As some of you know, I love to go to yard sales / tag sales / estate sales / rummage sales – whatever you want to call them. This past Friday I picked up a book called 101 Ways to Find God’s Purpose For Your Life. There were lots of good points in this book. Now I don’t want to turn my blog into a religious blog. Even though I am religious, I don’t push my thoughts and beliefs on others except to say that the 10 commandments all boil down to the “Golden Rule” – Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.
Anywho – this book does make good points.
#1 – Discover Your Strengths
“Think back to when you were a child. What were some of your favorite things to do? Did you care for injured animals, love to draw pictures, or delight in playing with friends? Now think of the ways those traits manifest themselves in your life today. Do you still collect “strays” – animals or people? Do you express yourself artistically through decorating and creating? Do you love to fix broken things? Do you enjoy opening your home to family and friends?”
This got me thinking. I do tend to collect strays. I have always been one of those people who tries to be friendly to everyone. I’m the one who tries to find the wall-flower or shy person and draw them into the conversation. Sometimes it is more of a challenge than others. I do tend to be that kind of friend that will drop everything to help a friend who needs it. I never noticed until recently that people who do this seem to be a rarity. The older I get the more I look around and notice that so many people seem to be out for themselves and couldn’t give-a-crap about the person standing next to them. Where did common decency go?? It makes me sad.
Recently I had a friend tell me I need to learn to be more of a self-centered-Bitch. Can you believe it? In no way am I a door-mat, but I give too much of myself and then I end up getting my feelings hurt by those people I gave to because they show their true colors and don’t care about anyone but themselves. Apparently I don’t fit into the take-take-take society that’s appearing all around me….
I always considered it my strength that I could help people. Lately it’s turning out to be more of a weakness, but I keep hoping that will change. I do have some friends that do appreciate all that I have to offer with my friendship, but I’ve also learned that many take it for granted. In times of crisis you learn who’s a friend to value and who’s the friend who’s all for themselves.
What strengths, gifts and talents do you have?
Do you use them to help people?
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I have been in this same situation over the years….I used to want to befriend all the people who didn’t seem to have anyone to turn to, thinking this was the right thing to do. Then it would wind up backfiring on me, and I would be hurt in the long run. It took me a really long time to catch on. Now, I might still befriend someone, but I keep my distance.
This book sounds good….I’ll have to look for it. Hope you are doing well!
Yes, sometimes we end up the ones hurt. I like to hope that more good things will come from being a friend than bad, but lately it’s been more the bad…. People show their true colors over time.
I hear ya, I’m more guarded now than I used to be and I HATE being that way!
Yes, the book is good, I recommend it. I got lucky and found it at a tag sale 🙂 I’m doing as well as can be considering we’re still looking for work.
Are things going better for you and Phoenix?
XOXO
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I think that it’s hard sometimes to look at what we were good at when we were younger or are even good at now and translate that into a marketable skill. I’m pretty good at pep talks and getting people back on track, but not sure how to use that to my advantage!
As for being a helper person, don’t give that up. Sometime it hurts when the help isn’t reciprocated, but helping others does feel good. 🙂
You’re a good egg, please don’t turn into a “self-centered-Bitch”
I don’t want to be a self-centered-Bitch but it seems to be the way more and more lately….
I’m sure I won’t turn into that, but it makes me think twice when it comes to helping people out anymore….
None of us like to be taken for granted.
[…] Purpose For Your Life. I’ve done 2 blogs about things I’ve read in it so far. #1 & […]
[…] 1st time in the pool. I passed along some household tips and tricks and we talked about personal strengths. We grooved along to tellingdad.com‘s Say the Things song about how much us blogger-folk […]