Goin' places? Yes, just not today...

This week I was given an opportunity to test out the possibility of trying something new.  I don't think it's going to work out, but certainly am not giving up hope.  I KNOW that I'm going places, I just don't know where or when quite yet, but I trust that God is in control and He will provide the way, when the time and place are right.  In the meantime, I can finally say that I'm present in each moment and happy and grateful for all that I am and all I have!

Smile: What have I smiled about lately?
I had dinner with someone I worked with over 10 years ago in Austin.  We've recently reconnected in a very strange way--at our hairdresser's salon!  I was getting my hair done and my hairdresser introduced us and she asked if I had lived in Austin then told me her maiden name.  We chatted for a while then exchanged information and finally got together this week for dinner!  Was great catching up and was also great putting some connections to some things that had happened while I was there but didn't know the whole story.  I look back on that time in my life with very fond memories and really loved that job and company.  Was great to think about it again and reconnect with someone that was part of it all.  I'm not sure why our paths have crossed again, but am happy they did!  

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?
I've been very good on my diet lately!  Have tracked regularly, even when I cheated, and worked out more the last week and a half than I have in a long time.  I have lost 3 pounds so far and am feeling really good! This Weight Watchers program has been really good and easy to follow.  I'm finally in the right mindset for dieting and am hopeful that this will be the ticket to help me get back into all the pants that I have in my closet so I don't have to keep wearing the same 6 pairs of pants that fit me now.

Love: What do I love?
Well, it was Valentine's Day this last week, or as I typically have referred to it, Single Awareness Day.  I have to say that in spite of the day, it wasn't as "in your face" as it has been in the past, so instead of dwelling on what I don't have, I came home, worked out, fixed a healthy dinner and got a good night's sleep.  So, I love that I can regard the most well known day for Love as "just another day" and not really think twice about it. 

Thought for the day:

Bring hope to the hopeless. Deliver spirit to the spiritless. And leave courage with the discouraged. Please. --Robin Sharma

Cheers!

I found something I'd lost for a while....My SMILE!!!

I'm back....Finally!  I had such a GREAT day today!  Was so wonderful walking out of the office with a smile on my face, not feeling any stress in my body and so excited about going back tomorrow to see what else I can do and learn!  It's been a long time since I've been in this place! A long time.  I'm really happy to be in this new role and while there is some ambiguity to it, I think it's going to be a fun opportunity to learn a lot in!  I can't wait to implement new ideas and new approaches!  I'm going to enjoy learning from this experience too!

My motto today!  

Smile:  What did I smile about today?
I smiled that I smiled!  It was great to be welcomed back by folks that I've worked with before and feeling truly valued and appreciated.  I had a GREAT day and I'm so happy this evening!

Celebrate:  What did I celebrate today?
I ate good and worked out tonight!  Something I haven't done after work in a LONG time!  I'm getting back on track and hoping to drop a few pounds from all the stress that I've put on over the last few months!

Love:  What do I love?
I have said this before and will say it again...I love reality TV and tonight is so wonderful with the Bachelor AND Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!  Such a great way to spend an evening after a fantastic day!  Train wrecks galore to watch!!
Such great Television!  If you aren't watching you don't know what you are missing!  When I question if I'm sane and in control, I watch one of these shows and feel much better about myself and my sanity!  Wow...these women are pitiful!

Three Words:  I am happy!

Thought for the day:  "Time is inevitably going to pass and one year from today, you can find yourself in the exact same spot you're in now, you can find yourself further away from your goal or you can find yourself closer to your goal - so where do you want to be a year from now?"


Looking forward to tomorrow! 


Cheers! 

Ready for a FRESH Start!

Each year I choose a word of the year to help me identify and bring something new into my life.  This year, I chose "FRESH" or should I say, it chose me.  I'm inviting a fresh new start to this year, eating fresh foods, having fresh ideas, meeting new people, bringing a fresh breath of air to my job and career...FRESH...love this word~!  I'll be able to explore it more though out this year as I partake in Ali Edwards One Little Word Class that Bonnie gave me for Christmas this year.  I can't wait to see how this word cultivates itself in my life...in a positive way!

