Images

Kindness rules 😉

Published on by 5lb Purpose

So I was at the store yesterday buying groceries, and the cashier was not very quick. We live in a society of speed, and I admit I’m not very patient. He was sorting his dollar bills when I used a card for payment… I just sighed and internally rolled my eyes. I wasn’t in a hurry, so it wasn’t that big of a deal. I grabbed my cereal boxes and said I didn’t need a bag for them. I try to use Thirty One bags whenever I can to save the planet and stuff, but I had forgotten them in the van.

Then I noticed something… he was organizing my purchase in the bags, taking items out and moving them to other bags, silently and categorically.

When he handed me the bags, I thanked him for correlating them so well. He shrugged, and proceeded to help the next customer.

It broke my heart. I had determined he was possibly burdened with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

I instantly felt bad that I hadn’t let him bag my cereal.

I was troubled by the thought that in the impatient world today, he may become insulted or harassed for something that he doesn’t have control over.

I was proud of him for having a job and putting such an effort into it.

I was thankful that after suffering a traumatic brain injury, I am able to complete most tasks. I’m beyond blessed that I’m intelligent, efficacious, and perceptive.

I was more thankful that God has given me the heart to discern characteristics in others could possibly increase their daily struggles.

I thought… is there anything I can do to “brighten his day”? As I said, previously, in the impatient world today, he is more than likely insulted or offended. If I had been in a hurry, would I have noticed his diversity? Would I have respected it? To answer my initial question, yes there is something I can do. I can pray for him. I can pray for everyone that comes in contact with him for a peaceful and respectful mannerism.

I can write this blog with the hopes God causes the right eyes to view it.

Just be nice, people.

Thank you for reading, and have a great day 🖤

Happy 18 birthday, Emma

Published on by 5lb Purpose

18 years ago, I received the most amazing gift from God: the title mom. The courier was Miss Emma Leigh Anne Latier. Even though I’m not part of her life, I think about her every single day, and I’m thankful for the years I had her in my life. She is a magnificent young lady, and I’m proud of the person she has become. I pray for her future, that it’s more clear, and more joyful than my past. She probably won’t see this, but as a mother I have to share my celebration with the world. I love her more than she could possibly imagine.

I know I said I wasn’t going to blog, but I’ll do anything to show Emma I love her. 🖤🖤🖤

Trials and tribulations of a product reviewing Mother

Published on by 5lb Purpose

I like to buy stuff. When I find ergonomical deals that will make our lives easier, I buy them and give my opinion of them. Since I’m buying stuff I intend on liking, some if not all of my purchases get positive reviews.
I noticed mid December that some of my reviews had went away, and the remainder were slowly going away. I reached out to Amazon to inquire why this was happening. I made sure that my posts adhered to guidelines… They said that they thought I had a relationship with the sellers. That was preposterous because in my reviews, I stated why I purchased them and I gave positive and negative feedback.

Since my accident, I have been trying to adjust to a “normal” life… before the accident, I felt invincible. I was thin, worked out regularly, held positions at jobs that I really enjoyed, had a great relationship with my ex-husband, had a great relationship with my kids, had a great relationship with my parents, owned a beautiful home, I’d say I had a pretty good life. I wasn’t perfect, and I took all of the positives for granted. I was searching for happiness.

After I woke up from the coma, I noticed almost everything was gone. My kids, my ex-husband, my parents, most of the people in my life that I cared about held on to the mistakes that I had made in the past. I woke up to a nightmare. Most of the people aforementioned despise me.
I started seeing a neuropsychologist that helped me identify some personality traits that were harmful. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying hard to become a better person. My middle daughter and her paternal family hates me, but I respect that and I’m proud of myself for whom I’ve become, I become stronger everyday.

My doctor advised me to gain some hobbies. I have become a third-party contractor to audit merchandise in stores and displays of certain products in stores. I absolutely love doing that! Reminds me of my Marketing Director days for Tide. I use the money I make to test-out products and post my reviews on my other site: Stephaniegoogles.

As i mentioned, a couple months ago, I was informed that my reviews were no longer visible on Amazon. I exchanged some emails and fought with them for a couple days, until all of the sudden, my reviews were getting approved again. Two months later: I’m having the same problem again. Aside from retail therapy, it’s therapeutic for me too try new products and share my opinion of them with the world.

I talked to dozens of people today. All of them gave handbook, monotonous answers. I used to work for the Chase Mortgage Banking Executive Office, So I know those textbook responses like the back of my hand.

Finally, I spoke with a real – live human.
Marc was his name. He seemed empathetic to what was happening. He understood that my reviews and sharing my opinion is important to me. Everyone from my past and most of the people in my current life now look at me as disabled/worthless/pointless. Purchasing these fascinating items and giving my thoughts on them has been therapeutic. He understood that. fighting with Amazon to fight for my love of my hobby is slightly therapeutic. ha. My uncle told me last week that it brought him joy to see me get excited about purchasing stuff on my wish list. Most of those items I have given as gifts (so I feel less bad about retail therapy haha) I gave my oldest daughter some wireless headphones that I purchased for myself, but love them so much I gave them to her as a gift. I mentioned that in my review and it was heartbreaking to see that review was taken down. They were pretty cool wireless earbuds! I was so proud of my review because I talked about how much I loved my daughter in it, and I liked this purchase so much, I was going to give it to her. Broke my heart when I saw it was taken down.Thank you, Marc, for putting in the extra effort to help me. Thank you for making me feel important. I have an odd hobby, but it is emotionally fulfilling. You are the only Amazon employee that I won’t be throwing darts at tonight. Haha

They also removed my background photo to my profile ha ha ha ha

Continue reading “Trials and tribulations of a product reviewing Mother” →