Happy Holidays

At work we now have to answer the phone, "Happy Holidays from BBB, this is Leslie, how can I help you."  Well yesterday when one of the employees answered the phone, the lady on the other end didn't like her saying "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" so she started complaining about it.  The employee was caught off guard and said, "What?"  The lady said, "You heard what I said.  Repeat back to me what I said."  The employee was still confused as to what was going on and what the lady wanted.  That of course didn't help the situation and the lady was mad.  She asked what time we closed and sadly the employee didn't know because each night is different now that it is the "holidays".  They lady said, "You should know.  Why don't you know?  Let me speak to a manager."  The employee was in tears at this point and transferred her to a manager.  The manager listened to the complaint and told the employee to not let it get to her.

This really bugs me.  I would assume that the lady on the phone was a Christian because no one else cares if you say "Merry Christmas" or not.  But her attitude didn't seem to represent Christ (or Christmas for that matter).  And most people would realize that it isn't the employee who makes the choice as to what to say when you answer the phone so don't give them a hard time.  It was the day after Thanksgiving so it seems to early to start saying "Merry Christmas" anyway.  Plus we have Hanukkah next so saying "Happy Holidays" includes all holidays that people celebrate without excluding anyone.

I may have to say "Happy Holidays" to people just so I can share my thoughts with people who try to correct me.

Another Gluten Free Person

"I can't eat that.  I'm gluten free."

I started a gluten free diet on Saturday.  After a wonderful breakfast of pumpkin waffles followed by a two hour nap I decided that maybe I have a problem with gluten.  After eating pancakes or waffles I have to nap.  That seems ridiculous.  So I did some research and also looked in to hair loss associated with gluten and decided to give it a try.

I am on day 6 now.  I wish I could say my hair has all grown back but it hasn't yet.  But I am hopeful still.  Some people say they notice a difference in just two weeks, others say two months.  I hope I am a two week person.

Way back in January I noticed a bald spot on my head.  I've always had an itchy scalp and a time before I had a bald spot, so I wasn't too shocked.  But then I got another one and my hair started falling out more and more.  I was mostly just concerned about the spots until a few months ago.  I noticed how thin my hair had become.  I have always had thick hair so it was quite startling to see my scalp so easily.  I tried using different oils until finally giving in and going to the doctor.

I was tested for thyroid issues but all those came back healthy.  Then I went to a dermatologist and he said it could just be stress.  He has given me some supplements to try.  I am taking biotin and niacin also.

So now to be gluten free.  I really hope that this solves the hair loss.  I wouldn't mind also losing weight and gaining energy, but that would all just be a bonus.  And I hope my hair grows in red and curly.

Balloon Releasing

I've been wanting to do this for a few weeks and finally made myself do it today.  I bought a $1.49 balloon at the 99 cent store (ummmm, why was it $1.49?) and tied my message to the balloon.  My message was a statement about how I am releasing my desire for an apology.  Also that I can't make people do anything they don't want to do.  And that I give that desire over to God who knows exactly what I need.  My movement forward in healing isn't going to be tied to an apology I never got.  So I brought the balloon home and read my statement out loud and then released it.  It was a bit windy today so at first the balloon didn't seem to gain much height.  As I watched it race away it gradually climbed higher and higher towards the dark clouds in the sky.  I thought about the releasing and trusting that I was doing.

My little nephew is watching Elmo right now.  I guess Elmo made his friend sad by saying that her pet rock, Rocco, was just a rock.  And he then lost Rocco.  So his friend was mad and sad.  But Elmo felt really bad about it and found Rocco and brought him back to his friend.  His friend didn't want to see Elmo because she was mad at him.  Elmo said how sorry he was for hurting her by saying Rocco was just a rock.  She said how she was really hurt by it and also that now Rocco was missing.  Elmo again said that he was sorry.  She said that she forgave him.  But Elmo noticed that she was still sad.  She said it was because she missed Rocco.  Then Elmo showed her Rocco.  She then became happy.

Isn't it interesting how an apology doesn't take away the sadness.  And forgiveness doesn't always just make everything okay.  I have forgiven my friends for the hurt they caused me even though they are unable to say sorry, but it doesn't mean I am all happy again.  And even if they had apologized it wouldn't have made things all better.  Saying sorry is more for the person who has done something hurtful.  It is them accepting the fact that they caused hurt, even if it was unintentional.  And forgiveness isn't for the person that is being forgiven, it is more for the person who does the forgiving.  Both of these acts releases the person who is taking the active roll.

So today I am one step closer to the ending of this chapter of my life.