I know, I know...

I'm sure you have noticed, I've been MIA. First of all, I appreciate the comments on facebook and emails I've gotten from my peeps checking on me. It's always nice to be missed. So what have I been up to that has kept me so rudely ignoring the over 400 updates I have on my google reader and countless facebook status updates...honestly, nothing blog worthy. But since people have wondered here is my list of things currently keeping Shamae busy...

1) I got engrossed in a book series. If you have been following my blog for a while you know I am an avid reader. I jumped into the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. This 5 book series is written for youth--and the young at heart :-)-- I loved it! The books kept getting better and better. It was a wonderful world to dive into. I recommend it.

2) I had the opportunity to listen to a motivational speaker--a highschool rugby coach--about a week ago from a man who is coined as the "winningest coach in America." In his 35 years of coaching rugby he has only lost 9 games. I was intrigued by his job, partly because 6 years ago while I was in college, I lost a friend to an accident during a rugby game. He took a knee to his head that caused serious damage and he passed away after spending a couple days on life support.

Anyway, this coach gave us some wonderful things to ponder. He said if you want to find out the true character of a person, there is a simple test you can perform. It will work for family, your best friend, or a complete stranger. The test is simple. He said, watch how they treat people they don't need. We all treat folks we need (boss, family, teacher, etc) differently. Of course we do, they have something we need! The people we DON'T need are not bad people. They may be the greatest person in the world, they just don't have anything we need. But how do we treat them? The gas attendant? The clerk you bought your big gulp from? Shoe salesman? Etc, etc. So it made me think, hmmm how do I treat these people? I realized I have work to do. It was very insightful. Think about that for a moment. How do YOU treat people you don't need?

He then asked if we wanted to change our life and perspectives. If we did, he gave us a 7 day challenge which I now extend to all my readers. Are you ready? There are 2 things you need to do everyday for 7 days--and hopefully after that too--but at least for 7 days. 1) Find someone you don't need anything from...and treat them differently. (good different. ;-) 2) Find a job that is "not your job" and do it. Maybe picking up garbage off the street. Helping someone to their car with groceries. Etc. Do these two things and you will change your life and your character.

Neat huh? I loved that. Ok back to my list...

3) I've been busy. I can't even tell you what I've been doing because I don't know! I just know I'm running around all the time and just staying busy!

4) I got a coldsore?!?!?! What the heck? I haven't had one of those in YEARS but I think stress causes them to pop up sometimes. It's right on my upperlip and it driving me bonkers. I realize that hasn't been keeping me busy but it's annoying so I felt like adding it to my list.

So, that's where I've been. But I will be better from here on out! I don't want you all to go through "Shamae withdrawals." :-) I will be better at checking everyone's blogs as well!

And, with that said, I need to run and get Sydney from kindergarten!