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Gotta have faith in yourself and faith that things will work out for the best. And trust me I still struggle with this, probably always will. But here we go anyway. This week and today have been nothing but unanswered questions for me. Its got me running around like Jim Carrey’s version of the Riddler complete with distracting bat bombs. If you can’t conjure that image I recommend watching Batman Forever, for a bit of fun 90’s cheesy action. Tommy Lee Jones is also a character. But I digress.

Spark note version of what has been going on. I reached out to my old district manager, sent him my updated resume, and asked if his new company could use my skills in any open positions. Took him less than 20 minutes to email me back that his hr person would be reaching out, less than a day for an interview and they wanted a decision by the following friday. Which just happens to be tomorrow. 

Sounds great right? Based on my resume they discussed with me an outside sales rep position. Inside and showroom sales I could literally do in my sleep but to be completely transparent I have never had to go out to find new clients/business in a sales goal type of position. It intimidates me. Also the position was in Eugene, Oregon, I currently reside in Las Vegas NV. Moving to a new place and negotiating a salary is all new to me as well. 

If you are wondering where the faith part comes in, I’m getting there. I immediately started second guessing my ability to do the job and that negative voice started talking. “You don’t have the experience, you can’t ask for that much, what if you get there and it doesn’t work out?.” It took a weekend for me to process everything I was thinking and feeling but Monday it hit me while I was doing my samples at work. I have never gone into any job knowing exactly what to do but I have come out successful on the other side. I know what you are thinking, that obviously training is for every new job. 100% truth. But what I forgot as I was weighing my options is that I have always known I can do it and I am going places.

For a brief few days, I forgot that I have faith in me and know I am capable. In every job I have started, I have had to learn new things. In each job, up to this point I have exceeded my and others expectations. Will I have to learn how to go into new companies and sell products, sure. But do I know how to build relationships with customers? I already do that. Can I design a job, calculate materials, place orders? Yep, might not know the new products but I have sold furniture, flooring and even kitchens before. And if that isn’t enough to believe in me it never hurts to get a few build ups from people you trust.

Of course I discussed the options with my current boss, a coworker who works with me daily, and even from a friend I don’t talk with all that much. All three of them gave me the same feedback. They have seen how friendly and patiently I work with clients, they have seen that I care to help people as much as I can and that is what makes a great salesperson. Talking with them and hearing their opinion of me really opened my eyes to the negative self talk I mentioned. I have to have more faith, more confidence in my skills. They shouldn’t be more sure or confident in me than I am.

The position details are yet to be clarified and hammered out. There are multiple rep positions and inside sales positions open and to be considered. Oregon, Utah and possibly one coming open here in Las Vegas in a few weeks. I am meeting with a local rep tomorrow to see how the positions really work, the ins and outs. I will have a better idea of what is for me after our talk. But I do know that whichever position I should choose, and wherever I end up I can and will make it work like I have before.

Every job I have had, every skill I have learned, even every connection I have made has led to this point. I came back to Sherwin because I kept in touch with my old manager/friend and she saw an opening for me. I dont mean to sound like I am bragging but I took what started as an idea of a department, to a sample making, smoothly running machine. Because of that, I left an impression on my district manager, he was willing to give me a chance and now things are rolling. Quickly I might add. I have faith that the next steps will continue to move me forward and this is only the beginning. I am putting my success out there into the universe and having faith that I can reach my goals. 

Remember the things you have done or came thru. Use those to believe in you and your future self!!

This one is going to be super short because I have 100% been distracted this entire week. I believe that the universe can bring us opportunities, give us choices. The thing is that you have to be willing to listen and say yes. Two things happened over the last week that I have said yes to and that have started a slow but chain reaction.

A coworker of mine, a friend, has been asking me to go to the bar for a few months. Just for drinks after work. Well last week, instead of the normal invite, Ed asked if I would like to meet one of his buddies. I am skeptical when people try to set me up just because I have a hard time letting people in and feel like its hard to get to know me. But this time I wanted to be out on a Friday night, I wanted the opportunity to meet someone new.

