solution to every woman's problem

So I was checking my email the other day and there it was…in all its glory…the purported solution to every woman’s problem! Apparently Sephora (a cosmetics store/chain) had figured out a universal method to solve this age-old mystery. What is it, you ask?

Gifts, of course!

Sephora along with every other retail store in the world would like you to believe that our problems can be solved by a little swipe of a card or a little flash of the cash. And the sad part is that some of us believe it. While I understand the cleverness behind the sell and that gadgets and gizmos do bring a certain amount of pleasure, it doesn’t solve problems and it doesn’t bring lasting happiness.

Now I’m not here to point fingers or to place blame. In fact ever since I saw this little email I have had a hankering to visit Sephora at Union Square (a quick lunch time walk). I simply thought the subject heading to this morning email was humorous. We have now entered the season of materialism folks. Prepare yourself and don’t get sucked in.

9 to 5

Part of the reason I sought out higher education was so that I could have a regular, 9 to 5 job, fully loaded with benefits, vacation, paid holidays…not to mention it could serve as a vehicle to support my passion for the underserved and underprivileged members of society. The idea of working 5 days a week was also extremely appealing to me. I wanted weekends and I wanted them to be MY weekends. Saturday for errands and play. Sundays for worship and service. Weekends are sacred--especially when workweeks are horrendous.

For the most part, my job is a 10 to 6 type of a deal. I enjoy flexibility, amazing co-workers, and I do have a passion for the work. Working with volunteers is extremely satisfying especially when you can see the impact that they have on the lives of youth and a community. But there are occasions when my department (the Volunteer Department) works very non-traditional hours. We have events, trainings, and programming that all happen “after work” and our presence, in addition to the planning, comes with the territory.

Despite my reluctance to work late on these different occasions, I can usually reframe my thinking in order to produce some sort of positive imagery in my head once everything is said and done. However, this last Saturday was a different story.

I don’t know if it was the combination of a really long week, a few late nights (work related), and the unfinished products piling up on my desk but I was in no mood to be working half a day on Saturday. So imagine my sheer delight to find that not only did I have to work half a day, but also, another half of a day, totaling a full 8 hours. As a result I missed the adult session of stake conference (my favorite part of stake conference weekend) and returned to my apartment in the dark, feeling and looking like a drowned rat. I was exhausted, my night was shot, and I hadn’t gotten a thing done on my hefty to do list.

I’ve been slightly bitter about it for the last few days but as the saying goes, “time heals all wounds.” And so it was with my wounded Saturday heart. But walking home tonight cleared up every last bit of lingering infection. Fatigued once again, I mindlessly made my way along the sidewalk. It was nearing 10:00pm and I noticed a particular group of street vendors. They were a small family, packing up their wares and remnants of the day. Father was working hard to clean out a pan. Mother was taking down one of the mini tables. And their maybe 8-year-old daughter was doing her best to pack up another box of supplies. The box was bigger than she was. It was a school night. Did she have homework? Surely she was tired and yet she was dutifully helping out her hard working family.

Somehow in that moment, my extra eight hours on Saturday didn’t seem as significant as they did before…

scorpio

while i haven't ever really given much credit to signs of the zodiac and their accompanying traits, i've always been strangely proud of the fact that i'm a scorpio. as i just passed yet another birthday, i did a quick online search to see what i could find. even stranger than the fact that i'm proud of being a scorpio, is the fact that the little description i found is shockingly accurate. for the average joe schmoe, you wouldn't necessarily make the connection, but let me assure you, it's true...for the most part. :)


SCORPIO
Beneath a controlled, cool exterior beats the heart of the deeply intense Scorpio. Passionate, penetrating, and determined, this sign will probe until they reach the truth. The Scorpio may not speak volumes or show emotions readily, yet rest assured there's an enormous amount of activity happening beneath the surface. Excellent leaders, Scorpions are always aware. When it comes to resourcefulness, this sign comes out ahead.

Friends and Family
Sincerity and truth are strong components of the Scorpio's friends. It can take some time before really close bonds are formed, but once done, the Scorpio will remain dedicated and loyal. Witty and intellectual, they prefer companions who are humorous and easygoing. Full of surprises, this sign will give you the shirt off their backs if that's what you need, yet once they are crossed, there's no turning back. They feel deeply, and once hurt, it can be impossible to turn things around. Commitment to family is strong and consistent with the Scorpio. They are exceptionally helpful in managing affairs, and they are excellent advocates when needed.

Career and Money
I desire is the key phrase for the Scorpio. They are fantastic at managing, solving, or creating. Once the Scorpio sets their sights on a goal, there's no deterring this sign. Tasks that require a scientific, penetrating approach are always best done by Scorpions as they will delve deeply into the materials they have. Their ability to focus coupled with determination makes for strong management skills. They're not ones to worry about making friends on the job scene; rather, they prefer to see the task accomplished well. Respect is an essential aspect of working for this sign. They need to respect their coworkers while also feeling a sense of being respected by others.

Love and Sex
This is the strongest of the sexualities in the Zodiac. Incredibly passionate, the Scorpio takes intimacy seriously. Partners need to be intelligent and honest. Much of the foreplay for this sign happens long before the bedroom through conversation and observation. Once in love, they are devoted and loyal to the death. But relationships can take some time. The Scorpio needs to build trust and respect for a potential mate slowly and thoroughly.

The Perfect GiftThe best gifts for a Scorpio are sentimental choices, clothing (especially something sexy), and non-fiction books.

Likes
Truth, facts, being right, teasing, longtime friends, a grand passion, a worthy adversary

Dislikes
Dishonesty, passive people, revealing secrets

Strengths
Passionate, stubborn, resourceful, brave, a true friend

Weaknesses
Jealous, distrusting

october fun