Side note, last year, my word was STRETCH...I think I went into the year thinking it would be one thing and wow...was I stretched in more ways than I think I ever imagined.  I decided to choose a more positive one that may be a little nicer.  Once again, be careful what you ask the universe for cause it will bring it to you.  I'm trying to put more positive things out there this year--part of my fresh new mindset!

Smile:  What did I smile about?

I smiled as I put my Circa Notebook together to be ready for tomorrow as I begin my new job.  I can't tell you how much this liberated me and really helped to put the past behind so I can move on.  I cleaned out my briefcase of all the papers and big notebook that I've been carrying around for the last several months and got things ready for a new beginning!  I'm so happy to have this new opportunity and in spite of what may come...at least I won't be in the same situation I was.  My stress, my health, my relationships couldn't take it any longer.  So...I'm looking forward to tomorrow and go to bed this evening with a huge smile on my face!

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?

I celebrate that I am up to date on my Project Life Scrapbook for this year and I celebrate that I'm done with my 2011 Project LIfe scrapbook!  I love this concept and love to keep up with the big and little things that happen throughout the year.  I probably wouldn't have captured half the things I did last year without this project and am so grateful to look through the pages and relive the good and bad times of the year.  I'm so excited that Bonnie is doing with me this year.  I hope she finds it as rewarding as I did this last year!  I love capturing life and all that it is!




Love:  What do I love?
I love my new blue toes!  I spent time with my friend Val today and we got manicures and pedicures together and I got blue polish!  While it's winter and I'm not wearing open toed shoes at least I know my secret underneath the socks!  Such a rebel...lol!

Three words:
BRING IT ON!
I'm ready for tomorrow!

Thought for the day:  Sometimes winning has more to do with not giving up than winning.  Robin Sharma.

Very Happy Endings!

source

Today was the last day in my current job and on Monday I get to turn to a new chapter in my life! I'm staying at my current company but am taking a different role in a different area.  It's a very welcome change and one that I've been anticipating for a long time.  I think this new chapter will bring me a change of pace (hopefully a slower one), some peace, and give me an opportunity to learn some new things that can help me grow in my career.  I'm excited about the challenge and really looking forward to Monday when I get to turn the page on this chapter I'm currently in and start a new one!  Time for fresh beginnings!  So very happy!

During the course of the last month, I probably underwent one of the most stressful times in my career.  Not sure why I was so spun up about things, but I was hooked and just couldn't let things go.  I was challenged with people saying things about my character and my intentions and criticizing my skills and accomplishments.  I know this is more about the individuals saying things and not about me, but it still put a damper on the excitement that I have about starting a new job and new adventure.  I'm so glad that this day finally arrived!  Thank you God for being with me during this very stressful time! I'm so glad you were there to listen to my prayers and know my heart and my intentions.  I hope the people will be able to find peace in their heart and realize that they are only being infected by the Devil and his evil ways!  What I know for sure...I'm free of all this stress and strain!  So very happy to have this chapter closed! Thank God!

Smile:  What made me smile?
There were some very special messages from people today saying good bye and wishing me well.  While I have to say that I did get a slight bit choked up, I was very appreciative of the well wishes and kind words.  Helped to sugar coat the other challenges that have come my way over the last few weeks.

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?
I celebrate what I've been able to accomplish in this current role.  I took nothing and worked through others to create a good program that is better off now than when I found it.  I know that I did the best I could and while there are things that I'd do differently and wish I had done all together, I'm very pleased with what I put into place during my time there.  I know that someone will come behind me and find many things that we don't do, and will implement new changes that I would have liked to do, and I hope they do succeed, but I also have peace that I did a good job and am very proud of what results were achieved, in spite of what others may think.

Love:  What do I love?
I've mentioned in the past that from time to time a little red bird appears in my life to show me hope and in my opinion, it is God's presence.  This morning, I was a bit on edge, due to lack of sleep and just fet up with the people issues and when I was getting in the car, I noticed a red bird in my driveway.  It stayed there for a few moments while I got a good look to make sure that it was red and not just my poor eye site.  It was exactly what I needed to see this morning and I was so very happy to see that God was showing me that all is going to be alright.  Was a great way start my day!  Thank you God for being a visible presence in my life!

