Did you know what you wanted to be when you were 17 years old? I can positively and honestly say no. On most days, I'm not even certain now what I want to be when I grow up. Or when I have to admit that I'm actually grown up. I wonder how much of what I thought was actually a viable career or what was even possible as a job - was driven by what my parents told me, what I had seen in school or on television.
I have a friend who has a nearly 17 year old daughter that is wrestling with what she should be when she grows up or the path that she should take when she graduates from high school - NEXT YEAR! She's asking me for advice - as if somehow my career hopping will be a one-stop-shop for someone exploring a lot of different careers.
What advice did I give her? I told her that she is 17 and still only 1/2 way through her junior year in High School. She should enjoy being a kid and not having responsibilities and bills. That she should just have fun doing what she enjoys doing.
I guess my point to her was simply that you don't have to write your future before you've lived. You don't have to do what someone else thinks you should (or shouldn't). That you should have the time to just explore who YOU are. Do something that makes you happy. Do something that is FUN.There are too many people in the world who are barely surviving their jobs because they had to do something to pay the bills. They are perhaps in a career that someone else told them to do. They had to make a choice.
But life in today's times has more to do with creating your own way. About making choices that are for you. There are jobs out there that people really think are - FUN!
The day that I graduated from High School my grandmother told me, "The more you learn - the more you realize that you have to learn." To be honest, I was kind of ticked off at her. I mean honestly what happened to congratulations? But what I realized as I went away to college was simply that my view of the world was narrowed by what and who I knew- what they did for a living and what was generally acceptable as far as a job, career, way to pay for school, way to do school...that I had to go to school (althought I have to say going to college was the one thing I will conceed that my parents had been totally right on me doing).
I hope that I can remember this as my kids ask me about career advice. I hope that my friend (and her daughter) heard what I said. I meant it only from a place of love.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Resolutions
I read a magazine article several years ago - it said something like when you are in your 20's you are just getting established, when you are in your 30s you are dealing with growing up and when you are in your 40s you finally feel like you can be just who you are.
This year I noticed that several of my New Year's resolutions revolved around just that. My resolutions have less to do with buying a car that someone else might admire, or losing the pounds because of someone else's ideal. They have more to do with you I really am and what I really want out of life. And you know what? I'm sticking to them more than any other time in my life.
This year I noticed that several of my New Year's resolutions revolved around just that. My resolutions have less to do with buying a car that someone else might admire, or losing the pounds because of someone else's ideal. They have more to do with you I really am and what I really want out of life. And you know what? I'm sticking to them more than any other time in my life.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Before and After
I both love and hate those before and after photos that are in magazines. They are amazing to see that people can make such an amazing change. They are great to get people hot on the "resolution band-wagon" to actually start working out. But I hate them because they make it look so easy. They have these smiles on their faces and you see the fruition of achieving their goals.
The problem with these amazing transformational photos are that they don't really speak to the everyday person. They don't do justice to remind everyone who works out for the whole month of January (after their resolutions) and see little change. These people have really made LIFESTYLE changes that go well beyond one month of working out - or a few salads.
Changing your lifestyle means that you make movement a part of EVERY day. That you eat right and make healthy choices. It means strapping on those tennis shoes even when you don't really feel like it. It is creating a habit. It is employing those around you to help and encourage you to continue. It is making a decision (most stories talk about a trigger point where someone saw themselves in a photo, was told something mean by someone or something else like that) no matter what triggers you to make the decision to get healthy.
What is great is that these kind of transformations really are possible (I've personally seen it).
So the question for me is how I can be the "trigger" before one is really needed? As a mom, it is important to me that none of my kids need to have a transformation like that. That they are healthy now - and are learning through my modeling movement and good food choices are a way of life. But perhaps the biggest trigger is taking a good hard look at yourself and see what you might change to make the life of you and your kids a little healthier this year.
The problem with these amazing transformational photos are that they don't really speak to the everyday person. They don't do justice to remind everyone who works out for the whole month of January (after their resolutions) and see little change. These people have really made LIFESTYLE changes that go well beyond one month of working out - or a few salads.
Changing your lifestyle means that you make movement a part of EVERY day. That you eat right and make healthy choices. It means strapping on those tennis shoes even when you don't really feel like it. It is creating a habit. It is employing those around you to help and encourage you to continue. It is making a decision (most stories talk about a trigger point where someone saw themselves in a photo, was told something mean by someone or something else like that) no matter what triggers you to make the decision to get healthy.
What is great is that these kind of transformations really are possible (I've personally seen it).
