Nothing Is Ever Easy! But, The Key To An Easier Life Is Good Filing!

Have you ever had days where everything you try to do seems to get complicated by red tape or bigger problems?
Try this on for size:

I go to get a routine "balance and rotation" at my local car service place for my practically new (28,000 miles) car I've kept in great shape. It ends up requiring new brakes and more complicated fixings I can't even comprehend, to the tune of more than $300.! (and 3 hours waiting time, not 45 minutes)

I proudly paint all the trim on the back of the house after carefully matching the color to the existing one, only to find it's mysteriously WAY bluer and more glossy than the previous color, so now it looks like we'll either have a two-tone trim, with windows and doors and upper floors one color, and the ground floor another color, or I'll have to re-paint the whole side of the house.

I do my 23rd BlogTalk Radio show, only to discover that the crackling sound of someone eating corn flakes has gotten worse. I don't eat anything during shows, so I'm not the culprit, it must be the USB port, the Skype connection, or my headset. This mystery has still not been solved....

I get notified of some possible fraudulent activity by some sociopath on my main business credit card, so I have to spend the next week contacting all the billing departments of all the vendors I do business with of the change to a new card. In the process, I discover that not all the passwords on file jive with the ones I have recorded, so that's another several hours! (Not to mention all the websites that don't work properly...)

I get notified of an enormous "quality credentialing" process I need to be on file with, which requires me to dig up every detail of my professional life back to the time of the cavemen. ("When did you start and stop using your maiden name, when did you start and stop hyphenating it with your married name"?) Mind you, I have trouble remembering what year I graduated High School, let alone the specific days when I graduated from college and grad school, and what their numbers and faxes are!
This requires a trip to my office to actually look at the degrees on my wall.

Then, as I do the bi-annual transfer of clothes from and to the attic (5 huge boxes), I discover that it will take me until next winter to get the whole job done. So what if I'm wearing sandals in February...
And, my favorite pair of cozy, black jeans has totally disappeared. (Probably the same person who stole my credit card number, or the same one who changed the color on the paint can!)

All I can say is two things:
1. Thank God for my clients with their "normal" problems!
2. The key to a better life is good filing!!!!!!

PS. For more of my musings about life, love, and good filing, sign up as a subscriber (on the
right) to get loads of free articles.

Blogtalk Radio Show! "Fix Communication Problems With Your Partner" Workboook, and Other News Wednesday, September 19, 2012 8:30 PM

Tune into this next BlogTalk Radio episode to hear more about my new workbook,
"I'm Talking! Are You Listening?" Fix Communication Problems With Your
Partner In No Time Flat!

*(You can now order it directly from Amazon at:  http://amzn.to/Qprh8v
or directly from my CreateSpace eStore at:  https://www.createspace.com/3575200 )

I'll also share other news you'll probably find relevant. I'll announce my
upcoming 2013 Spring Webinar Series, and more radio shows to come.

Listen to the show live streaming at:  The Couplespeak Relationship Forum
or call in toll-free at: 877-497-9046 to join me live on the air with questions
or comments. (It's a short show, so you'll have to talk fast).

Hope you join me!
Susan Lager

Fix Communication Problems With Your Partner Now!

Anything is possible! I've just published my new little workbook, 

"I'm Talking! Are You Listening? Fix Communication Problems With Your Partner In No Time Flat!

It's now available for purchase on the CreateSpace (a division of Amazon) eStore, and 
also available directly through Amazon, and other retailers, libraries, etc. 
Who would have thought that I'd actually follow through and do this with all the levels 
of hassle, complications and time involved!

My point to you readers is that if I can do this, SO CAN YOU do anything you set your 
mind to!
Set your goal. Connect with your motivation. Line up your daily actions with that goal 
and motivation. Give yourself some breaks. Find support. Get feedback, and 
move forward!!

If you'd like to learn how to talk so your partner will listen, and how to listen so your 
partner will talk, this workbook is for you. It provides you with simple steps to accomplish 
this, and exercises to help you set the stage for success. And by the way, it doesn't only 
apply in marriage or long-term relationships. It also applies for any key relationships you 
have where productive conversation can get snagged. If you have a co-worker or a friend
or relative you'd like to communicate better with, then this book will be a great tool!

