Admirable Qualities

Question for you, and I’m sure everyone’s answer will be a little different:

What is a personality trait you admire in other people?

There’s a lot of personality traits out there: patient, geeky, listener, football fan, kind, thoughtful, funny, and so on and so forth. When you think about your closest friends and family. What is the trait that you think of first that you like about them? Is it knowing that they always have your back? They’re the shoulder you need to cry on? Or is it that they’re your partner in crime? A mentor? A role-model? If someone comes to mind, maybe you should tell them? Make their day. Just say: “Hey, you know, I really like this about you,” and watch them smile. Maybe you’ll get a compliment back?

But, stepping back. Let’s look at people as a whole. Go back to the basic traits of loyalty, patience, honesty, and whatnot. What is the first trait that comes to you mind that you admire about others? You want to know what mine was?

Boldness.

I admire boldness in other people. I admire those people who can just say whatever they want and not feel ashamed for it. I admire those that believe in themselves and don’t doubt their abilities. The ones who aren’t afraid to stand up or speak out for what they believe in, what ideas they have, and their worth.

Yes. Let’s get shrinky. I probably admire that trait so much because I lack it. I’m not someone who cuts someone off when they’re speaking. I can’t speak up in a crowded room or a team meeting. I worry too much about sounding dumb. I wish I’m more confident than I am. But, I love seeing others speak their mind. Doing what I can’t do. Telling a funny story without shame. It makes me wonder if there are others out there like me. I mean, does a hothead admire patience because they lack it? Does liar admire honesty because they fight their own tongue? Does a chatty person admire listeners because they have a hard time listening themselves?

What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts. How would you answer the question? What admirable traits do you admire in others?

Red Ruffed Lemurs

In the northeastern forests of Madagascar live in the Red Ruffed Lemurs. These incredible animals primarily live in the tree canopy. The eat fruit and nectar, and act as important pollinators to their habitat. Red Ruffled lemurs live in social groups known as troops. Troops can vary in size and have subgroups spread throughout their territory. They can have up to six infants per litter and the troop practices communal care where everyone is involved in raising the young. They reach maturity around two years of age.

Because red ruffed lemurs live in such a small area of Madagascar, they are considered critically endangered. They’re victims of pet and animal trade, habitat loss, and hunting. Their natural predators include hawks, boa constrictors, and fossae. Yet, like any other species, humans are their greatest threat.

Some fun facts about our cute, little lemur friends:

  • Red Ruffed Lemurs love to sunbathe. They’ll sit back on their haunches and open their arms to sun to warm their black belly fur. This behavior was misinterpreted by early natives of Madagascar as sun worshiping. This mistaken belief helped protect the species for a time.
  • Like other primates, lemurs use their tails for balance when leaping through the trees. They also use their tails to signal and communicate with each other.
  • They have well developed smell, vision, and hearing. Red Ruffed Lemurs are able to identify each other by scent glands found on their rumps.
  • Red Ruffed Lemurs have very loud calls that can be heard for miles around. These calls alert of threats and warn other lemurs not to encroach on their territories. At my zoo, you can hear our lemurs from the complete far side of our African section.
  • Best way to tell Red Ruffed Lemurs apart is by using the white patches on their feet.
  • The lemurs at my zoo love grapes, bananas, and sweet potatoes. While on exhibit, they like to sit in the sun and receive armpit scratches.

Belittling Frustration

You know what’s frustrating? I’m not a confrontational person. I avoid conflict like the plague. I’m also a sensitive person. I cry easily and when I cry, I lose my voice, and I hate it. I hate being so sensitive. But, being a sensitive person, I can usually tell what someone else is feeling. Get an air about them as they enter a room. So, as a sensitive person who hates conflict, when someone approaches me with the clear signs that something’s wrong (their posture is stiff, they’re facing directly at me, their tone is guarded, and their eyes tell all). When they approach with this stance, I want to go away. I know right off the bat this won’t be a pleasant conversation so I don’t want to be a part of it.

Yet, I’m also someone who addresses those that want to talk to me.

When someone approaches to admit their beef–or rather NOT admit their beef, but judge me for it anyway–I have to fight through my inner panic to give a response. Let me tell you, I never come up with the best thing to say. My responses likely make me seem dumber than I actually am, but there’s a reason for that. I’m not a talker. I’m a WRITER. I can’t think of the perfect words on the spot. I need time to mull them over. When you’re in a confrontational conversation, whoever’s approaching you wants answers immediately. They don’t want you to think about it. They want you to crack under their scrutinizing gaze and prove them right. The most frustrating part about this is the aftermath. After they’ve taken their victory and left. It’s in the aftermath that I think of the perfect words I should’ve said. It’s in the aftermath that my mind has the conversation that would’ve made me proud of myself.

It’s in the aftermath that the pen comes out.

