Incredibly Grateful

Today was a really great day! I started a new job with Delta Dental, and am excited about this amazing opportunity. You may be wondering "what about the teaching?" Well, here is the story....

I have been thinking about how I wanted to approach this post for awhile. I have spent the better part of five years going back and forth trying to figure out what I want from life and how I am going to get it. I have been, and in some ways continue to be, lost in life and have made several choices which have resulted in stress, happiness, sadness, and frustration. I have made moves out of state and back again, bought a house, bought cars, and tried to fill some void that never seemed to be filled. Most recently, I decided to go back to school and pursue a career in teaching. After moving back to California, I was struggling to find work and decided a career change was in order. I stopped looking for full time work and started my Master's in Education and started subbing with various school districts. I really enjoyed it and figured I'd finally found something I was passionate about. School was going well and things seemed to be falling into place.

 After struggling through 2014, I approached the 2015 year with high hopes. However, half way through January we experienced a break in at the house (luckily not much was taken and no one was hurt). Insert wake up call. I call it a wake up call, because that is exactly what it was. For the first couple of weeks after the break in, I hated leaving the house and struggled to find the positive. However, it also sparked something within me that I am forever going to be grateful for. Some of the best advice I received during this difficult time was that the break in was maybe meant to be and that I needed to use this time really do some deep soul searching and truly learn to trust and love myself. This is something that is much easier said than done, but is something that I am continually working on.  It took me some time to admit to myself that my internal struggle (mentioned above) really did start about five years ago when I graduated from college. Looking back, I think that I was subconsciously scared that I was now supposed to know what to do with my life and that I instantly needed to figure it all out. As of late, I have spent the last several weeks deciding that teaching is not for me. The art of teaching is something I do truly find rewarding and enticing, but due to other reasons, I have decided this profession is not for me. I have withdrawn from my Master's program, applied for a different Master's program in English, and started applying for several jobs which will help me achieve dreams I've had for quite some time. It was not a decision that was made lightly, but one that I really feel is right for me, at least right now.

As of last week, I was accepted in an online English program with Southern New Hampshire University, and I was offered a job with Delta Dental which is an opportunity that I am truly blessed to be given. I feel so incredibly grateful for life; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Though the year didn't start out as planned, I feel like the rest of 2015 is going to be great. I am a constant work in progress, but I am starting to learn to listen to my instincts and trust myself. I am so excited to see where my new adventures take me.

Project Time

It has been a long while since I have taken on a project of any kind. However, this is changing now. I am undertaking a pretty big task, at least for me, and am attempting something that I have wanted to do for a long time.

I am making a quilt out of t-shirts, one of which is almost 15 years old. As I sat cutting these squares out, I was taken back to my first concert, a few of the plays I did in high school, girls camps I attended, and places I have visited. I am planning to add 10-15 shirts to what it here, but that will require me finding some of the last few shirts and visiting a few more places. Stay tuned for the final project.

Another Year

Here we are in another year. It seems like each year goes a little faster than the last. As I sit here tying, my Christmas decorations are all put away and I feel as if am well into January already. It seems like Christmas has long passed and the goodness of the holiday season has mostly subsided. However, rather than dwell on this, I am grateful to take this opportunity to make some goals for myself in 2015. I have contemplated where to start since I feel as though I have all but lost sight of things that matter, and feel sometimes like a mindless drone just wishing my days away. I have resolved to change this during this year because life is not worth living if you don't actually live in the moment of each day. So in an effort to live more in the moment, here are my plans for 2015:

1.) Spend 1-2 hours reading every day. I love to read, really love to read. I really have no explanations as to why I have not read more over the last several years. This is the year I am changing that. I have already started this and it is truly one of my happy places. More on this later.

2.) Play the piano. This is something I do not do well. I took piano lessons for several years, but never really pursued playing consistently, so sadly I am not as good as I'd like to be. This is okay because this is something I am going to do this year. I find music to be an amazing tool for changing mood for the good or bad. It has a way of touching the soul and taking me to a place outside my real life. In addition, playing the piano is hands down one of the most relaxing things I do. As such, this is the reason for this goal.

3.) Volunteer. I spent the better part of last year telling myself that I was going to find something that means something to me and volunteer for that organization. Yes, well, that never happened. This year I am going to go out and do my part to make the world a better place for someone or something.

4.) Exercise. This seems to be an obvious goal for most people. I am not so much putting this on here to set intentions for weight loss or anything, although this is a great side affect. Instead, I list this here as a goal to reach my ultimate goal of enjoying the finer things. I want to use running or yoga as a way to focus on me and use these times to focus on my thoughts and ways to improve my life.

