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Do you think about changes that you’d like to make? Do you have days where you vow you will never do (or say) something to someone again, like you did today? Do you wish you could change your outlook or your attitude?

Most of us do. We do the things we don’t want to do, and don’t often do the things we know we should (and want to!) do. How come? Why does each day go by when we set out with the best of intentions but end up frustrated that we haven’t met our desired state?

The other day I was driving with a colleague of mine to a meeting, and we came to a four-way STOP intersection. Where I live these are everywhere, and the “courtesy” is that you have to wait your turn. Each car at each of the four stops gets a chance to go in order, and then the next one, and the next one. For the most part, the system works pretty well. On this particular day, we were sitting waiting for our turn and when it came, and we started to go left, the car across from us (turning right to go on the same street) went out of turn and went in front of us.

This past week, on Good Friday, I finally actually took a day off. Most of my clients were closed, so I chose to spend the day with my youngest daughter. We went into the city to see a fun and interesting “Big Apple Circus” for the day. While we could have easily driven, my daughter really wanted to take the train into the city – so we boarded in our local town. I have taken the train many, many times but it is different when looking out the window with a 7-year-old. I saw things I typically don’t notice.

This past week, on Good Friday, I finally actually took a day off. Most of my clients were closed, so I chose to spend the day with my youngest daughter. We went into the city to see a fun and interesting “Big Apple Circus” for the day. While we could have easily driven, my daughter really wanted to take the train into the city – so we boarded in our local town. I have taken the train many, many times but it is different when looking out the window with a 7-year-old. I saw things I typically don’t notice.

Last week I wrote in my blog about a person from a state government who had contacted me to inquire as to whether I would be able to speak to their employees. I also posted a note about this on my Facebook page, and commented on how difficult it seems to be to work in state government these days. In a surprising twist, I received a comment from someone (I don’t even know who the person is) writing something about the health laws in Arizona. Huh? I had to read the response several times to make sure I understood it, as it was a complete non sequitur to what I had written.

It’s a common occurrence for me, doing the work that I do, to talk to someone about a problem or difficulty they are having with someone else. And of course, because it IS life, I often have my own difficulties with other people. In a recent situation, I had someone who is very close to me send me an angry and disgusted note, saying that I hadn’t been a very good friend and hadn’t been very responsive to their needs. My first response? “What!? Of course I am a good friend and responsive…. Look at what a nice person I am!!”