today ...

... a woman at worked stopped me and said, "i have to ask you this. you seem so centered and relaxed. do you work towards being like this, do you meditate?".

it was an interesting question and gave me a little to think about. i don't really try to be anything. i think that i am naturally pretty laid back -- i can definitely get really excited about things, but never get too worked up. things don't really seem to get to me -- if you don't treat me well, you're not worth the time and i just don't deal with your issues. i don't really stress about it.

it was interesting actually being questioned about the way i act, rather than just being myself and doing it. things definitely get to me at work, dealing with the public, but today it was reinforced for me that everything is as big a deal or as little as you make it in your head. it was nice to hear from this woman that i may exude a calmness, and i was inspired to get in touch with that more.

i told her i have a lot of free time to myself, off of work, just to focus on life and being - which i think has a lot to do with my overall happiness ... but she didn't seem to take that as an answer. she replied, "just in general though, if you were in a stressful situation you wouldn't collapse, you would be gathered enough to deal with it."

i took our conversation as quite a compliment ... an observation from a stranger can be an interesting thing, what does this woman really know about me and how i will hold myself in a certain situation? but strangers many times have the most unbiased views of us ... i think they are important to take in every once in a while ...