So, I turned 50 in January. It was a wonderful birthday –
the best I can remember for a long time – but in the aftermath, I'm sort of
floundering.
I'm looking at myself and evaluating where I am, where I
WISH I was, where I really want to be and how to get there.
At the time, I felt sort of hijacked into it (sorry Amy),
but in the fall of that year I attended a national conference with my sweet friend, the
aforementioned parenthetical, Amy, and fell in love with the company. The product (at the time there was only one)
was good for me – but my skin was already great (thanks Denlinger and Nies
genes) and it hasn't changed much. But,
I've seen amazing results for other people, such as my husband:
. . . so I knew the results were real and, after that
conference, I felt like there was a genuine chance that I could make something
very big happen with Nerium.
Then came February of 2014.
I got fired. Again.
I’m not sure if whoever is reading this has ever been
through the indignity of being sacked, but it’s not a pleasant experience. I hadn't liked that job. I'd been looking for
another one for many months, but it was still a difficult transition.
And yet.
God was SO good. I
needed to not be working. The timing was perfect.
· My eldest daughter, Mary, was planning her
wedding – May 24th – and I would never have had the time to devote
to that if I hadn't been let go.
· There were several health issues that needed
attention and I was able to play nursemaid to my family members as each needed
me.
·
I attempted to work my Nerium business full-time
but I’m not a brave person by nature and forming new relationships is out of my
comfort zone. . .so that didn't work out so well.
And yet.
Eight months after I lost my job and two weeks after my
unemployment ran out, I was called to work at UK through their temporary
support office, S.T.E.P.S.!
After eight VERY dry months, when I'd applied for job
after job and not had one call for an interview, I had FIVE interviews during
the time I was serving at UK!
I started a job as a contractor through
TEKSystems in November and it’s the best
job I've had in a long time. I’m so
grateful for it. I’m making more money than I've EVER made (gone are the days I
could mutter “They don't pay me enough for this” . . .) and, more importantly,
I’m supported. By my on-site supervisor.
By the company through which I am contracting. I already know that I won't be
asked to do anything my supervisor hasn’t okayed. And, a week after I started,
when I tried to give notice so I could work closer to home and for a higher
hourly rate,
they increased the offer and
allowed me to work from home every Friday! That has NEVER happened. I’ve given two weeks’ notice countless times
over the years. No one ever tried to get me to stay. They want me here and I want to BE here! It’ a heady feeling. . .
And yet.
We circle back to the birthday-thing.
This is not really where I'd pictured myself
ending up. Not that I'd ever really spent much time actually picturing my future. Truthfully, I've never been
very introspective, nor have I been one to dream much. I'm a day-to-day type person. And now this.
How did I end up here? I’m not necessarily unhappy. I have a
wonderful, loving, handsome husband to whom I have been married 28 years this
year. We have three beautiful, brilliant
young-adult children and one amazing son-in-law. I have a home. I have a car
that I don't have to share. (We've been pretty much major-car-repair free for
the better part of 3 years.) Life is
good.
So why am I so unsettled?
Because I know in my heart I can do better. Not as far as the people and things that
surround me, but inside. My heart, spirit, soul . . . I'm somehow out of
alignment.
This is the year. I can't continue to say: “I'll do that
later.” It’s become a now or never
thing.
This year I will
lose (and learn to make the changes to keep off) that extra, oh, 40 pounds I've
accumulated that’s neither healthy nor appealing. By eating less and moving
more; by sticking to my WeightWatchers points and swimming 3 times a week and
going to the yoga classes that are included in our Y membership.
This year I will
be a successful entrepreneur – I will build back up to a team of 3 brand
partners and 3 preferred customers . . . and MORE; I will earn a Lexus! Before 2016!
This year I will
work on myself.
I will be brave.
I will know myself.
I will like myself.
I will
communicate love to those around me in tangible ways.
I will reflect
the Jesus I profess to know.
I will be held accountable.
By you, friend reader.
In my first act of bravery, I invite you to ask me how I'm
doing. With my weight loss. With my exercise. With my business. With my Jesus.
Please help me as I start to become a grown-up. I’ve been
acting like a child for far too long. It's about time, because I'm 50.
Thanks in advance.
Love, K