J E E - R A H L

Unlikely inspiration

Every once in a while I get this odd need to go over my monthly expenses and trim some fat. I then evaluate in my head all the things that take little bits and pieces of my paycheck and scruitinize the needs of each, and how I can reduce them. This month, it was my cell phone bill. I logged into my account and I noticed I was paying for WAYYYYY too many minutes. I mean, I was using less than half of what I was paying for. So, I decided to give my carrier a little call and make some changes to my plan. Now, here's the good part. I don't know if it's because I work with call centers, but I'm always curious about who I get when I call into a customer service line. Another thing I usually do if I have time is I make the call a bit more personal. They usually ask how you're doing, but I don't think many customers ask back. Anyway, I call in and get this nice young lady and she's helping me out with my plan. We go over it and I ask for some changes to be made. She makes the changes and the computer takes a bit to process it all. While we're waiting, we start chatting a bit. She tells me she's got a little girl, about to turn 3, and she's trying to go back to school to get a better job. Heh, this conversation is RIGHT up my alley. I tell her a little about my past and how I got kicked out of school, and how it didn't really matter. I told her that if she persued something that she enjoyed, that she could do well, with or without school. I guess she found it encouraging. The thing is, she may not have noticed, but somehow her story was more inspiring to me. I think it's great that people have dreams, and it sounded like her little daughter was motivation for those dreams. Well, whoever you are out there, I know you're going to do well. Keep your chin up, work hard, and make sure that little girl grows up to be anything she wants to be.