Thought for the day:  Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.

 I'm excited about the future and looking for to this new beginning!  A FRESH new start.  It's going to be a good year!

Cheers and best wishes!
T

Another Adventure in the {scrap} books...

I can't tell you how many times I saw this sign welcoming me "home"
when I lived in AZ...it was nice to see as a VISITOR and not Resident!

After a nail biting wait in the airport we heard our names called letting us know that our adventure to Arizona was definitely on for that evening!  We made it hassle free to the hotel (well sorta hassle free...once I moved from AZ, I totally forgot all directions to anything!) It was a lovely resort and we were so thrilled to finally be away for some wonderful R & R.

North Scottsdale, AZ
Great buy for the weekend!

If you ever get a chance to go to this wonderful resort and spa...do it!  It was heavenly--and I can definitely say that after all the hotels I've had a chance to stay in during all my travels!  We got a great deal and the $150 hotel credit made it even more worth the trip.  After a great sleep...and I mean GREAT sleep, we got up went to breakfast, then drove to find my old house...

a VERY expensive mistake

Yes..folks...this small Patio Home costs more than you can imagine...one of the biggest mistakes I've made thus far in life...great learning experience, but a costly one at that!  After a visit to Trader Joe's Grocery, we finally settled in back at the hotel for an afternoon of floating on the river and just total relaxation.  This was my view from my chair:

My view from my chair...I do miss this sight...
Beautiful Arizona!

Me and My BIG hat!  Great find to keep the sun away

Resort decorations

I spent the day reading a book and enjoying the shade...
It was actually fairly decent in spite of the temperature

view of the lazy river...so relaxing...when the kids weren't around!

The lazy river was lovely, in spite of all the families there and just what we both needed..a great chance for us to catch up with each other, solve each other's problems, coach each other on work issues and just be ok with not talking at all so we could be alone with our thoughts.  It was a great afternoon!

Pretty resort!

Bonnie and the pretty trees

Palm Trees at night..so pretty--so peaceful!

After getting cleaned up, we ventured out to dinner...note to self, don't eat Mexican Food outside of Texas...just not the same regardless of the menu!  We got another great night's sleep then hit the lazy river again until the pool got way too crowded and it just got too hot to be outside.  We cleaned up and went to a movie (not sure that I'd recommend "Cowboy's and Aliens" but was a good way to spend the afternoon).  After that, we hit the lazy river for one last time before we called it a night.  Had another anxious wait at the airport, but we made it home safe and sound...another adventure in the record/scrap books!  Once again...thank you SWA for a great trip!  So needed and so lovely!  Go buy a Southwest Airlines Ticket today...they are a GREAT airline!

Smile:  What have I smiled about?
I read..cover to cover the Wall Street Journal both days on vacation!  It was so wonderful and I found myself quoting several facts throughout the day.  While I would love to think that I could find this much joy every day it's just not something that I can do regardless of how much it made me smile!  Did you know that mortgage rates are at an all time low?  Did you know that we are afraid of boredom? Did you know that Mellon is charging some of it's top investors a fee due to banking regulations?  Well...those were all the things that I discovered/learned in the WSJ!

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?
I celebrate that I've been in quite the learning mode lately.  I love reading some new articles from blogs that I follow on Twitter that help me grow in my knowledge of leadership styles and management challenges and training updates.  It's been great to be in a state of learning mode and I feel like I'm growing more and more each day!  I love to learn and gain knowledge!  

Love:  What do I love?
So...I think this about sums up where I'm at with my love life and Mr. Nice Guy:

Note: I'm not giving up on all Mr. Nice Guys...
Just the one that I've been blogging about lately!

Today I got a text saying: " I would like to talk to you about our "friendship."  I have prayed and soul searched.  I want to be honest with you.  I respect you too much to waste your time.  Can we talk tonight?"  So....that's never good!

