thank you thursdays

Top Ten Tuesdays, Working Wednesdays, and now Thank You Thursdays.

Why? Because at least once a week, I want to reflect back and give thanks. I need to do that more. Regain perspective and hope.


This week:
Thankful for family. We're figuring it out.

Family takes real work = understatement of the year.

We wanted to book a professional photographer for our family picture this past week because it's the first time our whole family has been together in the same place for more than 10 hours since.... a couple of years now? But it was Christmas weekend and every photographer was booked so we pulled something together on our own in the living room, last minute. True Yun family-style. Wouldn't have it any other way. We figure things out as we go.

Everyone. Christmas Eve 2011

Mom and the kids (homygosh i'm a giant. seriously.)

Just the guys: me, Dad, John at Princeton Battlefield. Where men stand and fight.

and... i just noticed my hair...

my sister's reaction to my new haircut:
"Ermmm......so where did you get your hair cut again?"

... i'm figuring that out too.

that game

I play that game all the time. And whenever I do, the end result is the same. Imagine for a minute: a game where you can know the outcome every single time because it's the same every time. What would that be like?

You know that game.... The Blame Game. Blame - not to be confused with Credit.

It's the one game where I usually start it, and I am the one who can end it any time I choose. It's really up to me.

How to start The Blame Game:
Think: If only ______
Ask: What is wrong with her/him?
Dwell on: Why me?

How to keep the game going:
Claim: He/she/they/you should have _______
Defend: You don't know me.
Explain: You don't understand...

How to end the game:
Take: Full responsibility. No matter what.

Apologize and forgive if necessary.
... it's usually necessary


It's kind of like yelling at the curb after tripping over it. It was already there.


"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?" - Luke 6:41

full

A friend was sharing with me earlier that he was just tired. Not your everyday, "I could've slept a bit earlier" tired, but... tired. You know, tired.

Tired from working. Tired from worrying. Tired from over-thinking things. Tired from smiling on the outside when you're gasping for breath on the inside. Tired from trying to steer the reins of life and taking control. Tired from trying to prove yourself. That tired.

I'm starting to understand Jesus more and more:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep good company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
- Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message translation)

I'm thankful that despite my tired condition, I am filled with this unexplainable peace from God.

My heart is full. My soul, at rest.

Working Wednesdays: Co-Workers

A bit of a misnomer, since for now, I have most Wednesdays off from work... but I digress....

Co-workers: Besides my roommates, the people I see most throughout the week.

Usually the first people I see every morning, my co-workers are usually the ones to ask, "How's it going today?" and often the first ones we get to debrief with about what we did last night. "So, what did you last night? What did you do over the weekend?" and bouncing off ideas of what to do next: "What are you up to this weekend?"

I don't think I know anybody who exclusively talks about work-related things at the workplace. Topics of conversation with co-workers include relationship talk, why other co-workers behave(d) a certain way, dreams about our future, explaining how our families are like, why you studied that major in school, describing our hometowns, etc.

The truth is that for most of us we consider life outside of work "real life". So work then becomes this bubble that we desperately try not to mix in with everything else. Work often becomes a departure from "everything else", so it oddly becomes the space in which we can reminisce, reflect and reference our "real lives".

Our relationships with our co-workers may start off as strictly professional, but they usually morph into sounding boards for other aspects of our lives so we can get refocused and re-inspired after work.

The actual work itself can be enjoyable. But even the most enjoyable work - even if it's your "passionate interest" can get old = human nature. That whole, "I love my job! I wake up every morning excited to see what's in store!" .... true - but c'mon now, only on some days.

I had this conversation the other day about the difference between college life and working life (I still live in a college town). Why are college students so fickle and emotional rollercoasters? They're all over the place. It's because their environments are not designed for stability and consistency. That's not necessarily bad - because that makes for the perfect breeding ground for idealism, exploration and creativity.