Well, the buddy and I did not make a love connection for sure. It was hard for us to find something to talk about. It didn’t really seem like either of us were interested. We did a few shots to enjoy the Knights game and said goodbyes. So where is the chain reaction, you ask? That date wasn’t it. But it did give me just enough of push to get back into things. I had a conversation with my girlfriends and I have another date planned for this weekend. And we have a brunch planned to mingle after that.

The second yes opportunity is work related. I mentioned that I have a resume ready and that things at work have been shifting. My boss and I have a good relationship and the company that she is moving forward with has other positions available. She told me that I should send my resume to the sales manager. It is a large, tile company, with multiple showrooms and I have a design background and tons of showroom experience. I said yes, please send me the info and now I have a video interview already scheduled. This could be the change up that I am looking for.

Some yesses will be small. Someone could offer you a bite of their food and you find a new favorite. Or maybe you get invited to a dance class, really enjoy it and find a new hobby. You could be asked to take a training course at work and that leads to a promotion. My point is give things a chance. One little step in the right direction can take you down some exciting new paths.

Guys it is about that time of year when things start to warm up, the days start to get longer, and fun begins. Today, even though there are chores to be done, I took a few hours with my sister to have some fun. We did some errands too but overall it was mostly just to enjoy the sunshine and the company.

I’m sort of getting back into my canning hobby. It started with my Meme, she would always tell me that she couldn’t find a good pepper jelly at the stores. One night I just decided to look up a recipe and make some. I didn’t realize it would be something I enjoyed. I have a few flavors now, a name for it, and even labels.  Spring and fruit seasons are coming up so Liz and I took a stroll thru our local farmers market. It is still a bit small and early so there were just a few booths that we hit. This isn’t a picture of ours, but I forgot to snap one. Oops 😊

I wanted to go down and see if there were any booths that sold jelly like I plan on doing. Fortunately, at this moment in time there was only one booth that had jams but nothing spicy like I plan to sell. Doing some recon, we talked to several vendors, asked them how they market their products, sample their products. I still have to find out the cost to get a space but I think with everything I have now I can start to cook up some inventory and get to selling. Spring farmers markets here I come. I will have a post on my day of canning soon but one step at a time.

We also wandered into a few craft stores, dollar stores, and thrift stores. The objective was to find a few decorations for a St Patrick’s Day diner we are going to host and a store display I am creating for work. We are going to invite about 6 of our close friends over to enjoy Shepherds pie, an Irish dessert, and of course Irish whiskey. Its not complete without some glittery, cheesy head pieces, you know the kind and some table decorations and banners.

We moved on to the store display I am working on. Twice a year Sherwin Williams has a Blue Bucket Sale and all the stores have to make a display. What started out as an idea to tease the reps by putting their faces on the bucket heads has now morphed into the Blues Brothers. So we picked up some shades and fedoras, a few party streamers to give it that dive bar/bad prom background and we are ready to go. Liz and I can rock the look, think so?

We finished up our morning at the grocery store but I could not leave without getting something colorful for the house. The fresh flowers really truly just make my day. And why not? But I am not a selfish person. I had to share them with the world. If you haven’t made an Instagram reel, I recommend that you try it. Its fun to find the perfect audio clip and dance around or pretend the words are yours. Make jokes about life at work etc. My audio is saying that I am addicted to the flowers. I haven’t figured it out yet how to link my Instagram to the blog but when I do you will have more to see of my unique personality.

Weekends often go by way quicker than we want. I am back in my house, cleaning, getting my lunches and clothes ready for the week. To close out this lovely day I am going to turn on the new episode of Outlander (a favorite) and bake some cupcakes for the bunch at work. Mondays are always better when there are tasty treats. If you haven’t had a Sunday funday it isn’t too late. Get out there with a friend and enjoy the weather if you can 😊

This last week I have been all over the place trying to come up with something to give you guys. Topics have come up but nothing so complete that it would be a solid post. Overall, my week was full and busy so that when the weekend got here I could go see a friend in Chicago. Busy, though it makes time fly by, can have some side effects. I started off a bit bumpy and ass you will see it came full circle. But I had some takeaways.

Trust what you have learned, and don’t fear the future.