Writing is sometimes the only way for me to get over something. To focus my thoughts and clear my head. Get it on the page and let the page carry the burden. After that, I can usually walk away from it. Get some sleep. Move on.

Maybe you’re like me? Sensitive. Nonconfrontational. Frustrated. If you haven’t tried writing to help you through it, I recommend it. Just know you’re not alone. I wish I had the answer to help deal with those confrontational conversations. The answer on how to be bolder and stand up yourself whenever someone is belittling you. But I don’t.

What I can tell you is that you need to move on. What happened, happened. You can’t change it. You could try to approach the person and set things right, but they might not be in the mindset to see things your way. They might not even realize they were in the wrong. So, don’t sweat over it. I was belittled recently and it stuck with me for days afterwards. In the end, there’s nothing I can do to change what happened. I can only change what I do now and I choose to not let it bother me. I choose to not think about it. Not dwell on it or let it define my decisions moving forward. Someone belittled me. It probably came from a place of hurt and misunderstanding. I’ll give them that benefit of the doubt. Why should I sink down to their level and hold a grudge? Grudges only hurt the people who hold them. So, I’m letting it go.

Yes. What they did hurt me. Their actions in a span of a few seconds affected me for days, but I forgive them. I’m letting it go and moving on because it’s not worth it. I’m worth more than how they made me feel, and I don’t deserve to have this dragging me down.

I hope you’ll see things this way when someone belittles you. Don’t let others drag you down. You’re worth more.

A Gift From an Artist

Have you ever received a gift from an artist? What was it? How did you react? I received a beautiful gift from an artist recently, and as an artist, I like to give my art out as gifts. So, what’s the best way to receive these artful gifts?

If you ask me. The best way to receive a gift from an artist is to appreciate it. REALLY appreciate it. Don’t just say “wow, that’s beautiful” and move on. Say “wow, that’s beautiful,” and admire its beauty. Take a moment to really look at the strokes involved in the artwork, the pattern of the stitches, or the blend of the colors. Look for the shapes within the patchwork, and hear the story behind it.

Now, you do have to be careful. Taking the time to admire the beauty of the art also gives you a chance to find its flaws. Artists are human, we’re not perfect. You may find a hair in the painting or a loose thread in the stitching. Spacing might be off, or details might not be fine enough. When you come to these flaws, the best thing you can do is to NOT MENTION THEM. What you’re receiving is a gift. The artist worked hard to make it for you. They spent their time for you. They didn’t make it so you can critique it. They made it so you can enjoy it. So, why bring them down by pointing out the flaws in their hard work? The best thing you can do as a gift receivers is to make the giver feel good about giving the gift.

Now, I get it. There are people out there who aren’t artists. The best thing you can draw is a stick figure. So, when an artist gives you an incredible piece of work, you compare it to your own abilities and it makes you feel a tinge of jealousy or inadequacy. I certainly feel that way when my art is compared to others. These feelings of jealousy or wishing you were a better artist then you are tend to lead you into looking for the flaws in the artwork you’ve received as a gift. You point out the flaws because it makes you feel better. Tells you that this artist who gave you this incredible gift isn’t perfect. Well, it might make you feel better, but it doesn’t make the artist feel very good. They worked hard to make this for you, so don’t point out any of its flaws. Keep those flaws to yourself and appreciate the gift. I mean, that’s our job as gift receivers, isn’t it? Someone takes the time, money, and thought to give us something, we should make the giver feel good about giving it out. People say that it’s better to give than to receive, but how people receive may ruin someone’s desire to give. So, it’s equally as important to know how to receive any gift, not just artwork.

I hope you’ll keep this in mind whenever you receive a gift. May you receive it with appreciation and keep its flaws to yourself. You don’t want to be that person nobody gives anything to because you always find what’s wrong with it.

2023 Dreams

Hey everyone! Haven’t seen you since last year! Can you believe it? I haven’t posted for you guys since last year.

Those are the kind of jokes we all hear at this time, aren’t they? They’re certainly going around my DnD group. I’ll admit it. I find them amusing, and do them a lot.

But, in all seriousness, it’s 2023. How are you feeling about it? Excited? Nervous? Dreading?

If you ask me, I’m hopeful. 2022 was good to me. I’m hoping more dreams will come true in 2023. I’m hoping I’m brave enough to seize them with both hands.

I’ve made my dreams pretty clear in previous posts. So, what about you? What are your dreams for 2023. How are you going to help them come true?

Feel free to let me know in the comments here or on any of my social pages.

Cheers to 2023, everyone. May all our dreams come true.

Last Post of the Year

It is to my great dismay that I inform everyone that this will be my last post of the 2022 year. It has been a long and good run this year, but I’m afraid I won’t have any time to write anymore webposts until next year. Thank you all for your understanding and your patience for when next year’s posts come out. It has been a huge honor writing for you and I can’t wait to do it again next year. I hope you all have a fun end to this year and I hope 2023 brings you joy, merriment, and–most importantly–dreams come true. May all our dreams come true.

