Choosing My Path

At the end of 2014, I realized that I'm not happy with where I am professionally. I've been mulling through feelings of discontent for three months, and for some reason, I still feel like I'm floating mid-air and can't figure out where I want to land, which path to choose.

I see myself as an influential leader in business: taking charge in meetings, juggling projects, and making change happen. I want to be that go-to person that co-workers come to when they need help problem-solving and making decisions. I want to manage my day and help others manage theirs. I know I can do this because I've done it before.

I also see myself as a stay-at-home mom: waking up while everyone else in the house is asleep and starting my day with a hard run; making breakfast for my family and kissing my husband good-bye as he heads off to work; drinking coffee all morning with my kids while we read books, craft, and play; meeting up with other stay-at-home mommas for walks and talks. The list could go on and on.

The truth is, I'm unsure of how plausible either of these dreams are for the near future, and I'm scared that the longer I wait to turn one of them into reality, the more willing I'll be to let go of both and settle into life as-is. So...let the encouraging self-talk begin, let the worry fade, and let me choose my path, fearlessly.

image via Instagram from @sewcrazylo

Three Things I Didn't Expect to Learn in 2014 (Part II)

The More, the Merrier

I feel I need to acknowledge that I realize 2014 has been over for a week now. And, I know most people do their year-end wrap ups in December, reserving the first part of January for things like resolutions, goals setting and fresh starts. For whatever reason, I wasn't able to get my reflections together until now, so you'll just have to bear with me.

Alas, my second learning of 2014 that I never expected has nothing to do with more people at gatherings, but rather, the amount of work [like, REAL work] I take on during the day.

In 2012, I stepped away from a dream job in order to free up my evenings and weekends and spend time with my growing family. In April, I had the opportunity to leave my job at the high school for a position in athletics with my alma mater. Through each of these moves, my job duties and responsibilities decreased...not exactly the promotions that most seek.

I assured myself that I was happy because my job was allowing me to do what I loved most in life, be with my family. I don't have to worry about that project I wasn't able to finish or that dreaded email I was expecting. Except that it's not all I imagined.

I've learned that when it comes my professional life, I prefer more. In fact, the more work I have to do, the merrier I feel. Give me multiple projects and tight deadlines, plus a gorgeous notebook to keep track of it all, and my 9 to 5 life couldn't be better. More on how I plan to make that happen in 2015 at a later date...

image via flickr by  Marc-HongKong