now you see it; now you don't.

Have you ever noticed how much of life is not what it seems? This really can apply to all aspects of life: your job, your relationships, your image of yourself... anything.

I think you can figure out what the reality of a situation is, but it takes time. People are not always honest, and sometimes people have something to hide. Sometimes this is a fun thing, like a surprise party, but sometimes it is just someone being...rude? For lack of a better word.

This probably sounds really cryptic, but not to fear - I have examples!

Example 1: What's written on paper is not always true. Case in point here is that I got a note to resign my lease. I have lived in my apartment for two years and my rent has been the same for two years. The note I got, an intent form of sorts, said that my rent was going to be raised. Not only was it going to be raised, but it was going to go up $50 a MONTH! That, my friends, is out of control. So I went to ask the leasing office about it, and it turns out it was a typo. My rent is only going up $10 per month. This is manageable. So, you can't always react to the first thing you read. Do a little research. Ask some questions.

Example 2: How someone reacts is not necessarily solely based on one situation. Sad but true story: I was having a great day off the other day, and went to the movies to "celebrate" (I think you can call it that). When a preview came on for Disney's "African Cats" movie, I cried. No joke. Who cries at a preview for a movie about lions and cheetahs? Clearly there was something going on (but don't ask me what - I have no idea).

Example 3: People tell stories. You know this is true. People aren't always honest. It's actually quite sad, but people like to tell stories that make them out to be kings and superheroes and kind hearts. Some people really are kings, superheroes and kind hearts, but some people just can't handle the truth. (Seriously.) Befriend people, but be cautious. You don't want to be best buds with someone who is going to lie through his (or her) teeth just to make them seem like a better person.

Yes, in life there are a lot of two-way mirrors. It's just how it is. Ask questions. Be understanding. And know, that it's always always always fine to keep a secret when it's about a surprise birthday party.

That is...if you can keep a secret! 

the thing is

I saw this on a blog I subscribe to (Mighty Girl - check her out) and I liked it, because well, I like poems.

It's by Ellen Bass.

The Thing Is

to love life, to love it even
when you have no stomach for it
and everything you’ve held dear
crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,
your throat filled with the silt of it.
When grief sits with you, its tropical heat
thickening the air, heavy as water
more fit for gills than lungs;
when grief weights you like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief,
you think, How can a body withstand this?
Then you hold life like a face
between your palms, a plain face,
no charming smile, no violet eyes,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you, again.

the season of giving.

I have to say, I am particularly excited about this time of year. The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are my favorite for a number of reasons, but mostly it's because:

1. Winter is still new and snow is enjoyable
2. Lots of family time, which I don't get through the year
3. PRESENTS!

Now, I know I sound like a greedy five-year-old by admitting the last one, but it's not just about what others want to give to you, it's about giving to others. I don't necessarily just like receiving gifts, because it feels just as good (if not better) to give to others.

This is part of why I like my job so much. I get to oversee some of our online contests, giving away free webinars every Wednesday, prizes for milestones (we're almost to 50,000 fans on Facebook!) and other contests we're working on that have some sweet gear, like bike racks or helmets.

Part of the reason we're giving things away is that it creates a better community. People like to engage, but they like to engage even more when they get something out of it. At least it seems.

So what better time than now to give your customers/constituents something for being loyal to your brand?

Delta, along with a few other airlines, is giving customers free wi-fi between November 20 and January 2 as a "holiday gift." This is great news for me, because I enjoy flying Delta and I have two trips that fall in that time frame. Needless to say, I'm going to be taking advantage of free wi-fi, partially because now I'll get Foursquare's Mile High badge for my collection.

The question is, how do you find the right giveaway to promote your brand? How do you decide when the time is right so that people will take advantage of it? The reason the free wi-fi is so appealing is that people like me, who live out of state, will be flying home for the holidays. Airlines know they will be busy and Gogo Wireless saw an opportunity to find new customers, because some of the logic might be that if someone tries their product for free one time and enjoys it, maybe they will be willing to pay for it in the future.

So as we head into the holiday season, it's great to be excited about what you might receive, but don't forget to spend quality time on what you can give, too. It's a great time to show someone (anyone!) that you care!