Something that people get tripped up over in the working life? How structured and mundane and "same old same old" it can get. And one of the key things to getting through the work week? Solid co-workers that you can connect with on a human-level and just be yourself around - especially when your work can make you feel like you're a small gear in a big unrelenting impersonal machine.

What's more important when I'm on a road trip? The actual destination? The weather? Road conditions? Rest stop availabilities? Type of car I'm driving? More than those, it's the passengers I'm with. If life is more about the journey than the destination itself, then what makes for a good journey is good company.

Why do I do what I do? I can say "for God". True. But how did my idea, expression and understanding of God even come into being? Rubbing lots of shoulders with lots of people. Because there were people in my life who got me to where I am today to even allow me to do what I do. Others. It's what keeps me going.

Enjoy and appreciate your co-workers. The reciprocation makes work worth it.

listen

Talk is cheap. Listening is expensive.

Ever hear that joke? "Conversation: a vocal competition in which the one who is catching his breath is called the listener"

Recently, I was warned by somebody to avoid stepping on a gift bag, which was laying close to my feet at the time. I heard the warning but didn't pay close attention. Eventually, I ended up crushing the gift bag with my feet - not because I forgot that it was there but because I did not pay attention to the fact that it was someone else's gift bag.

"Oops! Is this a gift bag?"

"Yea, I told you. You don't listen to me..."

Paying attention is central in loving. To be clear, I'm not talking about being an attention-hog and people-pleaser. I'm talking about active listening. ;)

Technology and certain responsibilities have revealed my selfishness - I feel the great need to express myself (Tweet, Facebook status, blog, counsel) but don't care to put in the hard work of listening.

Courageous Christ-follower, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "The first service one owes to others in the community involves listening to them. Just as our love for God begins with listening to God's Word, the beginning of love for other Christians is learning to listen to them. God's love for us is shown by the fact that God not only gives us God's Word, but also lends us God's ear.... so often Christians, especially preachers, think that their only service is always to have to 'offer' something when they are together with people. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking."

Attention denotes significance. You want to love somebody? Pay attention.

In his book, Nudge, Leonard Sweet writes, "To pay attention requires availability... the capacity of being available, or being willing to interrupt your work and your agenda for generous acts. [It] involves noticing and nudging people by giving them more than a name tag or even a name... it is interrupting your personal agenda to enter into the reality of who they are..."

I wait for those spectacular moments of sudden inspiration and grandiose supernatural visions that leave me with incredible highs - but how many times have I ignored the whispers from God? How many times have I completely bypassed the nudges of love in the everyday moments with the people that I take for granted?

In this season of Thanksgiving, I'm reminded that thankfulness is not a passive emotion, but one that requires a resolute response. To be thankful implies humility. And what is humility - the recognition of who I really am in light of who God is, and that He is greater. The essence of John 3:30. I'm thankful for my God who listens to me, and for placing people in my life who have listened. I resolve to be available. I resolve to listen.

Top Ten Tuesdays

I love breakfast foods. They're pretty much the best.

Top 10 places to get breakfast in Ann Arbor (that I've personally visited)

10. Denny's
I'm from New Jersey, where we have a family-owned diner every few blocks. Denny's is NOT a real diner. But it does have ridiculous deals and they're open 24/7 AND can seat a lot of people at once. Accessibility puts Denny's in the top 10.

9. Panera
I always thought Panera was just too fancy to be a bagel store - they sell soup, salads, sandwiches, pasta... doesn't quite fit in as a true breakfast place. But the free WiFi and the cozy places to sit in and contemplate life while munching on one of those crazy Cinammon Sugar-coated bagels can be nice in the morning.

8. Breugger's Bagels
This was the standard for me all throughout undergrad. Especially on Sunday mornings when we used to wake up a lot earlier to set up for church, everyone was munching on these bagels. It's been there before Panera. It's open early and closes early, just like a bagel shop should. And they primarily serve bagels, which is appropriate and simple. I like that.

