1000 Ultimate Shoulds

#236. Obey the Rules at Work

2013-08-27T21:58:00.001-04:00

It becomes seemingly easier to break rules at work when you think you've understood the system. The simple rule is, don't do it. If emails were sent stating here are your SHOULDs and SHOULD NOTs, follow them.

Follow them. Follow them like a baby-size shirt follows the outline of your body's "contour".

Follow them and it will guarantee you a few things:

1. Firstly, your job. If it means nothing to you, man up and quit - Don't just hang around and break rules: stealing foods from the fridge, jeans on no jeans day, going against the email templates that have been created and imposed and you think it's better to create your own 'knowing' it's "better" - You'll get caught! You'll be embarrassed, and your crushy crushy relationship with whoever you crush-crush on at the office will be over!

2. Possibly and highly likely another conversation with that crush-crush of yours.

3. People continue to trust you. You break one rule and this makes you "the guy who can't follow orders" - totally a heart-breaking thing for upper management. Save them, follow the simple rules. For as much as you think yours are better, learn theirs first so when you've got your own empire, you can implode all their arteries with insubordinating dynamites!... Until then, oblige.

3. Saves you from the early experience of hot-flashes of menopause. If not that, the cold dread of hearing, "Jane, we need to talk..."

O________O

Be a goodie goodie. Follow the rules at work.
If you don't, they will find out and your life will be over.
Forever.
... and ever.

#235. Knit someone Mittens

2013-08-26T21:08:00.003-04:00

If you knit someone a pair of mittens, you've got to admit that a gigantic fat part of you loves them. It's not a crushy-crushy love, but the true go-to-the-mountains-and-swum-the-lakes-in-the-dead-of-Winter-for-you-so-much-that-I-nearly-died-and-still-knitted-you-a-pair... love. Sick sick love...

Because heck, if you haven't tried, mittens are HARD to make. But since you've thought it up, make a pair. And send it out.

#234. Go fruit picking

2013-06-23T20:30:00.002-04:00

For 2 years, I've had fruit picking on my list of to-do. For 2 years, it did not manage to squeeze itself into my schedule. Yesterday I got the opportunity to go and pick cherries and I jumped right in. It was the most fun I've had today!

#233. 3:00PM

2013-06-23T20:25:00.000-04:00

When you've reached that starving 3:00PM point, go grab a snack.

You can find me at McD most days asking for their apple pies. Guilty.

#232. Travel

2013-06-23T20:22:00.002-04:00

Use up all the vacation days you've accumulated (so far) from work and visit a different continent.

See you soon, China.

#231. Attitude

2013-06-23T20:18:00.002-04:00

Watch your attitude and how you treat others when you have everything.

#230. Patience

2013-06-23T20:14:00.001-04:00

Have patience when you have nothing.

#229. Knees

2013-05-25T17:39:00.002-04:00

Take care of your knees.

This way you'd not be fearful of stairs when they lurk from some distance up ahead, but more importantly, everyday tasks would not be as burdensome as it would if your knees crapped out.

#228. 55 Years Old Women

2013-05-25T17:11:00.001-04:00

Never underestimate their strengths if you plan to cycle with them. At about 25km/hr, these women knows no stop even when faced with red lights and signs. You think I'm kidding... and I am, but aside from the joke, you should know these women are fierce fighters. The moral of this short story shows points out one thing: When you see a middle-aged women with pixie cropped white hair, carrying a canvass bag to shop for produce, and you think that's all she's capable of - think again. And think fast, because on a bike, she can leave you in the dust. I am so happy to be part of a cycling group and though I've got some years before reaching 55, these outstanding women have taught me so much in the short time I had met them. Lessons about life, longevity, and perseverance, add it all with grace, good humour, and endurance, and maybe lots of kindness and that will take you closer to reaching a happy 55 years. Middle-age never looked so fine.

#227. Tech Support

2013-05-24T20:03:00.002-04:00

Be kind to those in Tech Support.

One day you will need their help.

#226. Fireworks

2013-05-19T21:43:00.000-04:00

When you're asked out to go see fireworks, don't go.

Oh, who am I kidding? We're talking about fireworks!
GO!
If it does nothing else... (fireworks technicians, stop reading here) will make you wonder, how and wow and just that can be enough to encourage some new imaginations. Therefore, when given the chance - go see magic happen in the skies.

#225. Almond Tofu Pudding

2013-05-19T21:36:00.003-04:00

Where can you get it?
T&T Supermarket

What is it called?
Almond Tofu Pudding

What is it?
A party where everyone worthy is invited and it's all happening in your mouth!

Visit Toronto and get these. Found in the bakery section.

#224. Work Opportunities

2013-05-19T21:31:00.000-04:00

When given the opportunity to choose between two work positions: 1. Where you excel beyond the scope and know-how of the post, and 2. Where you require extensive training, is expected to fail, and may not know everything until many months have passed - Choose choice number two.