Don’t you wish we could see just a little bit into the future? Maybe find out if your debt is gone or you meet someone special? Or for me just to see what my next career move is. There are big changes coming at my job. Specifically, my boss will soon be leaving and it is no secret that when she does, I will be leaving too. I took my current position as part time to fill a gap, after leaving a job I thought was the one. I have stayed for 2 years thru all of Covid (thankfully remaining normal), and thru short staff/high demands, currently full time. At points, I did want to walk right out but because of my awesome manager, and not wanting to leave her high and dry I have remained.

I am not one to jump ship before I have a plan in mind. These last two jobs have been a blessing and a curse because I have learned so much and have gained experience. The curse part being that I realize even though I like the design aspect of things, I do not enjoy retail and the same in-office routines.  I could go into management from where I am at but my creative mind needs a different environment and something worth it to me. From the name and description of this blog, you can tell I bounce around just a bit. I may not know the specific job I am looking for next but as I reread over my freshly updated resume, I realize I am more qualified and capable than I think. Your accomplishments up till now can really help you to believe in yourself for the future.

Travel bumps happen, but who are you on vacation?

My trip to Chicago for sure had some bumps. Lets start with the red eye flight that boarded then un boarded for lack of a pilot. Which lead to a rescheduled flight and a day missed of my trip. Then on the tail end, I got dropped off by uber and left my phone in the car. Spent 2 more long hours getting that back. So safe to say, I really could have been annoyed with the situations. What I noticed in the airport was the immediate overwhelming angry travelers, taking it out on the stewardesses or yelling how bad the airline is. For me it was worst part to see and hear how others acted. Its at these times that you have to remember where you are and that some things are just going to be out of your control. I might not have been on that plane but there was another one that was taking me away to vacation. Don’t let the bumps ruin the rest of your trip.

Sometimes just time with friends is better than plans.

Before I left for Chicago, all of my coworkers were asking me what I was going to do or see, was I going to get some deepdish pizza? They all seemed to think that because I was going to a big city I was going to have some big city party. Whelp, honestly I was only going to see a great friend of mine and to get a break from my job. Jessica picked me up from the airport and our only plans were to hang out, talk, watch cheesy chick flicks and eat. I haven’t had any quality time with her since she moved away 3 years ago. It was so nice just to be in each others company, laughing at our ridiculous inside jokes and eating way too many Doritos and M&Ms. We did go into the city for a restaurant and the Zoo but really, I will trade the sights that are always there for the time with the little amount of time with a bestie.

Since getting back from Chicago, my mood has been improved for sure. But the two days away from work has me buried and doing overtime tomorrow. I am already trying to plan another getaway even while trying to figure out my next step. I hope this upcoming week I can add in some more fun and give you guys something else to distract you (and me 😊) Hope that you will look forward to the future and expect bumps, they happen.

Soul food, and I don’t mean in the chicken and waffles kind of way, is super important. There are three basic parts of life: Body, Mind and Soul. I’ve touched a little on body, getting my exercise in and changing little things in my diet. I have also talked about mindset, feeding your mind with books and mottos, anything that you are interested in. But soul is a little different, there is not a specific thing to work on. It really requires you to think about what uniquely makes you happy.

Sometimes it is so hard to stop and take a minute to think about what genuinely makes you happy in the dopey smile, peaceful kind of way. Something that warms you from the inside out. And it doesn’t have to be over the top extravagant. For some it could be a certain type of music, having a foam latte in a chic bookstore, or maybe its sitting on that one quiet hillside with the killer view. The world is full of experiences and pleasures that we need to take advantage of.

It is almost spring. The time of year when everything is in bloom and my favorite color of green is on all the new leaves. Spring makes my soul happy but how can you put that into everyday? I am finding little ways. Every week I go to the flower section at a grocery store, and I find a bouquet that catches my eye. I love the smell and sight of fresh flowers on my table while I eat breakfast and try to wake up for the day. Getting in all the good vibes before I head off to work.