Below is a copy of the eStore page describing the book.

You can buy it directly from Amazon at:  Susan Lager on Amazon.com

or on my CreateSpace page by going to: Susan Lager's CreateSpace eStore

 

Your Cart  Log Out  List Price: $9.97  Add to Cart Susan Lager For A Better Life "I'm Talking!  Are You Listening?"  Fix Communication  Problems With Your  Partner In No Time Flat! An Original Couplespeak™ Workbook Authored by Susan Lager LICSW A seasoned couples therapist and relationship coach shares her secrets, step by step, to great communication in close relationships. With clarity and humor, this little workbook provides powerful and engaging tools for more open, respectful and productive conversations with all the people who really matter. Publication Date: Sep 14 2012 ISBN/EAN13: 1469918846 / 9781469918846

Extreme Packing for a Measly Three Day Trip

Does this look familiar? Are you one of the control freaks (like me) who prepares for a little getaway by packing everything you could possibly use in any weather or eventuality?

My husband and I are going for our ritual little end of summer getaway to Block Island for a long weekend. It's a lovely little escape from all the hustle and bustle of the mainland, and actually reminds of an Ireland - France combo with its rolling hills, stone walls, and ocean cliffs. The problem though, is when you get a weather report which indicates tornados going into the weekend, sunny warm days, and 55 degree nights. So what do I do? I practice extreme packing for 31/2 seasons, bringing everything from bathing suits, beach towels and chairs, to Polartec jackets. We also bring all our own liquor and wine because the prices there are exorbitant. Oh, not to mention the seltzer for spritzers, piles of fruit, sandwiches and chips, cookies and whatnot. Then there's the workout shoes and outfits for hot, cool, or freezing conditions.
(One of my mottos is "Be prepared!)
The only slight snag in the plan is that we have to fit all this crap in the wee little dinky trunk of our old
Beemer 2-person convertible! There's barely enough room in there for a big sandwich!

I wonder what would happen if one year we just played it all by ear, weren't so over-prepared, and just let whatever happened, happen. Would the sky fall in? Would we have a better time?
I may never know because I'm wedded to the illusion of control................

Wish me luck,
Susan Lager

End Of Summer 2012 - New England Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Here we are, amazingly in September, when just yesterday it was the beginning of June! Where did the time go?
I think most (normal) people feel a twang of sadness at this time of year, saying goodbye to the sweet, long days of summer, when you don't have to wear socks or coats, or worry about the cold, and the snow.
But in New England, it's another thing entirely.
People here grieve the end of the carefree warmth and sunshine. Typical conversations focus on charming things like: When are you getting a generator? Do you have a decent snowblower? Did you get a roof rake yet? Does that new car you bought have 4 wheel drive? Have you winterized your shrubs? Did you bring in the air conditioners? How's your winter coat? Did you paint the side of the house yet? Have you raked all the leaves? Did you drain your septic while the ground is unfrozen? Do you have good boots? How are your knees doing? (You'll need them).

The list of "to do's" goes on and on, as New Englanders grieve and prepare:
- for piles of snow
- cabin fever
- Nor'Easters
- frigid temperatures
- dark mornings
- dark evenings
- shoveling
- slipping and sliding
- black ice fender benders
- gaining weight, etc., etc............

I call it New England Seasonal Affective Disorder, something unique to us in our little corner of the globe. We adore our measly little summers. We love our glorious Fall, but whine incessantly about winter coming. Then when winter is actually here, we marvel at its beauty while we ski, ice skate and snowshoe, or sit by our blazing fires reading books, talking to our spouses, playing instruments, cooking, doing projects. Ah, winter......

The irony is that only a fraction of us New Englanders would trade it all in for a condo in a gated community in Florida. Okay to visit, but no thanks. We'll stick with our ice and snow, and our seasonal schizophrenia, because we're tough, and besides, it's so beautiful here!

Hang in there, (after December 21st the days get longer again!)
Susan Lager