He gives strength to the weary ...

  

And to him who lacks might, He increases power.

Let us USE it for Him this day!

The Saturday Evening Post: Adventures and Misadventures of Working with the Global-Minded

 Tonight I invite you to pull up a chair, grab a cuppa tea, and join me in pondering the mysteries of the "global-minded" and how the rest of us relate to them. :)

I’ve been reflecting on how, in college and now at work, I’ve generally seemed to end up with highly “global-minded” (as my piano teacher used to label them) professors and employers. The college prof who taught my music theory/music business courses was totally a global thinker, and so is the dentist in the practice where I work. You know, they’re those people that always think and talk in large generalities with lots of room for personal shenanigans and ingenuity, who are usually contemplating the bigger picture and leaving the smaller details to sort themselves out. I could list SO many ways in which this was a blessing while in college, and continues to be a blessing now where I work. These types are usually really laid back, flexible, and very ready to teach and answer questions. Like, lots of questions … usually from people like me and my personality type (to be dealt with in more detail in the next paragraph). They aren’t easily phased, but roll with the punches. They usually aren’t perfectionists, but rather see the bigger picture. And they definitely aren’t control freaks. And while I was trying to figure out college in general, and those classes in particular (they were online but taught through live web-cam and chat which was quite a learning curve), those characteristics in my professor were wonderful in more ways than I can count. Then again last year, starting my first dental front office job fresh out of a training course, the same characteristics saved my hide numerous times, letting me find my way and giving me plenty of room to grow and expand.

However. They’ve also been known to cause me moments in which I thought a nervous breakdown could be the only end result. ;) Sometimes having a nature mostly opposite to that of a global thinker can cause a few issues. I am not so much a global thinker – rather, I am very detail-oriented, rather a perfectionist, and I like order and organization. My spontaneity is sometimes slow to show itself. Which, when working with a global thinker, can cause me to feel as if I am spinning around in a chaotic mess of ideas, possibilities, and thoughts, with no absolutes, no organization, no foundation. Nothing to grasp as definitive, no set-in-stone rules to go by … help!!! How will I know how to get it right when I don’t know exactly what you’re looking for?! When I don’t have a bullet point list or regulations to follow or instructions that tell me more than the very barest minimum, the most basic scope, the most general of principals? Terrifying, I tell you!

Not only that, but sometimes, because the global thinkers are so busy thinking about the bigger picture, so-called “smaller” details that really are important get lost in the shuffle or aren’t relayed to the people in charge of those details until … kind of late in the game. For example … “Oh … that patient whose insurance claim I sent three weeks ago and was paid on yesterday didn’t end up having an emergency check-up but instead an extraction, a root canal, a gingivectomy and an implant? [Insert mental gasp of despair and consternation here] No problem. Let me get with the insurance company for some minor revisions.”

 (Some slight exaggeration as far as treatment, but you get the idea.) 

Anyway. It can get a bit messy. But because of such personality conflicts, I’ve been learning some really important and useful lessons, about myself and the global thinkers and how we relate. For instance, you know how I said I was terrified of “getting it wrong” if I didn’t have more than the barest smidgeon of information to guide my tasks? Well, that’s what is wrong – the fear I’ll get it wrong! Because generally, global thinkers don’t think in such detailed terms. When a global thinker is wanting something accomplished, he usually doesn’t want or expect a carbon copy of his own ideas just put down in the subordinate’s name. He wants the subordinate to go about things his own way. Because he isn’t a control freak, he doesn’t mind the many number of paths that a person can take while getting a thing done, as long as the bigger picture stays the same. Incomprehensible to us detail-minded, organized control freaks, I know.

Also – major epiphany here – but guess what? Those global-minded people really do need us detail-minded folks! I’ve been learning that I’m there to be the balancing factor in the equation. While the global thinker is out making sure the bigger picture is where he wants it, I’m the one keeping all the pieces together. I’m making sure the global thinker has all the components needed to get the ultimate vision accomplished. I’m “filling in the cracks” if you will. 