I have a green thumb that goes back generations to my great, great grandparents. I remember planting things with my grandpa and with my dad, they are such fond memories. Its all part of why being in nature and having green around feeds my soul. My apartment right now, sadly doesn’t have the right space or lighting to have plants. Other than a small basil plant that barely hangs on, my garden will have to wait. But think about how completely satisfying it is to cover a seed with dirt, water it daily and watch as it sprouts and buds. Not to mention the variety from flowers to herbs you can enjoy in cooking to snake plants and palms. For now, I spice up my home décor with artificial potted plants until one day I can grow the real ones. That pop of color though brings me a good amount of joy.

Maybe it’s the arts that call to you. I have recently been scrolling and saving art and artists on my Instagram account. I am no artist and I cant tell you what “style” of art or category any of them fall under. What I can tell you is I am immediately drawn to bright colors, chunky brush strokes, underlying concepts. This is one of my favorites at the moment. Leonid Afremov. Some of the paintings really make me feel like I am there in the scene. Personally, I enjoy rainy days over most and I love the spring strolls as the drops cascade off an umbrella. This painting is me.

Maybe it is because of the painting above but I had an opportunity to create one for myself. I have dabbled a little bit with acrylic painting. I would say I am short on talent but I do enjoy mixing the colors and watching a white canvas become a story or emotion. So this weekend I took 3 hours to join a Pinot’s Pallet class. If you haven’t heard of one of these, they are classes where you paint as a group and drink. What could go wrong? Just kidding. Keeping in mind that there are “never mistakes, just happy accidents”-Bob Ross.

I took the class solo because my sister was busy and she is normally my try new things buddy. Its always good to have a friend to join you. I sat down with the ladies and the instructor (Becca), grabbed our brushes and water, and a glass of peach sangria. Becca gave us the step by step instructions on how to create this beautiful lady. She had to follow the structure down to the paint colors but encouraged us to paint it how we saw it. I added a few details with the bow and hearts and I was called a rebel. LOL. Every one of us had a different painting in the end. The best part of art is that it is up to your interpretation.

Im not sure what brings you joy or what talks to the inner you. Maybe you aren’t even sure but it isn’t too late to find your thing. Find a quiet minute to think about the sights, sounds, taste and feels. Think about the activities that you want to do more. The one thing that if you had one free day to do anything that you want, what would it be? Go do that and have a fantastic time!!

Mottos and Motivation.

Warning: This is a long one because I have heard so many good nuggets as I have been reading and listening to audios. As I sit here typing I’m not sure what direction this will go. I’m going to start with mottos. Straight from Dictionary.com, the definition of motto is “a maxim adopted as an expression of the guiding principle of a person, organization, city, etc.” A guiding principle is something to think about and strive toward daily. Have you ever heard a motto or a great quote and took it to heart? I heard these two mottos this week and I wanted to share them.

The first is “Become allergic to average”. I was listening to Spotify and this episode was on becoming powerful and really putting effort into your life. About halfway thru I heard the words, become allergic to average, and they really struck something in me. When I think of average, I think right in the middle, not good or bad, just average. It doesn’t excite me or make me think of greatness. I am on this self-discovery journey and I know I want to be more than average. I want to make a difference and change lives, I want to be remembered.

I truly believe that average is another word for comfortable. Up till now, I have done what I consider to be average. I have a solid but not Harvard education. Worked my way from student intern to a lead in a specialized department. My apartment is small and simple but not the house I one day will have. I can’t remember really having done anything to stand out from the masses and its not that any of that is a problem. However, it will always be the same if I don’t get “allergic to average” and stretch my goals and capabilities more and more. I am going to apply for the higher paying jobs, that only in my mind, I am not qualified for. I am going to put more effort into writing this blog in hopes to reach more people. I am going to add in volunteer hours to get into charity work and find a platform to help others. You get it 😊

The thing with mindset and goals is really that you need to have some idea of a timeline, which brings us to motto #2 also from a podcast. It’s a really good one, “One day or day 1?” Is there something that you have been putting off because you aren’t ready or because its just not the right time? What about the idea of I’ll start on Monday? It really is as simple as changing the thought from “one day” to “today is day one”. I have really struggled with this concept, letting my mind win the battle and give me all the reasons not to just start now.