7. Mr.Greek's
A bit lower on the list because their portion size went down and prices went up over the years. Still decent though. Go for the Hercules breakfast, it's got everything you want in a breakfast.

6. McDonald's
I have a special place in my heart for "Mickey D's" breakfasts. I travel(ed) a lot and a McDonald's Big Breakfast was comfort food for the road. Good memories associated with this one. And McGriddles are pure awesomeness. Seriously.

5. Fleetwood Mac
Kind of a dirty, dingy place with greasy borderline-questionable breakfast food. Now THAT's a DINER! First time there was during my freshman year. My Jersey friend and I hiked over in the bitter cold because we were having diner-withdrawal. Waitress comes up, "Can I take your order? ACHOOO!!" Snot and boogers EVERYWHERE. We promptly ordered and devoured the hippie hash. Glorious.

4. Selma Cafe
Although I haven't been here yet from what I hear, it's exactly my kind of deal. A family opens up their Ann Arbor home on Friday mornings where guest chefs cook breakfasts for guests. Run by the family and a small army of volunteers, you get to rub shoulders with Ann Arborites, eat a home-cooked meal in... a home... and support local farms (all fresh, locally grown ingredients) and local businesses. It's the "real deal". This place is on my To Visit list for sure.

3. Angelo's
Mainstay of Ann Arbor. Classic. Good service, just the right amount of hustle-bustle - just the right kind of breakfast atmosphere. Get an omelet and their freshly baked raisin bread. Hugely satisfying.

2. Afternoon Delight
Discovered this little guy while working security across the street at the public library. Wandered over for lunch one day and had a milkshake. Brought ALL the boys to the yard. Get the meat boule. Four different kinds of meat scrambled into eggs, dripping with cheese all jammed into a cantaloupe-sized bread bowl. It'll put some hair on your chest.

1. My apartment
I always have my fridge stocked with eggs, sausage, cheese, milk, bread for toast, and cereal. I can have breakfast whenever I want in whatever attire I choose. And I can even choose to pass out on a full stomach afterwards on my comfortable couch. There's no place like home.

What's your favorite breakfast place?

Follow-up on previous post coming in next post!

"But my heart's not in it"

I've been saying and hearing this phrase over and over again:

"Yea, I would and I know it's good for me, but my heart is not in it."

That, friends, is an excuse. What this phrase actually means is simply "Nah, I don't feel like it. Leave me alone. I do what I want."


There's nothing wrong with being honest and straight up. However, our "honesty" should not serve as an excuse to not do what is right, good, necessary.

Obeying and following God is not primarily dependent on how we feel at the moment or whether or not our "heart" is in it.

This attitude implies that I am the Master in my relationship with God. That God's will and work needs to wait on how I feel and whether or not I feel happy enough, satisfied enough, and "ready enough". In my selfishness, I am demanding that God wait and serve me and that I dictate when and how things will get done.

Imagine, a servant having this attitude towards his master: "Yea, master, I hear you. And I know what you're asking and requiring of me. But I don't feel like it at the moment. My heart is not really into the work right now. And I want to do your work 'wholeheartedly'. So, maybe later. Thanks for understanding. I'll be in my room to be alone now. I'll come back when I feel like I'm more into it."

...

So, if I know that by saying, "my heart is not in it" I may be just attempting to excuse myself from doing what's good, right, and needed, then how should I approach all this? Isn't it true that there will be many times where I don't feel like doing something? And as a Christ-follower I'm commanded to rejoice always, trust God wholeheartedly, and love God - aren't those "heart" issues? Won't I be one of those hypocrites offering only lip-service to God if my heart is not in it but I keep doing things anyway?

I have to go to work now, more on this later.
Stay sharp. ;)

totally opposite

"Don't take risks... You're awesome."

