Web browsing

I've been watching a spider spin a web between two planters out on my patio the last few days. Not sure why this beautiful spider chose such an expansive space for this creation (well, compared to her size) but I certainly admired her for attempting such a feat. I knew it would take a long time for her to construct such a large web, but she didn't seem to mind...and it was beyond fascinating to watch her as she worked. Taking one step at at time, working intentionally and diligently, she went back and forth and back and forth. She worked for a couple of days on that giant web, slowly and steadily, at what truly became a masterpiece.
And then, she just sat there.
She just sat there in her amazing web.
I'm so attracted to her patience and her ability to be so still.
So calm.
Obviously very fragile, I knew the web wasn't going to last very long. Though I was careful as I watered the plants around it, there was no doubt that the wind or a slight rain would be enough to knock down the web, and that beautiful, hard-working spider.
Today, when I got home from work, she was gone. Remnants of the web were left hanging from the plants. And it made me kind of sad.
I wondered right away if she was sad. Or maybe angry? Was she upset that what she worked so hard to build was now gone? Was she crying in a corner thinking it was all over? Was she off somewhere brooding about how unfair life is?
No, she wasn't.
I glanced up to the back of my patio...and there she was...up in the corner of the roof...starting over. Working one step at a time, back and forth, back and forth.
Building a new masterpiece.
And tonight, she sits patiently, still and calm.

Inspiration from a spider.

“What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.”

-Mother Teresa

Smiles everyone, Smiles!

Every day I walk through the back halls at work smiling and saying hello to each person who passes by me. I've been there over six years now and I've loved getting to know everyone and being able to call them by their name! (No sweeter sound) I say GOOD MORNING or GOOD AFTERNOON to every single person who crosses paths with me. I SO love if I can bring a smile to their face! The majority of the people I work with are incredibly kind, loving and happy and most of them know MY name too. It's a thrill for me to hear, "Good Morning Julie!" 32 times down the back hallway.
Seriously, this is probably what I love most about my job.

Then there's Robert. Oh Robert. Think "Eeyore" and "Raincloud"...Yep, there's a little black rain cloud over Robert's head every single day. You know, he's busy, he's tired, he's the hardest worker at Montage, his wife is sick, his dog needs an operation, some kid beat him up when he was in 3rd grade--it's ALWAYS something--some 'reason' for Robert to not be happy.
One of my goals EVERY DAY is to say hello to Robert and remind him of what a GREAT day it is! Today, I spotted Robert as I came down the hall toward the cafeteria. I smiled and said, (over dramatically, I confess) "Good Afternoon Roberto!" He stopped what he was doing and just looked at me. So I stopped and looked right back.
He said, "Don't you ever have a bad day? Aren't you EVER mad or sad or pissed off or angry?" The thing is, he was kinda laughing and I could not stop smiling and was holding back giggles as he rattled off his questions to me. He finished up with, "Julie, what are you so happy about?"
The door was open. I have been hoping to put a smile on Robert's face for six years!
I said, "Today? Well, let's see...the Dodgers won and I just talked to my son, (then I realized I had started a little poem so I tried to get really funny)... my hair's in a bun, I don't weigh a ton, and I don't own a gun....(ok, at this point, he is laughing--out loud--and I want to keep going) work is real fun--we should go for a run!"
And ROBERT says, "Out in the sun??"
We were really laughing now--me and (raincloud) ROBERT! I was literally wiping tears from my face. (Laughing til you cry is the BEST laughter!)
I hugged a smiling Robert and, as I walked away, added the last line to our poem,
"My work here is done."

Celebrating June!

It's June 12th!

You see Julie Hibbard...you have a really good life.

Happy 71st birthday, Mom!

Perspective

I had a crazy conversation with a guy at work yesterday. We were talking about marriage and he was completely surprised when I told him that, though I have been single for the last six years, I had previously been married for 23 years.
He said, "Why would you get a divorce after all those years...why not just stick it out?"

First off I said, "Let me guess...you have never been married." Then I went on to tell him that I had not ever really been happily married and I was really hoping for a second chance at loving life.
He said, "But your life is half over!"

Wow...spoken like a true 23 year old.
Perspective.

When my kids were about 2 and 4, I decided to go back to college. I knew that between working part time and taking care of a house and family full time, I would only really be able to take two classes a semester. I remember excitedly telling people that I was going back to finish my degree and having MANY of them say, "Two classes a semester? It's gonna take you 20 years to finish. You'll be nearly 40 by then!"
My response would ALWAYS be, "How old will I be in 20 years if I DON'T go back to school?"
Perspective.
(I graduated a week after my 37th birthday. Still one of the best things I've ever done.)

Yeah, I know, I admit it, my life is half over. But I assure you, most of it was very well spent--honestly, I have no regrets.

But half over means half is still yet to come...
And I truly believe the BEST half still lies ahead of me.
It's just a matter of perspective.