In all honesty, I have had those thoughts regarding this blog. I don’t feel like a writer 99% of the time and who am I to even have a blog? What do I know about anything that someone would want to read or what if everyone hates it? I have had these thoughts and I had to tell myself that the only thing that matters is that I start. Sure, it may take me a few days in between to write a post but I get going and here I am with five paragraphs already.

I have also learned this when it comes to creating habits and getting healthy. Not going into a lot of detail here, but I have made a few changes at home and with my eating. I started doing the chores now (right when I saw a mess) so they didn’t pile up and take all day Saturday. My apartment has never been cleaner because I do a bit at a time and don’t have to mentally prepare to tackle them. I drank that glass of water right when I decided to quit drinking soda. I put my gym shoes on right when I got out of work shoes. I still had soda in the house, no healthy groceries in the fridge and did not like the way my gym clothes fit. Not the ideal environment for a healthy lifestyle. But in the month that I have consciously chosen today to work on me I have lost 8 lbs and my clothes fit better, I feel better. The point is you don’t know the changes you are missing out on because you push it off till one day.

Which brings us to Motivation. No great shocker here but sometimes it is extremely hard to get motivated. We all have different things we struggle with finding motivation for no matter if it is home, work or goal related. It varies from the day to day right on thru a career change or a move. Im sure there are things that come to mind for you but here is a list of some of mine.

Everyday: getting up early for work, squeezing in a workout, grocery shopping, preparing for taxes.

Goals: write a post, schedule my CCW class, Uber for vacation money, start my half marathon training.

All sound fun and exciting right? I don’t think the key to motivation is that everything has to be an epically fantastic event. And I am no expert, but I think there are two keys to getting and staying motivated: You have to find the benefit and find the discipline. Finding the benefit is easy. Example: If I get up early for work I have more time at night for me, family time or other activities. If I do my shopping, I will eat better and be healthier. If I write another post I will feel like I have got my voice out there. See, its easy to determine what you get from the activity.

The second part isn’t so easy though. Discipline is a characteristic many people struggle with. (Raises her hand and waves it furiously). One definition of discipline is “an activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill.” One of my goals is to do a half marathon, something that I cant wake up tomorrow and do without any training. I have to become disciplined in the training. I will need to follow a running schedule and stay on track even if I don’t feel like running. When I make this happen the benefit is 100% the bragging rights for sticking to a fitness goal and making it happen. (hopefully will come with a lower number on the scale too 😊)

I am still in the process of figuring out discipline but I am going to leave off with this for now. We get to choose what activities and what skills we want to build. Habits are a huge part of discipline because they literally can make or break you. I have been listening to Atomic Habits by James Clear. If you want to get started, keeping in mind Day 1, I highly recommend this book. Its about setting yourself up to make your goals happen by paying attention to the little things you do. Really take a look and see if the habits you currently have are going to get you not where you want to be.

I am hoping that by creating this writing habit and changing the way I spend my free time I will get closer to my goal of helping others. I know that I am “distracted” but If I try everyday to improve, over time that is a lot of growth. I hope that you will find a motto and keep moving forward. If all else fails, find a song that pumps you up, a friend to encourage you and a book or podcast for those goals that you have put off till “one day”. It will work wonders I promise!

Ok this one is going to be short and sweet because I think that the title is kind of self-explanatory. You know already what day is just around the corner. I’m not going to say it but it’s covered in red and pink, flowers and chocolates. Currently, I do not have a special someone to call my own. If I need a cuddle my trusty dog Kona is there to give me kisses. That being said, I know this holiday can be really depressing for people for all reasons. Single, lost loved ones, bad relationships, cant afford to do anything, would rather eat worms than celebrate a hallmark/chocolate holiday etc. The stores hype it up, the movies hype it up but really, everyday is an occasion to tell people you love them. But there is no harm in spreading a bit of love just in case.

I have been thinking a lot about the concept of pay it forward and how we all interact with each other lately. Everyone is on a short fuse and negative. We’ve had a rough couple of years so I totally get it. I’ve had my moments but I realize that when I think about the happiness I can bring others (not forgetting my own self-love) I feel my trouble and heart get lighter. There really is a personal joy when you can add happiness and love to someone else’s day. A smile really can change someone’s day. A simple bag of candy with their name on it came make someone feel special, because they know you took the time out of your day to do something nice.