But doing that definitely takes work. I mean, first you have to combat and quell all of the above mentioned feelings of chaos, unpredictability, etc. Ironically, you have to take on some of the characteristics of the global thinker. I’ve learned, for instance, to just relax about things. To not be so up-tight and to be wise about what really needs to be taken care of now rather than later – to decide what’s honestly important at the moment, and what needs letting go. I’ve learned that it’s okay to feel as if I’m swimming in a chaotic mess, and that things will work themselves out if I just stay in the game. I’ve learned the importance of taking things as they come and when glitches happen, to be just be prepared to jump in and fix or smooth. I’ve learned that not having a detailed set of rules and regulations to follow is sometimes (read: often) the way life is, and I need to figure things out for myself and not be so afraid of “getting it wrong.” I’m still a list person. I’m still a “make bullet points and check them off as you go” girl. I still like order and predictability much of the time. But I’ve been learning to temper, to meld, to have a good time on the roller-coaster or bronco-ride or whatever you want to liken the craziness to. And boy am I still learning. It takes time. And I’ll probably be “tempering” my detail-oriented nature for the rest of my life. ;)

 So, fellow detail-minded people out there, you aren’t alone! There are challenges working with global-minded bosses, co-workers, and even spouses, but it can be rewarding and fun too. After all, God made us with our different personalities for a good reason. We all need to be tempered and balanced by each-other! Sometimes it’s definitely stressful, and occasionally frustrating – but I think much of that stress and frustration can be attributed to our not being willing to lay aside our rigidness, instead taking things as they come and using our detail-minded gifts to the best advantage in each situation. This way, we can take great satisfaction in doing our job well, in keeping things in order, and in ultimately being an important part of achieving the ultimate goal, instead of creating additional problems and resistance by our organized, step-by-step natures. It is so rewarding to me after a day at work or at home to know I was a contributor to keeping things running smoothly, seamlessly, and without conflict when the day was crazy. I definitely don’t always get it right – in fact sometimes I totally mess things up – but, by God’s patience, I’m way farther along than I was last year or the year before, and the journey’s been ever so rewarding. :o) I hope that yours is just the same!

End of Summer

 One of my recent projects has been to get some new grass seed planted in an unused portion of the chicken coop. Of course ... being unused ... this corner was in a less than ideal condition.

In fact, such was its jungle-like state (shame on me) that some of the hennies found it an ideal hide-out!

You can just see a grey tint under the greenery ...

Hello!

Fortunately, with the help of my mom and sister, we made short work of the weeds ... 

 I feel like a minor Alexander the Great sweeping through Egypt! ;)

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Other end-of-summer happenings ...

 Beet greens from the garden make great (and economical) chicken food!

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 Roses from a bush that has never given us blooms before ... lovely!

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 A new recipe for brussel sprouts ... ;)

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 Mums in front of the picket fence. These flowers always speak to me of autumn.

 

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Speaking of flowers, wine barrels make amazing planting pots! Aren't these gorgeous?

 

 

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I love this ... someone gave me a wall hook in the shape of a chicken years ago for a birthday gift, because I was kind of known as a "chicken lady" in years past. ;) Using it currently to hang aprons!

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Spoils from my grandmother's recent garage sale ...

I love rag rugs. They are one of my favorite things.

This is another favorite thing!! I've been wanting to find something pretty to hang lavender on, that is more efficient than twine hanging over the side of my bookcase with my button jar on top of the twine ... and my mom found the perfect thing at the sale. A good ol' tobacco rack!

 I never thought I'd consider a tobacco rack "pretty" ... but ... it really is, and I'm really happy with it. ;) 

 

After hanging it for me, my dad told me that all that I need now is a Longhorns emblem to hang on it.

Which, I assured him, in the immortal words of Winnie-the-Pooh, "would NOT be a good plan."

;)

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Okay ... one more favorite thing. I had to pick up this old quilt at the garage sale, because of the sweet story behind it ... about 25 years ago it was for sale in my grandma's antique shop, and because of its frayed condition, my mom trimmed one of the ends off and used the fabric to sew heart shaped patches where they were needed. See there?

It's a lovely quilt ...

and I'm so happy no one ever snagged it before I found it and heard its history. :o)

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Happy end-of-summer to you!

Happy September!!

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 "We must continually remind ourselves of the purpose of life. We are not destined to happiness, nor to health, but to holiness. Today we have far too many desires and interests, and our lives are being consumed and wasted by them. Many of them may be right, noble, and good, and may later be fulfilled, but in the meantime, God must cause their importance to us to decrease. The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept the God Who will make him holy. At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God. Do I believe I need to be holy?" 

from My Utmost for His Highest, September 1