I read this tag line on an advertisement displayed in one of the University of Michigan student bookstores. It's for an online service which allows students to order their textbooks ahead of time instead of waiting last minute and "risking" not being able to get what they want. Seems like a helpful business, but I couldn't help but be turned off by their whole advertising scheme.

Another one of their tag lines:
"Don't take risks because risk is stupid"

Really? At best, this whole idea of "playing it safe" and "taking control of your life" is delusional. Sorry to bust your bubble, but life doesn't roll like that. I thought most people over the age of 2 knew this - that we seldom get our way...

Without taking risks, we will just live to survive and carry out a self-centered, mediocre life. Fixed ways of life are always safe, but allows little room for faith. And by constantly thinking that we're "so awesome"... well, personally, I don't need any more superficial ego-boosts. I'm already helplessly proud, thank you very much. This whole not risking, you're awesome business is so comforting and safe but totally opposite of the Gospel, anti-God.

We're constantly bombarded by these advertisements that sustain an illusion - a detachment from reality. It is in this illusion where I get lost and full of myself - the perfect breeding ground for pride.

Humility is recognizing who I really am in light of who God is and His great mercies. That I did nothing to gain salvation, but in order to obtain the fullness of life that I have to be willing to risk it all for the Christ who gave His all.

Heart check:
"...we rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if anyone has reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have more!...
I once thought these things [background, experience, abilities, achievements] were valuable but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!"
- Philippians 3:3b-4, 7-11 (NLT)

lifetime decisions

I recently made a decision that will stick with me for a lifetime. Cost me $35 in the moment, but will hopefully open many doors in the future.

Made me think: Wait a tic - aren't all decisions like that?

Yea, yea they are.

Reminded today of the importance of every thought, every word and every action.
And I'm thankful that in Christ, all of those things can be redeemed for His glory.

reality

For the most part, I don't watch TV and try to avoid reality TV. But no matter how gaudy, infuriatingly stupid, and unnecessarily staged and dramatic reality TV shows are... c'mon, I know we all secretly watch 'em. There's something about watching other people go through life's dramatic and not so dramatic moments where we feel we have a special connection with the protagonists - because we know (or desperately hope) that it's all "really real".

I heard about this one show, Top Shot on the History Channel from some other Marines. Thought I'd check it out. I blazed through 2 seasons (almost 20 hours!) in about 2 weeks. Sick. But it was so good.

16 expert marksmen hand-picked from all walks of life compete against one another for a prize. There's everyone from military, law enforcement, exhibition shooters, competitive shooters, and hunters. They shoot a variety of rifles, pistols, and primitive weapons set up in all kinds of crazy courses to test their skills. For most of the time, they must work in teams. The top few finalists go head to head as individual competitors.

The cool part about this show is that there is a real sense of respect and overall maturity between the contestants. Can't quite put a finger on it, but this is just what manhood is all about. Integrity, leadership, helping one another out, doing what's right, learning something new, and adapting and overcoming new challenges. Very different and way cooler than most other reality TV shows out there. The contestants respect one another's talents and experiences, and keep the drama to a minimum. Simply, politics and emotions aside, they just want to compete against the best and know that they've earned the title of "Top Shot" in a legitimate way.

That said, I want to highlight two guys in Season 2: Chris and George. Chris is a hunter and outdoors man, and George is a military sniper and they grew to be close friends throughout their time competing together. Both make it to the final three.

(Season 2's last three contestants, from left to right: George, Chris, Brian)

The show's host asks each competitor beforehand what they plan on doing if they win the $100,000 grand prize.

George: Buy 2 guns every week for a year.
Chris: Put my kids through college.
Brian: Put my kid through school and the rest of it goes into my house.

After hearing Chris and Brian, George remarks: I'm single with no dependents. I have no commitments. When I heard Chris and Brian putting their kids through college, makes me feel kinda bad about beating them in this competition.