My extended family has come to include my coworkers, I mean we spend 8+ hours, five days a week together. We have been in the grind together for the last 2 years and we need each other some days more than others. I have always been the baker and the sweet treat provider for all special occasions. Or let’s be real, whenever I wanted some brownie batter but didn’t want the tray of them. I haven’t really been in up for much since I am minding my diet but seeing all the treats decorate the store has me in the mood and I know the guys could use a bit of sugar.

Normally I would go for the heart shaped cookies. But if you have ever made sugar cookie cut outs it does take a lot of work rolling the dough, cutting them, frosting etc. So instead, this year I opted for chocolate covered pretzels. Other than melting the chocolate, all you have to do is dip and dry, bag and tag. Simple and sweet. Sure, I spent a bit more on the ridiculous colored sprinkles than probably necessary. And of course I am going to cut out name tags on fun heart colored paper on another night. But when Monday morning comes, I will bring in my box with a bag of treats and hand them out one by one and get to see the smiles. And who knows, maybe my treats will be the only valentine (ok so I used it once) they get that day.

Im not saying to go out there, buy supplies and go crazy on the sweet treats. You don’t have to go get a box of cheesy cards and hearts to hand out. But if someone comes to mind that you think needs a pick me up, bring them a coffee since you are already getting one. If you have nothing to give you can call and say “hey I just wanted to say hi” or “I love you”. Smile at someone who looks like they are having a rough time. Give the homeless person on the corner some spare change. Take a few extra seconds to hold the door and welcome people in. Whatever it is just add a bit of love. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the responses you get in return 😊

So guys I cannot tell you how happy I am that I took a weekend birthday trip just for me. Alone with my thoughts, alone with quiet time, no one having any influence on my decisions. I took a random trip down to Lake Havasu AZ. Its not a super far drive but the road is easy going and I got on the road by 8 so it was just a nice light traffic drive. I noticed almost immediately when I saw a new town and miles on the road sign that I just felt lighter. There is just something calming about being on a long drive to a destination you want to go to. Im going to tell you about what I did but first here is how I ended up putting the key in the ignition and cruising out of town.

I am 50/50 when it comes to celebrating birthdays. Most of the time I just look at them as another day of the week. The other half of the time I think to myself “there is only one of me and I should be celebrating that”. This year, like I have mentioned before, I turn/turned 35. Most would say it’s a milestone but probably not a game changer. Its not 16, or 21, or 30 or the dreaded midlife 40 years old. But it’s a marker that I am halfway through my thirties, and depending on how you see things and what life has thrown at you, it’s a good thing or a timer till 40.

With everything going on right now, this never-ending pandemic and rising inflation, constant political battles etc., its hard to get together with groups all on the same page. Don’t know about you but I have friends on both sides of everything right now. As much as I love them its hard to mix and I have been spending my time seeing them one at a time. Doesn’t make it easy when all you want to do is get everyone together and have a good time celebrating the year to come. Im also in the stage where half have kids or boyfriends and again happy for them but mixing schedules just doesn’t work. We would be celebrating in January of 2023 at that rate.

For all of those reasons I decided to get away just by myself. I did of course have a few opportunities to hit brunch with some of my girlfriends, have dinner with the fam, get my nails done, do some shopping with my sis. You know the usual stuff. But I wanted dedicated time for me to reflect and enjoy. I originally wanted to catch the hot air balloon festival but realized I was a weekend late. No worries. Away is away. So I booked a cheap hotel room with no other plans than to enjoy the lake.

I started my day down at the Famous London Bridge. If you don’t know the story, the original London Bridge was too small to handle the new traffic/motor cars. So they put it up for sale and one of the founders (don’t quote me) of Lake Havasu bought it for a bit over $2 million, had it transported brick by brick to Lake Havasu. Crazy right? Not how I would spend my cash but I digress. Anyways, the bridge has become a little village with shops and restaurants. It offers water rentals and there are boat docks and beaches nearby.

