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Out of My Way

Posted @ 4/19/2011 4:00 AM By Claudia
Posted in [Holidays], [Inspiration] | 9 Comments

I love it when a word or a phrase that I have used forever finally makes sense to me.

It happened with the word, "Ole" on Friday, after reading Cheryl's post, and, yesterday, I finally got to see the phrase "going out of my way" come to life. We talk about people going out of their way - or not - all the time, but the phrase takes on all new meaning when you actually watch it unravel before your very eyes.

My week has a "way" about it. So does yours, I am sure.

Wake up, get ready, get the kids ready, straighten house, drop kids at school, work, work, and work some more. Pick the kids up, homework then soccer or piano, dinner, baths, books, and put kids to bed. Write post. Get to bed myself.

No where in my "way" is there anything about: buy roll of astroturf and green duct tape from Lowes, make a dozen tissue paper flowers, and assemble mailbox decorations for my mail lady.

But I, along with a handful of other readers at the House of Shine, went "out of my way" to decorate my mailbox on Saturday, April 16, in celebration of National Postman Appreciation Day.

Out of my way. I set aside my normal "way," so that I could squeeze in time to make my mail carrier feel special.

Yesterday afternoon I was working in my home office when there was a knock at my door. It was my mail lady.

She was going out of her way.

Her normal "way" is drive onto our culdesac, pull up to the first mailbox, open, insert mail, close box, and drive on. Pull up to next mailbox, open, insert mail, close box, and drive on. Pull up to third mailbox... and so it goes for the block.

But, my mail lady went "out of her way" because she wanted to thank me for going out of my way. I learned her name is Debbie and we had a really nice visit for six or eight minutes. Then she asked if I would take a picture of her in front of the mailbox.

When the exchange was over, I sat back down at my desk, so I could resume "my way." But I went back to work with a big smile on my face, because right then and there the phrase "going out of your way" actually meant something.

I cannot help but think that getting out of your own way long enough to go "out of your way" is one of the many ways we can shine.

Shining off until tomorrow...

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    Posted @ 4/19/2011 8:02 AM by Cheryl
    Cheryl's avatar

    Ah, that's nice. I love that she wanted a photo next to it!

    I'm wondering- other than the decorated mailbox- did you leave your postman anything in your box? A gift card or anything?

    I didn't because I was just short on time and didn't get to a store to get one.

    I didn't hear anything from my person but I'm glad that you did Claudia. I think Misty has a similar story.

    Posted @ 4/19/2011 9:52 AM by molly
    molly's avatar

    love those mailboxes. I wish I had one ounce of your craftiness. I can't draw a stick person much less make my mailbox into a spaceship, floral arrangement, etc. Kudos to you!

    However, I did send a long overdue thank you note this morning to my OB who is amazing and runs a spectacular office and just happens to have delivered my three amazing boys. I also had my oldest son write a thank you note to our Aunt who always sends a fun holiday package of goodies for the boys. Instilling appreciation on person at a time.

    Posted @ 4/19/2011 11:44 AM by Cheryl
    Cheryl's avatar

    Nope, nope! No, Molly, I refuse to believe it! Even you are creative!

    Shoot! Even if you had headed down to Party City or WalMart for all that matters and just bought streamers and made a sign! How would you have decorated your box with that? Would you have taped your streamers around like a skirt? Would you have wrapped your box with streamers around the side? Would you have strung them from your mailbox to your neighbors box?

    So many simple things anyone can do! You don't have to go to elaborate extremes to go out of your way. :)

    That's sweet you're sending out a thank you to your OB.

    Posted @ 4/19/2011 12:56 PM by Claudia
    Claudia's avatar

    Jumping in for a quick minute before heading off to a meeting.

    Cheryl, I love that you have made it your personal mission to help every person you meet get in touch with their own creativity. And, of course I agree that everyone is creative in some way shape or form.

    In answer to your question... I put a yellow envelope in my mailbox for Debbie. I just wrote her a simple note to say thank you. But... encore. Last night I pulled all the tissue paper flowers off of my mailbox and today I gathered them all together and tied floral tape around the stems. It looks CUTE. Tomorrow I will put them in the mailbox for her and when she opens it they will pop out.

    Posted @ 4/19/2011 12:58 PM by Claudia
    Claudia's avatar

    P.S. I was psyched to read about your thank you notes! It is such a good feeling when you... go out of your way... for someone!

    Posted @ 4/19/2011 1:41 PM by Cheryl
    Cheryl's avatar

    Art teachers across the world are sad because as we get to be adults we forget how to use our child-like, curious minds!

    We don't have to be Picasso or Da Vinci or any of the greats. We don't even have to be as good as the local painter at the corner gallery or the local high school teenager. We just all have to believe that we are creative in some small way.

    I guess it has become my personal mission! HA!

    Posted @ 4/19/2011 6:01 PM by Peggy
    Peggy's avatar

    All those mailboxes are too, too cute!

    Posted @ 4/19/2011 8:42 PM by TB
    TB's avatar

    Claudia u hit the home run. You made your mail women feel appreciated and special. You also made her feel proud enough that she wanted to remember your thoughtfulness and share with her family and friends. Ole!

    Posted @ 4/20/2011 8:09 AM by Misty
    Misty's avatar

    BUSY day yesterday! I must admit, doing my mailbox was fun and a little frustrating all at the same time. I should have left my husband out of the equation :/. But the highlight and what made it completely worth my time...a note from my mail lady. That note made me smile for hours. It was a simple thank you. It is the little things!

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