Day 30

I have a dilemma, what to do about people with bad breath.  I get paid to tell people how not to be stinky, well that’s not what I get paid to do but over the course of many years dealing with folks who need housing or employment it has been my job to offer guidance.  Sometimes that guidance includes telling people to brush their teeth and wear deodorant.  It’s not a problem for me and thankfully, I don’t offend people. (Well at least not in that way.)  Today, for example, we had a woman come in with tattooed polka dots for eyebrows. She also had a bone in her nose and skull stiletto heels with torn jeans.  I had a conversation with her asking her what her goals were and she said kindergarten teacher.  REALLY?!  So then we had a conversation about her “look” and she agreed that perhaps, we could make some changes. No fuss no muss.  That’s not my dilemma. My question is what to do with the woman at … who is lovely in every way except she has bad breath and she wants to kiss me (on the cheek) each week when she sees me.  Now, we all have the occasional halitosis, I know that.  I have my share of nightmares where it’s me speaking to people while smelling of yesterdays garlic pizza.  But how do you pull away without offending or hurting the person?  Do you say something?  Trust me, if you can smell my breath, I would want to know.  Maybe my issue is with the kissing.  I am uncomfortable with people I don’t know well kissing me.  What if I bob and they weave and our lips meet?  UGH!  Any ideas are welcome. Bad breath busters, should you ever need them…Altoids, sip some water, and apparently eating an apple works well.  Random kissing is a little more difficult.  Europe perhaps.

Day 31

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."- Louisa May Alcott

Well let me tell you today has been like that, far away, there in the sunshine, I have aspirations of healthy eating and a slimmer me.  However, here, in the rain shadow, I see visions of french fries dancing in my head!  I can smell them, literally taste them and their warm salty goodness.  Why does that happen to us?   We have the best intensions of doing something perfectly,  for just one day and then somehow we find ourselves with our heads in a chip bag licking crumbs.  Oh well, there is always tomorrow.