A little down the road, is a walking biking 3 mile trail. I decided that I would get in my steps and enjoy the breeze. I took some of my things with me. Forgot I broke my sunglasses. Fail. But other than that I took a book and snack and my journal and headed out around the hike. It goes around a small “island” that has some of the tiny lighthouses that Havasu boasts about. I think there is like 27 of them around the lake. I had a few ladies hiking behind me and their cute dog would run up and say hi then dart back. About halfway into the trail I stopped at this dock (Site 6). It was so peaceful just sitting out there. I took my journal out and was writing about what I want to do this year, my goals, my thoughts on where I want to move eventually. Just letting things roll out of my mind. Here is the dock.

I didn’t have much planned for the night I was down there. I really enjoyed my walking trail and the drive( which I listened to self improvement audio most of the way on mindset) by I really just wanted to relax. So I ordered myself some dinner from the Brewery across the bridge, ate and watched a movie. But I did plan a guided hike for the next day. The hike was nicknamed Sara’s Crack. How could I pass that up? It literally had my name on it

I got up on my actual birthday after sleeping in til 8 lol. My daily alarm normally goes off at 4am. I took my time in the morning and wound up finding a literal mom and pop bagel shop. Ivan and his wife had been in business for 25 years. We talked a bit about my hike and the Rodeo that just happened to be at the same park I was headed to. Cant pass up cowboys so I checked it out for a while before heading to meet my hiking group. Bucking Broncs.

I met up with my hiking guide and found out that it would just be the two of us on the hike that day, which ended up being really great. My guide Jackie was basically me in 10 years. We had so much in common and we talked the entire. She said she normally had larger groups and didn’t have many opportunities to take photos of her hikers so we got to do a full on photo shoot. She even took videos of me scaling the rocks and rope climbing. Here are some that I liked.

I have never been a wilderness survivor or one to climb the tree, hop of rocks etc. Just climbing the rope was a stretch for me but I realized that this year I am dedicating it to stretching my limits, trying things that scare me. I want to look back and say I did it. You don’t know what you are capable of until you are pushed and yes it sounds cheesy but it really is true. I am not going to head out tomorrow and climb Everest but I might go on another day trip and do a hike that is a bit more challenging because I am becoming confident in me.

I had a great trip giving myself downtime and enjoying the calm and challenges of nature. As we kept hiking, my footing got better and I felt stronger for just making an effort. I changed the directions of my thoughts to what I want to accomplish not just what things I have to do. I am going to continue to trust my steps and work towards my goals that scare me just a bit. 😊

So sorry that I have disappeared. Still working on getting into the habits and balancing things. Also just experienced a bad case of writer’s block. I had the topic of Self Love in mind because it is something that Ive been personally working on. I had typed up the whole long story of how I got to a low point and how I am working my way back with a therapist but I scratched it. I don’t need to give you the in depth drama of the last couple of months to share with you my thoughts and actions for loving yourself.

If you are like me you have probably not thought about what it means to love yourself. I go thru my days thinking about what I need to do, what I need to cook, who I need to call. It’s a constant barrage of lists and moving from place to place. Working a job for money to survive is absolutely necessary but taking care of my mental and physical health is what keeps that step going. If you aren’t at your peak level, how can you bring you’re a-game so to speak?

My therapist told me that I need to find a time that is just for me in my busy day/ busy week. I fought back almost immediately asking what do I cut out, how do I add things in? Scheduling is the only way to get things done because going in with expectations helps reduce the stress of if and when. I have created windows each day that I can take a breathe and do something just for me.

I have mentioned before that I am a reader, mostly self help but the occasional romance. Its something I really enjoy but I have had trouble with adding it into my days. Now there are two times a day that I read for fifteen minutes to give my mind a break or a reset, and that is lunch and right before bed. At lunch I read a book on mindset or positive thinking. Helps me out if the day has been crazy busy or stressful. At night always a romance or adventure book. Why not go to bed dreaming of good fun things?

For most of my day I am standing as I create the paint swatches. Most days my feet hurt and my back aches. I have now added in a massage every two weeks. For one hour, I get to relax as someone works my over tense muscles. Massage isn’t for everyone, some people feel awkward letting someone rub them down. But remember these are trained professionals that know exactly what your body needs  to reset.