So the question for me is how I can be the "trigger" before one is really needed? As a mom, it is important to me that none of my kids need to have a transformation like that. That they are healthy now - and are learning through my modeling movement and good food choices are a way of life. But perhaps the biggest trigger is taking a good hard look at yourself and see what you might change to make the life of you and your kids a little healthier this year.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
In the name of beauty
I have done many things in the name of beauty. I take the time to put on my make-up every day. I get dressed in clothes that I think are appropriate for the situation (another rant on that another time).
This time, I've really done something really different in the name of beauty. And then I wonder how much of it really is even noticeable by anyone other than me (or anyone for that matter). I went to Belleza Spa and Salon to have my chin and lip hair laser removed. I used to make fun of my mom when she plucked her chin. I never thought that would be me. But in the last few months I have found myself plucking! I didn't want to have to do this for years. Luckily, laser hair removal is popular and pretty much found anywhere!
I found Belleza through Groupon. Melanie, the lady that owns the place answered my questions and emails very quickly. So I went ahead and booked the appointment. I was a little nervous to go.
It was a simple in and out procedure. I was in the office for no more than about 15 minutes (from the time I walked in to the time I paid and walked out). I layed on the table (It kind of reminded me of a medical table or massage table). She cleaned off my makeup, put some sort of creme on my face and then basically hit a laser light - which sort of reminded me of the ultrasound wand that was used on my tummy when I was pregnant. With a big flash of light (I was also wearing what felt like tanning goggles) five times - in various parts of my chin and upper lip - I was done.
As a totally separate side-note, it didn't really hurt. It was more about the light than feeling anything. I did however, feel the first one in my teeth. She said it may be because of my metal fillings. So she said put my tongue in front of my teeth...after that I didn't feel anything.
After the first session, there are still hairs on my chin. I have been told that I will have to go once a month for 8 months to really make this go away. I hope that by the end of it - I will be happy. But I will say that on a first time basis. It is not really a notible procedure. I am bugged with the fact that I still have hairs on my chin and have been told NOT to pluck. (Hello Elephant in the room!). I will write more after next month's session and see if it is any different. I suppose this is the YEAR of changes - not the DAY of changes.
This time, I've really done something really different in the name of beauty. And then I wonder how much of it really is even noticeable by anyone other than me (or anyone for that matter). I went to Belleza Spa and Salon to have my chin and lip hair laser removed. I used to make fun of my mom when she plucked her chin. I never thought that would be me. But in the last few months I have found myself plucking! I didn't want to have to do this for years. Luckily, laser hair removal is popular and pretty much found anywhere!
I found Belleza through Groupon. Melanie, the lady that owns the place answered my questions and emails very quickly. So I went ahead and booked the appointment. I was a little nervous to go.
It was a simple in and out procedure. I was in the office for no more than about 15 minutes (from the time I walked in to the time I paid and walked out). I layed on the table (It kind of reminded me of a medical table or massage table). She cleaned off my makeup, put some sort of creme on my face and then basically hit a laser light - which sort of reminded me of the ultrasound wand that was used on my tummy when I was pregnant. With a big flash of light (I was also wearing what felt like tanning goggles) five times - in various parts of my chin and upper lip - I was done.
As a totally separate side-note, it didn't really hurt. It was more about the light than feeling anything. I did however, feel the first one in my teeth. She said it may be because of my metal fillings. So she said put my tongue in front of my teeth...after that I didn't feel anything.
After the first session, there are still hairs on my chin. I have been told that I will have to go once a month for 8 months to really make this go away. I hope that by the end of it - I will be happy. But I will say that on a first time basis. It is not really a notible procedure. I am bugged with the fact that I still have hairs on my chin and have been told NOT to pluck. (Hello Elephant in the room!). I will write more after next month's session and see if it is any different. I suppose this is the YEAR of changes - not the DAY of changes.
I AM
I am a big believer in creating my life the way I want it to be. I believe that what I want to happen in my life is completely up to me! Many of this comes from a mind-set that believes that I am capable and able to achieve whatever I want to happen - if I can just break that down to a few steps I can make anything happen.
For me it starts in a belief in myself. I have to break things down until they are at a level that I can achieve and don't seem so overwhelming. I am also a believer in the big I AM statements.
Do you do something that helps you achieve your goals? Do you believe in thoughts and beliefs as something bigger than what you can achieve on your own?
For me it starts in a belief in myself. I have to break things down until they are at a level that I can achieve and don't seem so overwhelming. I am also a believer in the big I AM statements.
Do you do something that helps you achieve your goals? Do you believe in thoughts and beliefs as something bigger than what you can achieve on your own?
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