This year is going to be a good year. I want to commit to living in the moment and be excited for each day regardless of what that day brings. I am calling this year a self-exploration year and I am excited to see how these changes will play out. My hope for you is that you have an incredible 2015. Happy New Year!

New Adventures

Hi blog world. What's new with me? Well, things have been kind of crazy around here since I moved back to the golden state. Shortly after moving here it felt like the world kind of knocked the wind out of my sails and I have spent the better part of the last month kind of moping around just looking for my next break. I had high hopes when I moved here and felt like life was not being fair. What I really was doing was sending negative energy out into the universe and wondering why the universe was only responding with negative outcomes. I realized I was doing this to myself and things were not going to get better if I did not change my attitude. So, here I am back to blogger land and ready for new adventures. I have spent the last several days with a new mind set and already feel 100 times better and things are falling into place. It really is incredible how one single thought can change your whole day; for better or for worse.

I have recently enrolled in school and am pursuing a Masters degree in Education. I begin classes online next Tuesday. Yikes! For some time now I have wanted to be a teacher but have let things get in my way or talk me out of it. I am not always too good when it comes to acting on promptings from within, but have finally decided to give in and pursue this dream of mine. I am still actively using my oils and continue to be excited for Strongbrook and what it is and will allow me to do. I couldn't be happier with these new adventures and look forward to each day!

Long Time No See

Sorry for the lack of posting. My last several weeks has been crazy with the move and settling in. To catch you up, my last day of work was February 28th and that was a very bittersweet day. The following week the moving van came and  we were pulling out of town on to our new adventure. For those who have ever moved out of state, you know what a feat this is! Anyway, as with life, things  didn't quite go as planned which meant we got a late start on our long drive. Then throw in a blown tire on the uhaul and that makes for a very long night with cats and dogs in tow. But alas, we arrived and have been settling in. I am working temp and expanding my knowledge so I can continue on my journey to financial freedom. I love my life here and am so excited for what lies ahead. I never thought I'd miss California so much, but nothing makes you realize how much you miss it until you move away. I miss some of my coworkers in Utah but am so happy to be home!  Pics to come soon.

Small Steps

So sorry for the lack of post on Monday. It has been a wild week and I am just now getting time to sit down and write this post. This weeks quote from "The Secret" seems very fitting for me this week. And of course, I hope it speaks to you as well. 

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step." - Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
The Secret

Lately in my life I am finding that I am taking a lot of "first" steps and you know what? It is amazing. Through all the chaos that is my life right now, I feel good about my future and where I am headed. I am not sure I could have said that 6 months ago. I was fearful and inhibited by my own thoughts, but taking the first step into my future has been so liberating. 

My challenge to you is to take that first step if you have not already done so. Fear is okay; I still have fear. But, it is when we let that fear overpower that we lose ourselves in it. Don't let fear hold you back; click here if you would like help in taking that first step. Get a free game plan and get your life back one step at a time!

Dare to Dream

Week #3 From "The Secret"


"You can have, do or be anything you want." - Joe Vitale.
The Secret

This weeks quote really hits me hard. I am feeling an array of emotions at this point and am extremely overwhelmed (in a good way) with the happenings in my life. I am very thankful that I have found two very different, yet incredible companies that are allowing me to make the changes in my life that I have been wanting for quite some time now; both from a tangible and physical/well-being level. I am thankful for some very dear friends who have shared these opportunities that I am now benefiting from...you know who you are! In addition to these changes, I am about to embark on a new adventure to Northern California. Some have called me brave and some ask if I am nervous. I wouldn't say it is bravery nor am I feeling nervous. Rather, I am entering this new phase with excitement and a sure knowledge that I will be successful. How do I know? Because I want it. I feel it. I am living it! I am so incredibly blown away by how applying simple changes in my outlook has helped me be successful in more ways than one. By being grateful for the small things and seeing the good in life has really opened doors for me that I would have otherwise not have had opened. I would be lying if I said I never have negative thoughts or feelings of defeat...I am human after all, and those feelings will always be there. The key is to turn those feelings around and try to focus on what you do have that is great. It works every time, guaranteed! The changes I have seen in my own life have been remarkable. My hope for you is that you can know that the sky is the limit and you truly can do anything! I challenge each of you to dream...and dream big. 

I had to share this picture because 

there is so much truth to this! Don't 

build someone else's dream...build 

your own!