I don’t do too many things to treat myself. Sometimes because I have financial goals I am trying to hit. Part of my busy. But sometimes spending a bit here or there is worth the feeling it gives. For me, I love getting a pedicure and having my nails done. I feel more professional with pretty hands. And who doesn’t feel relaxed and fun with fresh hot pink on their toes?

Its also super important to be your version of healthy. That isn’t going to be ripped muscled and strict diets for everyone. It doesn’t mean just drinking water either. I have made little changes to my diet that have me feeling better just after a few consistent weeks. I decided to add a fruit and veggie to every main meal. And what I’ve noticed is that with the good I have less craving for the sugary stuff or snacks. I am adding in good habits that will replace bad ones. For me, it is too hard to quit cold turkey and cut out every bad or sugary thing. But balance can be achieved.

Self love means putting time into the things that make you happy. I have been so busy that I haven’t gone on a hike in years. Its something I love, love to be outside, love to see waterfalls, rock formations, sunsets. My 35^th birthday is tomorrow and I have left town to go for one. It’s a guided hike, near Lake Havasu AZ. It will be in the 60’s, sunny and out in the desert. I am really looking forward to it. I will ba able to spend part of the morning reflecting on my years so far and what I want out of the year to come. Being in nature is good for the soul, helps you focus while you enjoy the beauty this world offers. I will tell you all about it.

But I challenge you to go out and find your self love. Love to cook for friends? Plan that party. Want to go out fishing? Grab that reel. Feeling inspired? Grab your pen, paintbrush, needle and thread. Been wanting to try that new restaurant? Get out there and take yourself for a date. Take the hour or the day to spend time with you. Take a breathe, do some yoga, do some journaling. We each have our own thing that brings us peace. Find or remember yours and add that back into your daily routine. Lets find that best self again!

Hello…? Is there anybody out there?? Did your new years game plan turn out and you are still going strong or are you like me? I got sick and then I got back to work and I got off track. I am not going to be hard on myself but I am going to pay better attention and get my mind back on things. Beating yourself up is negative and negativity is never going to motivate you to make a positive change. Its impossible. Even saying impossible feels wrong.

So anyways, before my sinus infection and my constant headaches, I had gone on to Amazon.com and placed an order for a 100 day calendar. Nothing fancy, nothing big just a way to keep track of progress. Cost me $7 for a pack of 3. One for me, one for my sister and one for our friend/neighbor downstairs. I have always thought that making goals for one year or five years is intimidating. Maybe that isn’t the right way to look at it but its how I always have. I decided to break it down. A little over 3 months. This will give me an achievable timeframe and I can readjust my goals/plans. Plus, who doesn’t like to get to the end and create a new plan? Just me, ok.

Remember, your plan is just that. It is specific to you, what fits into your schedule and the commitment you are willing to make. For me, variety is the best. I get bored easily and routines are hard for me. So I change it up. I work on multiple areas at a time. For example I set a physical goal, a self improvement goal and usually a financial goal. For my 100 days I am going to set 5 daily options. My goal is to work on 3 of the 5 daily. Some days you will need a rest day so your muscles can breathe, or maybe a night out and pizza is what for dinner. This is why I set the goal but modify the options.

This is what I am choosing to work on for the first part of 2022.

100 days for me looks like:

Physical- 30 minutes of walking/running or 30 minutes of weight-lifting

Diet- cook a healthy meal, with two days of lunch meal prep

Financial- (I do uber and have a side consultation business) Uber $30-50 in a day or do one consultation for $75

Self Improvement- Read for 15-30 minutes a day

Blog-This one is to keep me on track creatively and so I can come up with new distractions for anyone out there.

I will keep track of these as I go day by day. Marking the days I follow thru is a visual reminder of progress. When it comes to goals you have to get creative to move forward. Take pictures, cross off a day, celebrate when you do ten more sit ups than you’ve ever done or if you pay off a credit card. Always take the win and hey if nothing gets done today, tomorrow you can move on. Don’t let what you didn’t do today drag you down tomorrow.