For most of the show, George comes off as a cocky meat-head from Jersey who's always throwing around snide remarks. In fact, there are a bunch of blogs and posts dedicated to calling George a gigantic "d-bag". To me, it's all in good fun - mostly "locker room talk" - a little trash talking here and there. But in a completely unexpected move, George surprised me.

During the final three elimination challenge, Chris chokes on a shot and George is in a position to easily take advantage and knock Chris out of the competition. Instead, George purposely misses an easy shot putting Chris back on the board. A very controversial shot.

George claims that he'd rather know for sure that he was beat fair and square by a better shooter than winning by forfeiture. But judging by the two men's reactions, it was clear that George's actions were selfless. George, fully capable of winning the whole competition, willingly put himself on the line and put Chris before himself out of respect and love.

George misses his next shot and gets eliminated, Chris and Brian go head to head, and Chris ends up winning the whole thing. It was so cool because right from the get-go, Chris served and led his team, helping them every step of the way. Even during the individual competitions, Chris was the one giving feedback to his competitors and always going out of his way to help them perform better. Selfless leadership.

Selflessness comes with rewards. When it's all about winning for yourself, sometimes you actually end up losing no matter what the outcome of the game. When you strive to win for others, there's more purpose and urgency behind your win. But when you lose so that another may win, that's sacrificial love, and there's true victory in that.

That's the Gospel - in a show about shooting weapons.

Enough reality TV... back to "real" life.

Working Wednesdays: My Day Job

I was actually laid off a few weeks ago and have been out of a job since. Job hunting has actually been eye-opening: I've been looking for just about anything and everything that fits my schedule. My mindset is to try something new and develop new skills.

One main difference that I've seen in myself compared to past years? I place far less value on the career and job title itself than on the actual opportunity. I'm more and more confident in how God has been working in me, in my character - and seeing that my career does not define me. A job and paycheck are not where I place my self-worth, but my job is a mere vehicle on which I get to live out the purposes of God.

John 6:
²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

true

"If you aren't making mistakes, you aren't innovating. If you are making the same mistakes, you aren't learning." - Rick Warren

Top Ten Tuesdayzzz

Top 10 Things to Do to Stay Awake

so sleeeeepy...

10. Drink water/coffee/soda

9. Close eyes. Rub eyeballs vigorously.

8. Never-ending push-ups

7. Scream-sing to loud music (especially if you're driving)

6. Take a walk

5. Wash the face with some nice cold water

4. Slap yourself in the face

3. Have someone else slap you... in the face

2. Dangerous: Attempt a power nap

1. Just surrender and succumb to sweet sweet sleep


game.over.

pic of the moment

The "Harmonica Man"

(Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Top Ten Tuesdays

On a rotational basis and based purely on my own opinion, I shall start "Top 10 Tuesdays". I figure this will get me to post more regularly. Topics will vary depending on whatever I feel like at the moment.

Top Ten Things to do during Finals Week (if you're not a student)

1. Catch up on sleep
2. Read for pleasure
3. Take time to cook dinner
4. Have a cup of coffee or tea and listen to some music
5. Organize and clean... everything...
6. Skim through old journals and blogs
7. Go for a jog
8. Finally answer all those starred emails
9. Call folks and catch up
10. Pray for the students taking finals!

... and try not to rub in the students' faces that I don't have to take exams :)

story time!

a re-post from October 31, 2006 (from my old blog)

very short stories.