Thank you everyone for your support! I’ll see you next year!

Lessons From Beat Saber

If you have a VR headset, you probably know what Beat Saber is. It’s a game, similar to guitar hero, where you have two laser, saber swords and you have to swing them in time with the beat of different songs. It makes for a great workout, helps with hand-eye coordination, and is a lot of fun–in my opinion.

I’ve been playing Beat Saber on and off for several years now, and I just wanted to share a couple lessons I learned from the game.

  1. Stay On Beat
    Going too slow or too fast leads to mistakes. You don’t want to rush yourself or fall behind. Stay in tune with the timing of the course and you’ll see victory.
  2. Stay Focused
    Don’t let your mind wander or go into “auto-pilot” mode. Be intentional with every move you make and stay in the moment.
  3. Look Ahead
    Keep your eyes forward and pay attention to what’s coming your way. You want to watch out for switch ups, bombs, and barriers. You have everything you need to overcome the obstacles
  4. Don’t Show Fear
    It’s okay to be afraid, but when the difficult solos come up, go for them! Make the effort and even if you don’t succeed, your attempt means progress.
  5. Have Fun
    When you’re shooting for success, sometimes it’s easy to get wrapped up in the details. You stress over getting it all perfect that you forget to have fun along the way.
  6. Challenge Yourself
    The only way to get better is to challenge yourself. Dare to do the harder levels and branch out to songs you’re unfamiliar with. It make take several tries for you to get it, but practice makes perfect.
  7. Slow It Down Every Now and Then
    As good as it is to challenge yourself, it’s helpful to slow down every once in a while. Choose something easier to do and give yourself a cooldown. Slowing down even helps you enjoy the music and focus more on your radical dance moves.
  8. Don’t Dwell on Your Mistakes
    Never. NEVER dwell on your mistakes. If you focus on what you missed, you’re not going to get what coming toward you. Learn from your mistakes for the next time around, but let them go so they don’t ruin your victory.

Merry Christmas Eve!

It’s Christmas Eve! Are you as excited as I am? Tomorrow we celebrate the birth of a Savior, gather with family and friends, and open gifts we’ve worked so hard to pick out for each other. I’ll be working the first part of tomorrow because animals require care everyday of the year, but I’m with the hippos! I’ll give each one a Merry Christmas nose rub for you.

Regardless if you’re working, staying home, or traveling. I hope this Christmas will be a happy and memorable one for you. May you feel blessed and loved, and spoiled with family. May you have yummy food and warm homes. May you tell stories, and jokes, and feel welcome by all you’re around.

Merry Christmas everyone! And God bless you!

Merry Cheetah Christmas!

It’s below a feels like of 20 degrees
I’m wearing six layers and can’t feel my feet.
The cheetah exhibit is currently bare
but the enrichment we have will put Christmas in the air
We’ve presents painted with child-safe paint
And streaming decorations that hang in your face
A cutout tree all decorated and pretty
Fitted with a skirt to look nice for our kitties
We’ve cardboard candy canes stuck in the ground
And hidden treats that will need to be found
Our favorite decorations are the stockings hung with care
Listing our cheetah’s names–they are quite the pair
Everything’s sprinkled with seasonings all around
Just so the boys can knock it all down
To decorate the exhibit is quite the honor
For someone who’s always been a cheetah fawner
We’ve just two boys, full of hisses and spits
And when locked off exhibit, they throw a small fit
The jury’s still out on if they’ve been good this year
It depends on which keeper you ask around here
But whether they’re naughty or whether they’re nice
And despite the fact that my face feels like ice
We’ll set up the exhibit, make it a big occasion
So our two cheetahs can have a Christmas celebration

Merry Christmas everyone!

Yearly Review

Good morning, everyone! It’s December so that means it’s time for yearly reviews at our workplaces. I actually have mine today, and it’s safe to say: I’m nervous. I think I’ve worked really hard this past year, but to be honest, I haven’t had a yearly work review since 2019.

2019!

Why? Well, at the place I worked at during 2020 and 2021, my manager had a lot on her plate. She’d talk about doing the reviews, but they never happened. Which proved to me how much she was overworked. If you’re a manager and you’re struggling to get your reviews done–and are tempted to not do them. I strongly recommend against it. It speaks volumes when you put off stuff like that for your team. They’re working hard for you, they deserve to know how they’re doing.

So, in the spirit of yearly reviews, I’d like to extend my website. To all my followers out there and those coming around for a peek, please, let me know what you think. How are you enjoying this website? Is it helping you in anyway? Is there more of a certain type of post you’d like to see? Feel free to let me know.

I appreciate all of you readers more than you realize.