Her laughter filled the room. “That is just so you!” She was referring to the notepad clipboard and the Kooky Pen I had hanging in my shower.

As a writer I’ve come to accept that words and ideas come to me sometimes out of the blue and more often than not when I’m ill-equipped to jot them down. Long ago I made it a practice to be prepared because no matter how much I think I’ll remember a perfectly worded phrase that’s popped into my head, or how many times I repeat it aloud, I always forget it when pen finally touches paper.

A recent note, written after a particularly troublesome episode of contempt of boundaries by another, reads as follows:

“How does this red flag behavior fit into my vision for my life, company, etc?”

The answer, of course, is that it doesn’t unless the bond is intertwined and not as easily broken. Then it’s like the red flags warning beach goers of dangerous surf.

   
Sometimes a course of action includes simply taking necessary precautions and keeping eyes open. Other times more drastic measures are called for. The bottom line is awareness.

Just as we can shift our course when the beach flags fly, choosing to stay out of the water entirely or perhaps go in only ankle deep, so too can we shift our direction when emotional red flags fly. Observe, assess, and act accordingly. Accordingly and appropriately.

As it would be foolish to swim in wild waters, it’s just as foolish to endure behavior that doesn’t fit into the vision you hold for your life. Nobody has the right to mistreat or disrespect the dreams of another. Those that try are saying more about themselves than about us. Believing in ourselves first helps to keep an even keel when we’re navigating our intended course.

Believe in yourself. Hold fast to your vision. Never give up. You can do whatever you set your mind to. I know this to be true because I did it myself many times.

Here’s wishing you happy swimming in calm waters.

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor

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Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

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