Hemingway once wrote a story in six words ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn") and is said to have called it his best work. Here are some stories from well-known authors across genres and mediums.
- taken from "Very Short Stories". Wired Magazine. Nov. 2006.

machine. Unexpectedly, I'd invented a time
-Alan Moore

Longed for him. Got him. Shit.
-Margaret Atwood

From torched skyscrapers, men grew wings.
-Gregory Maguire

Epitaph: Foolish humans, never escaped Earth.
- Vernor Vinge

IT'S BEHIND YOU! HURRY BEFORE IT

We went solar; the sun went nova.
- Ken MacLeod

To save human kind, he died again.
-Ben Bova

Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: Civilization collapses.
-Richard Powers

TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!! ... nobody there...
- Harry Harrison

Nothing I did. Was a gift.
-JY

You can only use six words.
Meaning, only six worded comments accepted.
Okay, maybe not only, but try.

training

I just got back from another weekend "training" with the Marine Corps. Although at this point, the word "training" is a bit of a misnomer because "training" implies that there is a main event one is getting prepared for in advance. This may have been true for me about a few years ago, but alas, I am "checking out" - ending my stint in the Marine Corps in the next couple of months. So, any kind of opportunity where those skills gained during "training" can actually pay off is out of the picture.

I'll save you from the long back-story and boring details of how and why I got to this place where I'm at now with the Marines.

So just a little on what went down this weekend:
We did a demo range. We blew stuff up. Since I am 99% certain I will never work with demolitions again, I thought to myself, "What can I take away from this weekend?"

Really, it was the small things that I noted/were reinforced:

1. Getting one another's backs or looking out for your own is infinitely more important than gaining anything for yourself. Because if you look out for others - those "others" will look out for you. If you only look out only for yourself, you will find yourself all alone.

2. Brilliance in the basics - don't overlook the basic, small things - like hygiene and physical fitness. Just do them everyday and do them well - they're like long term investments. They pay off.

3. Just keep it real. Nobody likes a suck-up or a "motard".

4. Everyone's cold, everyone's miserable, everyone's tired, everyone's hungry. The one who can get past these givens and still charge on ahead will benefit from that experience. No matter what.

5. I will take someone who has initiative with poor judgment over a passive person any day. Any day.

6. Transformation is making progress.

There's a young Marine when he first came in was extremely shy and unsure of himself, I'll call him Steve. Steve kept to himself, rarely socialized and seemed really out of place. The rest of us worked hard at him, doing everything and anything to help him adjust to life as we knew it. A few years later, Steve's really coming out of his shell. He takes the initiative, is developing as a leader and is visibly more self-confident. He's always putting himself out there, failing many times, getting humiliated even - but he learns from his failures and mistakes and doesn't get down on himself. Though Steve is still a bit socially awkward, doesn't exude machismo and not who you'd deem the Marine Corps prototype - his teachability and genuine personality makes him one of the more loved Marines in our unit.

Some Marines try really hard at fitting into whatever they perceive is the Marine Corps mold. Who can blame 'em? Most are 18 year olds who haven't quite discovered themselves and are just trying to be accepted into a culture of what they deem as ultimate manhood. But Steve got it right. He doesn't fit into the Marine Corps mold. Instead, he's kept true to himself and is willing to learn new things along the way. He's molded the Marine Corps experience around himself so that it's become a part of him, but he has not based his entire identity on the Corps alone.

That's the very lesson an older, wiser Marine tried teaching me in my first year in the Corps. "Semper Fidelis" means not only doing what you're supposed to be doing, but to keep true to yourself and your own faith first. I'm glad that in my final year in the Corps, I was able to witness the truth behind his words, exemplified by a young Marine just starting off in his career. I trust having that old lesson reiterated to me again this past weekend is good preparation for what's to come for me after I'm finished with the Marine Corps. I guess that counts for good training.

Family

"Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” - Nehemiah 4:14b

Family is messy and joyous. Family is who we can be ourselves around. Family takes time, effort and patience to make it work. We don't choose who gets to join our family. We're born into it. We don't give up on family.


Church is family - a spiritual family. Up until recently, I saw church as just an inhuman institution. I was grateful for the programs, classes, missions trips, serving opportunities, teachings, and responsibilities. But it wasn't until I was at a point where I was so frustrated, about to tear what little hair I have out, losing sleep, laughing, crying, overjoyed and going through a whole mess of things that I realized that church is family. Only one kind of people makes me feel all those things - family.

