My boyfriend and I walked up toward The Olmstead together and we crossed the path of a man that was walking out into the parking lot.  He walked up to me and joked that maybe we should have arrived together since he too was dressed in black and white.  I mean, this dude was dressed to the “T” in black and white combinations.   We all laughed, my boyfriend and I went on in the building and started looking at silent auction items.

The guy came up to us again and started talking with us.  This time he touched my boyfriend’s chest, removed his nametag and said “Remember, your nametag always goes on the side of your body where people can easily see it when they shake your hand”.  He asked me if my mother approved of my boyfriend and I said unfortunately she passed away before she could meet him. The entire time this guy talked to us he had a very friendly personality and a smile.  It was just interesting that he took so much pleasure in us.

More minutes pass on.  We are still looking at various bid items.  I feel something at my shoulders and look back.  This guy presents me with this bag.  In it are a pair of earrings, a necklace and bracelet.  The colors of the jewelry are black and white!  (At the time I actually didn’t have on any of that type of jewelry).  I looked at him funny at first and jokingly asked him if he stole it off one of the auction tables.  He laughed and told us that he does auctions on the side and he keeps random items in his car.

Once the banquet started and we sat at our table, I decided to put on the jewelry.  It matched perfectly.  I looked around the banquet hall for the guy because I wanted to thank him for such a kind gesture.  I found him sitting at a pretty distinguished table surrounded by all of the oncologist doctors that treated many of the cancer survivors at the banquet.  I walked to the table and said hello to all the others at the table and found out the guy was married to one of the female oncologists.

As the banquet came to an end, I went and said my goodbyes and saw my boyfriend once again talking to this guy.  This time they were exchanging phone numbers.  My boyfriend mentioned the field of work he was in and this guy knew a great mentor that he should talk to.  Here is a guy that is just genuinely a nice human.  He wasn’t flirting with me.  He wasn’t trying to hustle my boyfriend.  He is a guy with a great personality and our paths just happened to cross at just the right time.

Everyone enters our lives for a reason.  Be careful of who you block out of your life just because they look a little different from you.   There are positive people on every corner, you just must keep your eyes, heart and mind open when they come near.

M.Y. September 2010

Cracker Banana

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Cracker banana

Sept10-3Banana – I was sitting in the back of a meeting, minding my own business, and enjoying the great dinner they provided from Sincerely Yours.  I’m a lover of chocolate dessert, but the only thing they provided was banana pudding.  I don’t like fresh bananas although banana flavoring can sometimes add a kick to foods.  So, after eating the nicely seasoned chicken and vegetables, I decided to get a small bowl of banana pudding.

The meeting carried on and I decided to take a bite of my dessert.  I had a decent size scoop, placed it into my mouth and was prepared to continue listening.  But, AS SOON AS the pudding touched my taste buds I had an instant memory of my mother.  It was this sudden flashback of the banana pudding my mother used to make when I was a child.  I had completely forgotten that she ever made it, but the second I tasted this pudding – all the memories came flooding back!  You better believe that I went and got another larger portion of the pudding and even took some home to eat later!

Cracker  – It was a typical outing last Friday.  My boyfriend and I were in Seymour, IN and decided to eat dinner at Cracker Barrel.  I’d already had Cracker Barrel twice that week for lunch with some colleagues, but there aren’t many options in Seymour.  We browsed over the menu.  He ordered the grilled catfish and I decided on some pancakes.  We laughed and chatted as we waited for the food to arrive.  Once it did, we grabbed each other’s hands and he said a blessing for our food, families and our relationship.

We continued on eating and laughing.  Then a man walked up to us.  He put his hand on my boyfriend’s back and said, “My family and I saw that you prayed before you ate your food and we think that’s a wonderful thing.  May God bless you both!”  I was taken aback to be complimented on something we take for granted as a regular practice of our day.  However,  it also felt good to be noticed for something positive.  So often we take time to gossip and waste our energy on the negative images and actions of others.  When’s the last time you complimented someone on something you appreciate about them?!

M.Y. September 2010