A Merb if I Ever Saw One..

What does it say?

"Though she was a tiger lady, our hero didn’t have to fire a shot to floor her.  After one look at his Mr. Leggs slacks, she was ready to have him walk all over her.  That noble styling sure soothes the savage heart! If you’d like our own doll-to-doll carpeting, hunt up a pair of these he-man Mr. Leggs slacks.  Such as our new automatic wash wear blend of 65% “Dacron*” and 35% rayon – incomparably wrinkle-resistant.  About $12.95 at plush-carpeted stores."

Merb, indeed.

Who Are You?

I suffer from constant anxiety. (Oh my gosh, Michelle. That's so horrible.  How do you live?)  Yeah, yeah. But I've developed my own way of dealing with it.  And it works well...for me.

Someone once said, "Anxiety is suffering failure before it occurs." It sounds simple, but it changed my life.  It has become my mantra.  (Actually, this is a modification of Seth Godin's perspective on anxiety http://bit.ly/dpMOIR)

Here is my three step process to regaining sanity:

1) Remind yourself of what anxiety truly is (see above)
2) Identify what you are concerned about failing
3) Remind yourself of who you are

The third step is interesting.  If you're feeling down - which no one ever does, I'm sure - it could be tricky.   So I refer specifically to StrengthsFinder (http://bit.ly/h3es6x).  This book has done a great job of making clear to me where I excel.  It helps me to be logical about how circumstances may cause me anxiety, but also that I'm valuable.  I will also do a little reading about my Myers-Briggs type (http://bit.ly/uiArt).

Yes - I'm obsessed with personality / personal development tests.  I'll post more specific information on my strengths and MBTI on the About Me page.

BTW - now that I've typed this thought up I'm feeling a bit dorky.  Merb.

Theme Songs and Soundtracks

There is a constant soundtrack to my life.  I don't choose what plays, but I am forced to listen.  And often, without my conscious knowledge, forced to sing.  Many of us get songs stuck in our heads, but the inflow never stops for me.  (I just typed stop and now "Stop in the Name of Love" is playing from my mental 8-track....no HD radio here).

What is most interesting is my "go to" song.  Apparently, the Beach Boys have rented MDBK mind capital - so when there isn't a song to sing "Surfin' Safari" is king.   I'm singing it now...for all of you.

Merb.

Befuddled

How do they do it? How do people come up with interesting things to say on a regular basis? If you actually pay attention are they just repeating creative thoughts every 20 days or so? I guess I better start paying attention.

The Birth of Merb

Several years ago my husband and I developed a second language for ourselves. Something akin to pig latin...only cooler, of course. As this language of Knob (as I like to call it...starting now) developed, a single word surpassed all in utility and application. That word is MERB.

I finally watched Doctor Detroit as an adult (REALLY?)....merb.

My boss just noticed I have a tattoo....merb.

My mother-in-law cooked peas JUST FOR ME (I hate peas)....merb.

Yelling "Baby Fish Mouth!" in a meeting full of flip charts only caused blank stares...merb.

The keys I was looking for were in my hand...merb.

...and so on.

Merb is something we all experience. I intend to hurdle it.