I really started seeing church as it really is - Christ followers. Messed up people who are living by the grace of God, following after Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful for this family. I am so grateful for this church.




Church is messy and joyous. Church is who we can be ourselves around. Church takes time, effort and patience to make it work. We don't choose who gets to join our church. We're born into it. We don't give up on church.

Working Wednesdays: Collective Meltdown

It's our "busy season" until May or so.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

open wide

At the dentist's office:

Dentist: "Open wide... looks like you've got a couple of cracked molars, a developing cavity, and there's heavy wear on your teeth. You grind your teeth at night."

Me: "I do? I had no idea..."

Whoa... first dentist visit in over a year and I have a mouthful of goodies to show for it. And all this time, I actually thought I was doing OK. This is the human condition. We just don't know ourselves very well and it takes someone with a bright light, mirror and a fine-pointed tool to reveal the decay.

This past week, after 20-odd years of brushing my own teeth, I actually learned the proper technique of keeping my teeth clean from the dental hygienist. It's kind of like learning to blow my nose the right way for the first time a few years ago. No joke. Mimicry and following examples will only go so far without proper instruction.

That's the only way to get it right - being willing to admit at any given moment that there is a better way than my own. Then opening my life for examination.

I read this verse today and was reminded that I just don't know myself on many levels, and that someone above me, who is in a better position to judge, can make a better call than I can.

Proverbs 16:2
"People may be pure in their own eyes,
but the Lord examines their motives."



Brush twice. Floss. Every day.

Working Wednesdays: Uniforms

I always learn a lot from working. I've been working nearly non-stop, earning wages since I was 11 years old. That's more than half my whole life.

In order: I've worked as a paper boy, neighborhood babysitter, Japanese-style tutor, sushi waiter, men's dress clothes salesman, a professional soldier, gourmet food salesman, security guard, elementary school teacher, library bookshelver, personal assistant to an author, and now I work in an office as part of "client services" (an all-around office assistant/clerk).

This will be my first "Working Wednesdays" post - thoughts, lessons learned, memorable moments and occasional venting from the working life. Most posts will probably be reflective of my current job, and some will be reminiscent of life-long principles learned from previous jobs.

Today, on uniforms:

As soon as you put on a uniform, you represent something outside of yourself. Everything you do, neglect to do, say or forget to say doesn't only reflect you, but the whole company. Putting on a uniform is symbolic, a responsibility, privilege, and burden all wrapped up in a polo shirt. Think about cops. A cop pulled me over in the state of ____ a couple of months ago - I was speeding, and he was a total jerk. Therefore, my impression of ALL the cops in that state? All jerks. Of course that's not true, but that's just the way we think - in categories, labels and neat generalizations. It's easier that way, to stereotype; we don't have to take the extra effort to get to know people as individuals.

Uniforms come loaded with expectations. If I see a paramedic in uniform and need medical attention, guess who I'm going to for help? There's no such thing as "off-duty" when you're in uniform. Another way I've seen this is, in the food courts. Whenever I see the Sbarro guy eating at Teriyaki Boy across the way, I can't help but judge the poor guy and think, "Traitor!" It's stupid, I know, but that dang uniform screws up my perception of people.

Uniforms are also social shields, they work for and against you. When wearing a uniform, you can say/do things that you normally wouldn't do. There's a sense of empowerment and protection that comes with wearing a uniform. The uniform enables me to stay "professional" and even aloof to customers' emotional outbursts. On the other hand, people feel entitled to treat a uniformed person as some kind of emotionless entity, and there are no holds barred in treating someone in uniform as a whipping boy.

In some ways, I'm thankful I don't have to wear a uniform to work these days. Though I'll admit, sometimes I do miss the convenience of not having to worry what I'll wear for the day. So, bottom line of the day? The best part of uniforms for me... not having to do as much laundry.

Stay cool, people. Stay cool.