Quote of the Day

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The South:  The only place that cancels school for the FORECAST of snow.  But alas, we did get some snow (around 5 inches).  The upside?  We had food, didn't lose electricity and the hubs was off work.  The downside? we took the jeep out for some fun and we couldn't get back up the driveway.  So we had to walk.  The snow wasn't the issue, it was the ICE/Frozen rain that had fallen on top of the snow.  As you can see, we had fun anyway.  

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Finding my passion

Maybe its the new year.  Maybe it's the prospect of a clean slate, a new beginning.  Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or being faced with mortality.  Whatever the reason, I have found myself now obsessed with questions.  What if?  What's my calling? what's my purpose? Whats my true passion?  Am I making a difference? I had dinner with a friend this weekend and the topic of passion came up.  I asked him about something that he had once been very passionate about and he just shrugged his shoulders and said he hadnt done that in a while.  I was stunned.  I blurted out "when is the last time you FELT passionate?  I mean...what is the last thing that stirred you and set your soul on fire?"  He couldnt remember.  Neither could I.   I sat in a training class last week and they asked me "tell me about yourself".  God, I hate that question.  I invarability rattle off the following, a rote memorization of "what I am"  It sounds something like this.   I'm married.  My husband is a fireman.  I have a 13 year old daugther.  I am an HR Director for (insert firm name here) and Ive been there for 14 years, Wow.  That's it.  I've labeled myself as a #wife #mother #corporateexecutive   What happened to the girl who loved to write? Dream? Ride horses? Motorcycles? Travel? My wonder for life?   In light of that, I have found myself on a journey.  A journey of searching and trying so hard to remember who this girl is.  Where she came from.  Where she is going.  What she wants to be when she "grows up".   I've become victim to self labeling.  Which is such a limiting concept.    As soon as I rediscover her, I'll be sure to introduce you,   I really think you will like her.

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What if...

I dont know if it’s the New Year.  The promise of new beginnings.  Of a blank page.  Of a new start.  Maybe I stayed up too late.  Thought too much.  Had too much coffee.  

No matter what the cause, I always spend January in reflection.  Looking forward to the new year, the new opportunities and new ways to connect and make a difference.

I love my “job”.  I put my heart, blood, sweat and tears into it.  All day.  Every day.  I know what motivates me to get up in the morning.  But I also know what keeps me awake at night.  The “What ifs” of the world.  And pizza (but more on that later).  

I had an epiphany yesterday at work.  If I’m feeling this way, I bet others are too.  It’s only human nature, right?   

So, fast forward a few hours and a brainstorm  later and we had created a new Employee Program for our staff.  It’s essentially a “job swap” where the employee gets to spend a full day doing something else in the company.  Are you great at or love woodworking?  We have some carpentry projects for you.  Love kids or the elderly?  We are implementing a tutoring program for kids and an “electronic revolution” training session for the local nursing home so residents can facetime or skype with their families.  Always wanted to do ministry work?  We have that covered too.  As well as community outreach activities, planning committees to assist the city bring in commerce and entertainment.  You name your passion and we are going to try to find a way for you to utilize it 2 days a month and get paid your salary to do it.  

It’s also a sneaky way for those people who think they can “do it better” to realize that it’s not always as easy as it looks.

I hope this program is a success.  I think it’s important for work-life balance and to keep the employees engaged and happy.  

Wish me luck - 

love and peace,

Messy_beautiful

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The Opportunity So many times in life, people with special needs are told “no.” Physical limitations of disabilities often narrow the scope of life experiences,

I love Sevenly. I’m secretly addicted.  I love their clothing (it’s so soft and comfortable).  And the proceeds always go to a good cause.  This week’s cause is for The Tim Tebow Foundation.  They give special needs adults the opportunity to experience prom.  One more reason to love Sevenly AND Tim Tebow <3

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Reflection

Today was hard.  Dont get me wrong.  I have a beautiful life.  I have a wonderful daughter who Im immensely proud of.  I have a loving and caring husband who adores me.  I have a job at an executive level that offers me a great salary, flexibility to work from home or be away from the office and a great working team that shares my beliefs and ethics. 

But today was still hard.  There are days when it seems nothing goes right.  I woke up with a fever and congestion.  Overslept.  My daughter couldnt find her school uniform.  Spilled coffee on myself on the way to take her to school.  She cried the entire way because she is at a new school and forgot her uniform.  On her 4th day at school. 

Work wasn’t much better - it’s year end for us. It’s payroll day.  It’s invoice time.  I had to track down deliveries for our construction project, locate the concrete trucks that were late, do year end reporting...it was just a busy and crazy day.  On top of not feeling well, I was weary and tired.

I worked a long day.  Longer than normal.  Coming home, it was chilly and somewhat overcast.  I started to turn in on street I drive two times a day and there was a train stopped on that railroad track.  I’ve driven that road every day, twice a day, for 5 years.  Ive never seen a train there.  Let alone a stopped train.  I didnt even think it was an active track. 

Note to self, I should start looking for a train before I cross because there are no lights or barriers. 

My detour took me around the “long way” home.  But it also turned me completely around in my direction because I had to drive TOWARD what was just behind me.  I saw such a stunning sunset that I pulled off the road to admire it and bask in it’s state of awesome.  As I started to  leave, I realized I was in a church parking lot and I was parked next to a sign that read: “I am your foundation.  Trust in me and be not afraid.”  What had been a bothersome detour that added 15 minutes to my day suddenly turned into an “AHA moment” for me. 

Change your direction, change your perspective. 

Not only was I sitting there looking at a sunset that left me breathless, I had a literal sign from God right there in front of me. 

Be Not Afraid.

It was the reminder I needed to “Let go and Let God”.  I cant control my circumstances of my day, but I can control my REACTION to those circumstances. 

There is a reason my windshield is bigger than my rearview

That reason is that the moment that upset me, that stressed me, that made me weary and tired, that made me whimper in defeat - it’s in the past.  Even if it happened 5 minutes ago, it’s over.  And what is front of me is much more important that what is behind me.

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“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”

Marilyn Monroe