Experiences That Taught Me How to Live

My short, simple book is loaded with personal insights and encouragement. One of my favorite stories follows:

Landing a job requires a level of confidence that may be damaged by divorce or an abusive marriage. Interviews require confidence. We all know it takes to courage to sell yourself and your skills. I recall an early job search of my own. My dad always said when it comes to getting hired, “You have to let them know if they don’t hire you they’ve made a mistake.”

I never had enough nerve to do that until as a young married woman I was in real need of a job. There were three ads in the Houston Post that described jobs I thought I could handle. I had never had a “real job” before, one that required forty hours a week and a boss that meant business. This would be the first.

I started with an interview for the manager of several mall kiosks that sold common greenhouse plants in cute containers. I arrived a little early to be interviewed by a young man who wasn’t much older than I was. He asked that I take a walk through the greenhouse while he finished some business. As I strolled the aisles I recalled gardening with Mom. I’d adored flowers of every kind since childhood.

The interview began with the usual questions-background, education, job history, something I had precious little of. He began to withdraw saying, “I have two others to interview. I’ll let you know.” I thought, I can handle this job and he isn’t going to hire me. Daddy’s words came back to me and out of my mouth I heard myself say, “If you don’t hire me you’re making a mistake.”

He was stunned. So was I. He grinned, “What makes you think so?”

With confidence I replied, “Because I know the name of every plant in your greenhouse.”

He nodded. His expression more serious now, “You may be right but I’m obligated to interview the other two applicants.”

At the next interview the same day I was about to be hired as a graphic layout artist when I said to the man in charge, “I need at least $25 more a month (than they were offering).”

He left the room for a few minutes and returned with a smile. “You’ve got the job.”

My first real job and I’d have my own work area. What a thrill! This was 1971.

The real kick came at 7:30 AM the next morning when the plant kiosk manager called to offer me the job.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I’ve already taken a job.”

“I knew it,” he said, “I knew you would be hired by now.”

You may purchase the book HERE.

I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. I have experienced the potholes, pests, and perils of being the single head-of-household. As an educator in regular and special education for twenty years I know a great deal about child development and how to handle kids. I am the founder of SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I’m also a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on CreateSpace, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble online.