Starting Again

I just read a blog about someone who took a year off to hike, travel, and write. (www.momonvacation.blogspot.com) It was inspiring to read about someone taking the "jump" as she described it. It sounds like a wonderful idea. It's not something that I can do completely right now, but I can take a small leap.

This weekend I'm working on my art project for my Women's History Art Show. Carrie and I are co-curating the show of 12 artists. I'm going out on a limb this time, because instead of photos and words I'm going to work on a painting. It could turn out a disaster, and I'll be back to photos, but I want to take this small leap to give it a try. I want to move past my fear of not embracing myself as an artist.

The other thing I want to commit to is writing in this blog at least once per week. That will be a challenge, but I'm going to put it in my calendar. The iphone might be able to prompt me to follow through. I started a new journal this year, and this blog is the next step. Once I start following through, then I plan to send out a note to gather some readers. One step at a time.

In the meantime, what small leap will you take in your life? It's time!

Fridays so far

So far my Fridays have been filled with taking care of me, which is why I haven't blogged. This week I'm about to launch a new blog called Dragonfly Creative Consulting for Nonprofits. In this blog I will blog weekly about leading and working in nonprofits in today's reality. As this is my chosen field, I want to put some thoughts to paper about how to help nonprofits excel. This will complement the work that I will do with clients. My speciality is in using the collaborative alignment model, which was developed by my mentor Bob Vanourek.
This is part of my commitment to the best life to learning and growing as an individual. We all have the opportunity to learn something new each day, and it is up to each of us to take that opportunity and make it happen. What did you learn that was new recently?

One small step for me

So I didn't walk on the moon, however, this step for me is sort of like moonwalking. I officially started a new schedule of four, 10-hour days, which means that Friday is my day, more time for me day. I will do my best to blog on Fridays, about this journey to find more balance.

Technology had taken over our lives. It's evidenced by the fact I just checked my gmail on my iPhone, then I got out my computer, and now I'm writing a post in blog. (Also, I did a quick check of my work email. There was one email from one of my staff members). So it's not just me with boundary issues.

Thank goodness. I thought I was the only one. And no I'm not tweeting or using hootsuite to manage all of my social media activities. I have been told I should be doing this, but frankly, this blog and two email accounts that I can't keep up with is enough for now.

Meanwhile on Friday I'll check back in on how my experiment is going. See you then!

Not another meeting

Today I started my morning with an Eagle River Youth Coalition Board meeting. Followed by another two-hour meeting, and now in an hour I will be at another meeting. Whoever invented meetings should be tortured.

It's not that meetings can't be productive. Actually, the first one was great. It was a new concept for better involvement, and it went really well. If the day would have ended with one meeting, then I wouldn't be writing this blog.

After awhile it seems like your talking underwater, or you sound like the teacher from Charlie Brown. You're not sure if you are making sense, or not. The thing is I like the people I'm meeting with.

The key is not to schedule meetings on the same day. Poor planning someone told me. No way! I wasn't aware this was poor planning. Thanks for sharing!

There is an upside. Tomorrow I'm working from home and hibernating. So I will survive this day, and I'll be working in my pajamas tomorrow. So there!

Did I take care of myself today? Well, I did go to Bookworm and grab a Chai Latte. It helped. Talk to you tomorrow from the comforts of home.

New year, new you

Isn't this one easier said than done? I don't know about you, but I am doing my best to make some positive life changes.

Here's where I'm at so far on this journey in 2010. I am working to take care of myself.

Right now I'm exercising two to three times per week. I want to move that to four to five. I'm getting there, but I need to move from two to three, consistently before I move to four. Baby steps!

I have been keeping a close watch on my spending. So far I haven't used a credit card at all in January. This is a definite win. Also, I have realized where I could save money, where I waste money, and more. So progress is being made.

Finally, I have been writing in my journal, and now I'm getting back to writing on this blog. All of this is part of the process of giving myself some time back.

Now if only I can tackle the cleaning and organization that I need to do at home, then we'll be getting somewhere. Overall, I feel pretty good with room for improvement.

Reentry into the real world

I thought the real world would be too much to take, and then my reentry was delayed by a really horrible case of the flu. Feeling awful, and not being able to return to work was so difficult. I wanted to get back to my life. I missed a friend's birthday, a retirement lunch, and just the chance to start to reclaim my life.

Now I'm feeling fine, actually great because when you feel better it's so lovely. I think my body decided the only way to make it was to force me to stop. So I did. Now I've spent the last couple days spending time with favorite friends that I had missed so much. It is good to be back and see everyone who means so much.

I spent quality time with my family. My mom took care of me when I was sick. So nice. And now I can catch up with my friends, and just remember why I love living here. Okay all I need is a beach!

Tomorrow I head to Washington, DC for a conference for the new federal grant received by The Eagle River Youth Coalition. I look forward to meeting new people, and visiting the national's capital. I have only been there once since the summer of 1996 when I interned there. It will be good to be back.

Where to begin?

I just got back from an experience of a lifetime. I went on a Group Study Exchange to Australia thanks to Rotary International. This trip was inspiring, exhausting, and definitely worth it. There were moments when I didn't feel that way, but then I just pushed through it and embraced what was offered so freely.

I have never had so many strangers now friends open their homes, their hearts, and more to me. It made me appreciate the kindness of Rotarians, but also made me reexamine things and change my perspective. I feel a shift has occurred or is occurring. I feel more alive, more passionate, and less prone to overreaction.

I guess with this trip adults and kids reminded me of the precious humanity that exists that sometimes we forget on a day-to-day basis. It made me stop and listen to what's important to me and to strive for those things.

There were so many moments to savor, which I will share soon.