choice – Christy Grace Scarlet Pen

Meant For Me…?

Over the last year when I left my stable full time job to seek out more creative work, I applied for one in particular that I secured an interview for! But, something came through in the confirmation email that was NOT what I bargained for.

What was supposed to come? A map of the area and some general preparation documents.

What actually came? A shortlist for the interview candidates.

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Right away, it was clear that the shortlist document with a table containing names on the left and information filled in on the right was NOT supposed to make it’s way into my inbox. But, there it was in black and white.

I quickly closed the document down without reading anything else (I’d only seen the names and the title ‘shortlist’), but then came the decision.

This was my chance, wasn’t it? To get a one up on the competition?

What if someone else had better qualifications and experience? What if I could do or say something to look better than them? I just need to know what it is that they have over me and I’d be a shoo-in to get the gig, right?

Some people told me to read it – what’s the harm? Some people told me to delete it and NOT tell the employer about their mistake. This silly little document that wasn’t meant for my eyes was giving me insecurity against my fellow interview candidates. It was causing me to compare myself to imaginary people and doubt my own abilities – and I hadn’t even read it!

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It got me thinking. Life is a little like this sometimes. We can get an ’email’ sent to us that isn’t meant for us. It wasn’t supposed to show up in our path and seems legit. When that happens, we have two choices

You can read it, but when you do, it changes everything. Sometimes it changes the way we see ourselves or other people. Sometimes it changes the way we act, or speak to other people. Sometimes, we can let this opportunity or information cloud our mind.

The other option, is to send it right back and never look at it. Push aside that information on your college which could get you the promotion, but ruin their lives. Push aside that opportunity to move to another country, but would uproot your family and make them miserable.

I chose to be honest, and I chose to delete what wasn’t meant for me.

What are you going to choose?

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

What’s In a Name?

“What about EthelLu”
“EthelLu? No, you need something that rolls off the tongue”
“Like what?”
“Well, LucyEth”

As much as I LOVE Lucy Ricardo and her crazy ideas and schemes, she is one thousand percent WRONG. LucyEth does NOT roll off the tongue.
They had an interesting dilemma in this episode though, what was the name of their secret ‘Dress Shop’ going to be called.

It did get me thinking though, what would I call my own dress store? Then I realised that I would never own one, and I changed my focus to a more plausible store – a bookstore!
Recently, I posted a short story called ‘The Last Bookstore’ and while I was writing it, I thought more about that scene, and what I would call a bookstore if I was ever the owner of one.

Naming a store after yourself (Like Lucy and Ethel’s Dress Shop) seemed a little selfish, so my mind then ran into the options. What kind of store is it? Where is it located? Is it JUST a bookstore, or a cafe as well? All those good questions which lead down their own rabbit holes.

Eventually I decided that I didn’t have an answer (I know, all that wondering for nothing!), but that I would LOVE to hear other people’s ideas!
Maybe I could call it Scarlet Pen Bookstore, or CGScarletPen Books but whatever the answer, it doesn’t matter right now – especially because we can’t leave our houses to open one… too soon??

What would you call YOUR bookstore, or store of any kind? I’d love to know – so pop the name into the comments and share it with us!!

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace