I have always wanted a tiara just because. I never realized that having one would teach me so many lessons. I thought it would be funny to wear one in public, but what I realized is that being different isn't always amusing. Standing out is uncomfortable. People say and do strange things when we are not like them and it isn't always pleasant. Wearing a tiara has made me realize how difficult it is to be ourselves because we have so many outside influences expecting us to fit in and be "normal."

Thanks to my tiara training, I have begun to look at differences in a whole new light. While dining out for lunch, I noticed a woman sitting next to me. She was in her 50's and had brightest pink hair I had ever seen. Instead of making any kind of judgment about her, I simply found it amusing and went on. I noticed other people staring at her and a few even made comments, but she went on with her lunch and didn't respond. She was living her life way she wanted not worrying about what others were thinking.

Wearing a tiara has taught me that being who I am is most difficult thing I will ever have to do. It is something that takes courage, self-esteem and a thick skin. However, I am also realizing that to be anything less than who I came here to be is so much more painful. The number one lesson I have learned is to simply, "be yourself."

1. Ask yourself 'where would I look for this?' rather than 'where should I put this? when storing paper, possessions, or electronic files. The 'putting' part is easy. Finding things quickly and effortlessly is what saves you time.

2. Carry a folder of articles with you. This makes good use of small amounts of time otherwise spent waiting, while making a dent into your reading pile.

3. Create a mini-agenda for phone conversations. A planned call averages seven minutes. An unplanned call averages ten minutes. It is easy to see how you can maximize your phone time.

4. Set a time limit on your involvement in a task. The task will seem less boring or overwhelming if you know you will stop at a certain time.

5. Make notes to yourself for details that come up while sorting any pile. You can then address those notes one at a time later with attention each deserves.

6. Use a spiral notebook to capture random ideas, to-do lists, and notes of phone conversations. The notebook creates reliability and consistency for storing information and is far superior to back of an envelope.

Any ONE of these tips can redeposit considerable amounts of time back into bank of Your Life, to spend in ways that are more pleasurable and satisfying for you. It's your choice.

© Susan W. Miller, 2002 All Rights Reserved