My World With Words

I’m losing steam with this Bloganuary challenge–today’s prompt is to list five things you do for fun.

Well, that’s easy. In no particular order:

–-Knit

–-Read

—Write

—Play Scrabble

—Do nothing, nothing at all! Except maybe snuggle with the cats.

Image Credit Have Fun © Josie Elias–stock.adobe.com

Today’s Bloganuary prompt: If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?

Well, I’ve written before about how I’d like them to understand that I keep them inside for their own safety, and that would be the main thing I’d want to communicate. But there is one other thing I’d like them to know:

“I’m in charge here, and from this moment on, you’re going to act like it!”

Image Credit: Walter and Mimi Nonchalant © Belinda O

Today’s Bloganuary prompt: “Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.” Well, a good prompt for today as it’s my birthday!!

When I was born, my parents were quite surprised to discover I was a girl. This was before ultrasounds would give you that information in advance (yes, young ones, there was such a time, not so long ago). They’d fully anticipated a boy and hadn’t even considered names for a girl.

So it took them a week to name me. I’ve asked both of them why they chose the name Belinda, and I’ve gotten the same response from each–“we liked the name.” No favorite relative and certainly nothing to do with its meaning.

Over the years I’ve gotten different explanations of that meaning. When I was in high school, a friend brought her parent’s baby naming book to school. Why, I don’t know. We all looked up our own names and those of our siblings, crushes, and any others who struck our fancy. I was tickled to learn that, according to this book, my name meant, “wise and immortal.”

Of course one boy teased me mercilessly about this, pretending to misunderstand and believe that my name actually meant, “immoral.” Another boy said (in all seriousness), “no, no, Belinda means ‘witch.'” Where he got that, I have no idea. I think he saw a movie or read a book with a witch who shared my name.

I looked it up today and learned it derives from an old Spanish word meaning, “beautiful.” Well, that’s nice. Another entry said the first part of my name means “beautiful” but the second part means “serpent.” Well, I’ll be darned. Beautiful serpent. Is there such a thing?

Whatever the meaning, I’ve always liked the name. So thanks, Mom and Dad.

And by the way, if I’d been a boy, I would have been named Mark.

Image Credits: What’s Your Name © Coloures-Pic–stock.adobe.com; Witch © Wiktoria Matynia–stock.adobe.com.

Today’s Bloganuary prompt is, “what is your dream job?” which I’ve written about before and for which I don’t have a new spin. Since it’s Saturday, oops, make that Caturday, I’m sharing this picture of Walter taking a nap. Babies and cats are often at their cutest when they’re asleep, and Walter is proving that point. Ah, he’s always cute, but I’m glad he’s content in my box of quilts.

Image Credits: Paws in Heart © Bigstock; Cesar Cat © Belinda O

Twenty-five years ago, I started a job that proved to be very difficult, except for one thing: I had a great manager. She was very matter-of-fact and to the point, and you always knew where you stood with her. But generally she accepted people as they were and you stood in good stead. Assuming, of course, you were getting your work done.

I think being a good manager is a difficult thing. I’ve worked many jobs over the years, and there have been people I’ve liked who shouldn’t be in positions of authority, and others who’ve been a pleasure to work for because they had natural skills. Developing management skills if you don’t have the personality for that sort of thing is a challenge. I won’t say impossible, but not everyone is up for it. Still, they get the management jobs anyway.

I share a one quality with my dad when it comes to management, and that is, we don’t want those jobs. When I was in communications, I wanted to write and create. I had a supervisor who just didn’t get that. He was on the fast track and was doing everything possible to get promoted (which he did, he has a high-level position now). I’d say he wasn’t a good people person because he didn’t understand that not everyone thought like he did. Maybe he changed over the years, but I doubt it.

My current job isn’t a career job for me, and I think my manager gets that. When I interviewed for the post, I asked how long the people who’d had the job before me had held that position. I wanted to know if there was a lot of turnover. Turns out there wasn’t. I told her I was looking for a job I could stick with for a long time. I think, although I don’t know for sure, that that point helped land me the position. It turned out to be a good match for me.

Being a manager is tough, and I don’t envy anyone that position. If I had any advice for my supervisors, it would be to hold your employees accountable if they make a mistake, but don’t dwell on it. Figure out where you go from there, and follow that path.

Image Credits: Employee Team © VERTEX SPACE–stock.adobe.com; Female Employee © freeslab–stock.adobe.com