In the year of our Lord two thousand and fifteen, I accomplished much. Unlike the last few years, I am not rushing to see the beginning of a new year. On the contrary, I am savoring the memories of twenty fifteen.
Okay so you are thinking I landed a boom job, I moved into the mansion of my dreams or I hit the lottery and all my problems are now solved! HAHA, I wish and I will keep on wishing.
This year offered me some chances to live fearlessly and I took them all. Here are some opportunities that I landed:
January - March
I joined the Poshmark community - I downloaded the app, snapped and uploaded pictures of some clothing and accessories (even my breast pump) that I thought I could exchange for cash and voila, within 24 hrs of joining on New Year's Day, I had my first sale. Talk about a confidence zoom? I was on a roll. Someone close to me said that after all that college education, I turned out to be a hustler - DWL. I love it!
I signed up my little lady for swim classes and decided it was going to be nonstop until mastery is attained. Alas, we are now level 4 - swim team level that is.
I was awarded a grant at work to travel to Spain. Me? Er...wait....did they just call my name? Pinch me...they are actually granting me my wish? Somebody wake me up, I must be dreaming. WOW! I had all those sentiments when I heard my name called for the travel grant. I was finally going to set foot on the land where all Spanish began. Have passport...will travel they say. Mine had just expired but that wouldn't stop me.
Instagram and Twitter here I come! A rather sage friend of mine advised me to step into the social media for business exposure months before. I cringed at the thought. I barely like getting onto FB but my class and school mates are there so I pop in when I have a minute - whenever that is.
However, with Instagram it was love at first sight, I have a "don't care much" relationship with Twitter and I put up a business page on FB which I nurture. All is moving along swimmingly.
The world of blogging was the next path to trod. I love the idea of blogging but it seems to be a job. I don't want to be judged by the world about whether my blog is successful or not. I just want to express myself - express me and talk with people about anything. I thought that I would start my blog to share my travel experiences and so it was that forauntsis.blogspot.com began.
In April I made a mental shift to step up my business game and attend the next Global Training Conference with Arbonne. During GTC 2015, I began to see the possibilities of being an accomplished Arbonne Consultant. The change over of their new online system in April and the energy I saw via videos told me that I can do this. I accepted the business challenge and I would keep climbing.
I will never forget May 31st for a long time to come. My blood and I packed up and headed to the airport to embark on an overnight trip to Madrid. Excitement filled my intestines. Adrenaline seeped through my veins. Satisfaction bubbled in my heart and joy swirled around in my mind while an atypical nervousness tingled on my skin. I eagerly wanted to sit on the flight and fall asleep while the captain and his second did their do. I love to travel, although I'd rather to do it the beam me up Scottie way. Yup, I want to wake up and be there already lol. It was Godspeed and good night until around 9 a.m. Madrid time on June 1st. I made it. It was awesome to wake up on another continent.
You can see previous blog posts for details on the Madrid experience.
Enter Periscope! So while in Madrid I happened upon the Periscope app. As hesitant as I am I didn't jump - until later that month. I joined and started checking out the scopes to see exactly what animal this was. I wasn't so sure about live streaming me. I was totally fine watching other people, then the Perigirls turned the corner and we collided. Thanks to Perigirls.com I am a Perigirl and I have scoped! They have ideas to scope about and tips to make your scope successful so I jumped in with my heart in my mouth. I survived!!!
July - September
As much as I don't care for Twitter a girl contacted me on there and we chatted via Skype. Creepy? Yes to begin with I thought she was weird to want to talk but I said I would try her out. Common thread? Entrepreneurship so we saw eye to eye on a few things.
Well I decided I wanted to step back into the world of the "partner" plan. A group savings plan that takes place among caribbean people for the most part. They contribute to a saving pool where one person gets a lump sum weekly or bi weekly for a predetermined number of weeks/months. I tried to get a group going but instead, joined one I was in more than a decade ago. It is a good idea no matter what the financially savvy and skeptical say about it. I will keep climbing with that too.
I did the 21 days to financial freedom with a friend of mine. It is a legit strategy to develop sound financial responsibility. I will have to do it again because I followed it to about 90% on the first go around. I have to do it when I am more prone to spend. Summertime maybe?
While in Spain I was 200% convinced that I can no longer wait to re-enter the fitness world. Walking abound Madrid was fun but mi granny - mi hart (my heart)! While I probably lost a few pounds from all the walking, I sure gained from all those tapas joints and restaurant food I ate. I was in haste to find a gym. A gym yes because I can't exercise on my own and get the results I need. Been there - done that and failed!
So I went up the road and then down the road and up the road again - literally. My area is stacked with gyms. I was looking for classes, atmosphere and dog nyam it - PRICE! At night I gathered my notes and before I slept I'd say "may the gym with the best price win".
Heck it took my ride or die to show me the winner. She said, "Look, there's a gym." I responded, "They're not open." She said emphatically, "Yes they are." I did a sharp turn up the steep hill with my steel beast. I dared... to step ....into the world of...... CROSSFIT! Five months later, -8 pounds, -2% body fat and +2% muscle gained, my machine status is loading! DWL ....because there are no machines - we are the machines!
The birthday month came around and I just wanted to drive to and eat at Bahama Breezes. I did that and I loved every minute of it. Can't want to do it again.
Then I embarked on the Paleo challenge at the gym and determined to eat like they were telling me to. Yes, no bread, not rice, no butter, no white potato, no condensed milk, arrgggg enough with the NO's - eat everything green and meat. So I ate chicken and fish and worked out like they were telling me to and drink a protein shake like they were telling me to and dunk in the darned dunk tank before and after the challenge to get the BMI rating like they told me to.
Voila! I won second place in the challenge. Likkle me...second place. I never win anything but I won second place - W O W! Lord thanks for giving me the means to make this happen. I will keep climbing with that too, one workout at a time.
October - December
I think it was on the first day of October and with quick, nimble fingers I registered for Arbonne's GTC2016. It was costly but I stepped out again and said "I will do this." Las Vegas see you in a few! Excitement!!!
I decided in July that I would take a walk with my students along the path of inspirational and spiritual things in a different way than I have done before. God was showing me in the latter months of the year that this was for real.
The Parable of the Pencil is allowing me to inspire them. The Pencil - a writing tool can teach us so much about approaching life's daily events and our relationship with our Maker. The students think that I am teaching them but, sharing with them is teaching me even more!
And so the last few weeks of the year asked me to step out and nurture beyond the textbook. I say "yes Father, I will go where you lead."
They say all good things must come to an end. It is with very mixed feelings that I prepare to walk into the future. I loved every month of twenty fifteen and how it asked me to step out of the box of fear. I love how I responded. I am unsure of what happens when next Friday rolls around. Part of me wants more of the same. What if there is better ahead? If I am still here I will move ahead with arms open as if to say "bring it on".
No comments:
Post a Comment