Home | Charis Buckland

Hello there! Got a coffee or tea today? What is going on in your world? I would love to meet you all in person, but this is the next best thing. As adults, we don’t often get a break from real life work, chores, or school, but it’s important to have fun when possible.

Here is a reminder that a girl is never too old for dolls…I am so glad for dollhouses, books, and baby dolls.

We have been outside as much as possible lately, and worms have been quite prevalent. Raegan was all about this worm until she got grossed out by it and put it back safely in the dirt.

Who loves to soak up spring sunshine under a tree? Maddox most definitely does.

In preparation for swim season, I have embroidered some bathing suits. So fun! Who knows how to sew? I am not that experienced, but I love learning. If anybody lives nearby, I would love a sewing party!

As you grab a warm mug of something, and maybe a doll, I am talking to a lot of people who are looking for the next thing in life. As in, next job, next part of life after school, next step in a career, and these kinds of transitions. I also have been thinking lately about what I have done with my life so far and what I hope to accomplish in life. If I am honest, I will say I want to do EVERYTHING! 

Many people are graduating this season. I think about my clients and my friends and family members who are moving around to the “next” in their lives and a few habits stick out to me that are beneficial for us all to think about. These are for the girls out there graduating from college or the moms who are in the middle of changing diapers! 

I would love to share them with you! Clients of mine have discussed these habits and we talked through how to make them specific to their situations. I find them helpful for myself too. I also love easy-to-read list formats, so here they are!

Smile and laugh. At yourself! Smiling draws people and helps them feel comfortable approaching you. When you make a mistake, own it, laugh at the silliness, and move on. Don’t stay stuck in embarrassment. The ability to laugh at your mistakes helps other people relax and feel better when they make mistakes too. I cannot remember how many times I dribble coffee on my shirt collar…I am pretty sure it’s the lid on a hot beverage I can’t conquer, so one day maybe I’ll get better at sipping hot coffee out of a paper cup…until then, I am thankful for stain spray.

Walk confidently even when you don’t feel confident. Back straight, chin up, good posture, look people in the eyes. Project that security even when going for an interview or starting a new job.

Stay humble. Don’t be a know-it-all.

Be present with the people you are with, in the conversation you are having. Show an interest in what they are saying and who they are.

Maintain composure. Even if you are criticized, stay calm, don’t react automatically. A phrase I heard a long time ago to use in response to criticism is something like, “Thank you for your thoughts, I will think about that carefully.” 

Be real. Don’t simply agree with whoever you are around. If you like something different, speak up. At the same time, remember to simply show a different perspective, not insist your perspective is better. People have different preferences which makes the world more interesting. 

Speak slowly and clearly. I took speech class in high school (only because it was required – it terrified me) and I spoke soooo fast because I was sooooo nervous! I spoke fast in everyday conversations too! I hear my mother reminding me to “open my mouth.” I still work on consciously slowing down and speaking each world clearly.

Follow through. Do what you say you will do.

Ask questions. It shows you care and you can learn a lot. Everyone likes it when someone is teachable.

Celebrate others’ accomplishments and wins. Be brave enough to celebrate with others and wait for God to lift you up. Thank God for when He has already done so.

Be consistently a few minutes early. Pretty self explanatory why this is a good thing.

Admit when you don’t have an answer. It’s okay to not know something. It can get weird if you pretend to know something you don’t. 

Avoid gossip. Refuse to speak about others negatively and leave the conversation humbly if gossip starts. 

It’s cool how these habits all reflect the character of God, and what God expects from us as people, is beneficial to us in life! Humility, honesty, kindness…living like Him is a calling all believers have in whatever we are doing. Maybe you are interviewing for a new job or interviewing for a scholarship! Are you beginning a new job? One of my sisters is moving out of state to begin a new job this summer all by herself. It will be a totally new experience with no immediate connections. In the middle of uncertainty, remember that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). He is the God of miracles and He has everything under control. Do your best and trust Him to carry you through to the very best for you! He loves you! 

Love,
Charis

Pic(k) of the day: It never ceases to amaze me the number of options I choose from to post this!

This is a sink full of clothes I am madly trying to get kool-aid stains out of. Some ladies around here asked to make an innocent gallon of kool-aid and were left unsupervised. Naturally, they goofed off, resulting in red splashes on shirts I embroidered. I am thankful for Oxiclean.