You are privileged and lucky beyond words if such a scenario was to meet you one day and say, "Choose me!" It may not appear so at first, especially if Choice Number Two came at you first, but in hindsight, you will have done, if nothing else, learned. Lessons can come to you in many forms, but if such a fork should greet you in your career path, take it from a very lucky person (been there, chose that), and choose the one that will help you fail forward.

Dearest managers and owners, this post was in no way made to encourage unqualified and unfitting applicants to overtake and infest your company. Far from it. This post was made to encourage screened candidates who may come upon the chance of landing two or three opportunities all at once, and hesitant in their consideration as where they should invest their skills and time to look at their choices with a different perspective.

Dearest job candidates, learn from where you work to secure personal and professional growth. It's through knowledge that you'll eventually take over the company. If that's not your ultimate goal, still learn as much as you can to take over your department. Think big.

#223. Try

2013-05-19T21:03:00.000-04:00

I have no other way to write this post than to quote the infamous, Mae West.

"I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, and three times to make sure."

This is as true for your work as it is for your goals, and true to all the fantastic facets of life. If you have an aversion towards risk of any kind (from visiting that next city over, to riding a train, to getting a phone that's out of your technical knowledge, to rock climbing, speech making, improv, and dating - anything and everything: Just try it). You may come to realize that people aren't as critical or harsh as your imagination makes them out to be, and better yet, most people are as scared out of their shells as you are too. The great thing is your piqued interest for something, some place, or someone, and you owe it to yourself (and that happy future you'd have, if you'd just try) to... just try :)

And as an end note: If you've put both feet forward and have tried all you could, but failed yet still hungry to try some more, gosh Almighty goodness, try again! You will know when you should give up because all the signs will point you out toward where your efforts are better spent. Trust that though you cannot see what lies ahead for you, something fantastic will come if you're kind and you work hard. Everything will come together (trust me - I've seen dark Modor-like days!) but first, you've got to make the effort and try.

#222. Company's Get Togethers

2013-05-19T20:40:00.002-04:00

Join that get together with your colleagues at the local pub when plans like these are organized by your company. I was guilty for always (operative word) bailing out of these things and in all honesty, it was because my schedule was busy, but think about it - free foods! Companies are dishing out loads of appetizer dishes, often there'd be alcohol beverages too, and the best part, omg, desserts - all to build the company's dynamic, intelligence, and break silos. Many companies don't offer these. In fact, it may even be safe to say that most companies do not offer these plans. With that said, you should make it a goal to attend if like me you had missed a few too many before. You don't have to attend every single one, because let's face it, you've got a life outside of work too and sometimes other priorities needs more attention. The goal isn't for you to attend every after-work company's get togethers, but it's to not miss every one that is planned. In the long run, you'd have done a favour to the people who truly appreciate these plans. By attending them, you're ensuring there are more get-togethers to come. And if you don't like them, think about it - free foods!

#221. Scavenger Hunt

2013-05-19T20:25:00.000-04:00

Join a scavenger hunt of any kind!

#220.

2013-05-05T16:56:00.000-04:00

Take a chance.

#219.

2013-05-05T16:47:00.003-04:00

Take care of this moment.
It's in moments that infinite (and nothing) exists :)

May the 4th

2013-05-04T13:30:00.003-04:00

In your dark hours and when it's bright... May the 4th always be with you.

#218. Drugs

2013-05-02T16:40:00.000-04:00

Don't do drugs until you're old enough to do it responsibly. The consequences of getting caught aren't worth the momentary pleasure.

#217. Take your Pup with You

2013-05-02T16:35:00.000-04:00

If it is possible to take the pup where you are going, please do. I can't imagine it is fun when your parent says it's more "convenient" to leave you home, or worst, make you a promise and not keep it. These guys understands your words - so it's important that when you promise them something, keep it... Especially the walks.

#216. Wants

2013-05-02T16:24:00.001-04:00

Sometimes not getting everything you want is a HUGE blessing in disguise. You might not see this when you're "stuck" in a moment, but give yourself enough time and you will see... Better things will come into your life. And when they do, you will realize why nothing else had made sense before.

#215. The Heart's Eyes

2013-04-17T21:48:00.002-04:00

When it feels right, let your heart be the guide. That's my secret. Well, one of my secrets.

One sees clearly only with the heart. It feels and not calculate.

The mind's where the numbers runs, but the heart, it breathes and lives. Anything essential, it feels. If anything is worth it, it will let you know. Sometimes, it is feeling 'something', though minimal it may be - it's that small bit of spark that burns forests.

See life differently. Look at it through the heart's eyes.

#214. Giggle

2013-04-16T21:56:00.001-04:00

I dare you to just do as this post states:

#213. Define what's Important

2013-04-16T21:50:00.001-04:00

You should take a moment and define the important things to you and make it known. Too often we lose track of what we value through work, changes, internet, TV, and life's constant up's and down's. Take out a fraction of your day and define what matters, because...