While on vacation, I had some time to really weigh the pros and cons about this myself and although I was excited to see him this week, I was also wanting to spend some time asking questions and trying to determine if this is something that I want to pursue or not.  I'm glad that he brought it up first because I think I would have come to this same conclusion.  I will admit that I'm a little confused at his sudden change of heart.  Based upon text messages from the previous week, this was a bit out of the blue...not something that I, myself, wasn't thinking, but a bit out of the blue from where I thought he was with me.

Bottom line to this whole thing, we don't live in the same location and I think he's wanting to have someone that he can be around continuously and given my locale, that's not possible to do at this point--or ever.  So, I'm not sure if he's jumped to another person or what, but something changed in the course of a week. Maybe I've got myself together too much and he wants to be the rescuer ...I don't need someone to rescue me.  Maybe I'm too career oriented and he doesn't want someone to care about their job or what that brings to them..I love what I do and find much joy in it.  Maybe he's looking to fix someone...I'm pretty solid and don't need much fixing.  I don't really know what changed his mind, but  what I do know is that God has answered prayers...the right thing worked out in this situation and that's comforting to know...God did answer both of our prayers and I've got peace that the right thing for both of us occurred.  I wish him well.  He's a great guy and he deserves much happiness --I hope he finds what he's looking for...and I hope I do too.

My Mr. Nice Guy is out there...I know he is.  I've "dated" some great guys and if they were the ones that didn't work out, then I KNOW that there is one that is fantastic out there just waiting for me to cross his path.  It will happen, I believe it will and trust that God will provide at the right time, right place, right moment.  Somewhere out there, he exists...

So for now...the thought for the day is:

I'm willing to keep waiting on the RIGHT one...not the one that's there right now.  I'm willing to keep strengthening myself and building upon my relationship with God.  I'm willing to continue loving who I am, where I am, totally and completely.  Being single has some perks and I have come to love this place I'm at in life....all isn't lost, in fact, I think it's moments like these that make me find myself even more!

Cheers...

Things are looking up!

I love when I drive to work and look up in the sky and see a scene like the picture above.  It brings me such peace and helps me realize the God is always with me and will take care of me. Sometimes you just have to look up (literally) to know that you are loved and surrounded by God's never ending grace!

Smile: What's made me smile?

Me and Bonnie took a trip to Arlington to the Great American Scrapbook Convention...aka nerdville.  It was a great day shopping for bargains and putting our creative hats on to help us get out of our heads, which our jobs require us to be so much of the time.  It was a great way to spend an afternoon with my BFF and lots and lots of paper products! Bon--I draw the line at matching bedazzled shirts..just sayin.

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?
I have a meeting tomorrow with a potential new manager to find out about a job opening in her division.  I'm pursuing other job opportunities because I have come to the realization that I'm too stressed out, complaining too much and just not feeling like I'm fulfilled.  I have made the decision to make some changes to my situation and do something that I need to do to find that peace and happiness that I so long for.  So, I've started reaching out to my network to let them know that I'm available for pursuing some additional opportunities and have applied to some job postings.  I've been overwhelmed by the responses that I've gotten from my network who have said how excited they are to consider working with me closer.  That is a huge honor from some of these people and I'm quite blessed that my reputation, which I've worked so hard to create is strong and good within my organization.  Today, I also received a possible lead to a job that I applied for and hope to set up some time with the recruiter to discuss in more detail.  We'll see what happens, but I feel good that God is blessing me, he's answering my prayers and once again, he is taking care of me--I think I celebrate that the most!

I also celebrate that I was told by our Executive Vice President  that I did a good job presenting to the President of the Bank an overview of the Training Organization.  She's a tough cookie, so getting that compliment meant a lot! Whew!  I passed that test, was quite stressed out about it!

Love:  What do I love?
It takes so much effort for me to get to the gym, but once I do, I LOVE how I feel after working out.  It truly does help my stress and makes me feel so strong.  If I would only remember how I feel I'd do it more often...how quickly the mind forgets the good feeling and only remembers the pain!  Well..perhaps I'll start a new leaf and get myself back in the gym!  I so need to be there on a regular basis!  So desperately need to be there!




Thought for the day:  You become what you think about whether you like it or not-Wayne Dyer.   (That's why I'm looking for a new job...I'm becoming a complainer and I just don't want to be "that girl!")

Cheers